This special issue is dedicated to prioritising the fight against stunting in South Africa. It aims to unpack the complex determinants, consequences, and potential solutions to stunting, with a focus on evidence-based, multi-sectoral approaches. The special issue provides an overview of the evidence on stunting prevalence and predictors in South Africa; highlights local and international interventions that are potentially scalable; and identifies knowledge gaps to guide future research priorities. The development process for this special issue has also served to foster collaboration across disciplines and sectors – bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to co-author, co-create, and interrogate evidence-based strategies to shift the needle on stunting in South Africa.