This issue puts stunting in South Africa front and centre, unpacking the evidence, the opportunities and the practical actions needed to tackle it. Featured learning briefs include: 1️⃣ The long and short of stunting in South Africa: Why understanding the problem is important for policy change The first brief in the series explores why understanding the full picture of stunting is essential for meaningful policy change, and what South Africa can learn from countries that have successfully reduced it. 2️⃣ Preventing stunting starts in the womb: Why investing in the first 1 000 days of a child's life is the best time to nip stunting in the bud The second brief explores why the first 1 000 days of a child's life offer the greatest opportunity to prevent stunting, and how early action can help children get the nutrition they need before poor growth becomes difficult to reverse. 3️⃣ Making the most of a good start: How to help families get all the nutrients they need The final brief shifts the focus from the child to the household, exploring why families need more than targeted interventions alone and how improving access to affordable, nutritious food can help tackle stunting at its roots.