What we are reading...

This article reports new evidence that antenatal multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) are a highly cost-effective investment in maternal and infant health. Compared with standard iron-folic acid supplements, MMS improves birth outcomes, reduces low birthweight and undernutrition, supports healthier infant growth, and delivers substantial economic returns—estimated at about $37 for every $1 invested.

This article reports new evidence that antenatal multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) are a highly cost-effective investment in maternal and infant health. Compared with standard iron-folic acid supplements, MMS improves birth outcomes, reduces low birthweight and undernutrition, supports healthier infant growth, and delivers substantial economic returns—estimated at about $37 for every $1 invested.

This report found that global child mortality has declined substantially since 1990, yet progress is slowing. In 2024, an estimated 4.9 million children under five died, mainly from preventable causes. Deaths remain concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, highlighting persistent inequalities and urgent investment needs.

This report found that global child mortality has declined substantially since 1990, yet progress is slowing. In 2024, an estimated 4.9 million children under five died, mainly from preventable causes. Deaths remain concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, highlighting persistent inequalities and urgent investment needs.

This examines young children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development across participating countries. The report highlights the importance of supportive home environments, quality early childhood education, and equitable learning opportunities, showing how early experiences shape well-being, school readiness, and long-term life outcomes.

This examines young children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development across participating countries. The report highlights the importance of supportive home environments, quality early childhood education, and equitable learning opportunities, showing how early experiences shape well-being, school readiness, and long-term life outcomes.

One in four children in the world today suffers from stunting. What can countries with high stunting rates today learn from Japan’s experience of going from 70% to 5%? Japan's experience shows that transformation is possible, but it requires simultaneous action on disease, diet, and infrastructure sustained over a generation. Nonetheless, that seems like an investment worth making. The future of hundreds of millions of children depends on it.

One in four children in the world today suffers from stunting. What can countries with high stunting rates today learn from Japan’s experience of going from 70% to 5%? Japan's experience shows that transformation is possible, but it requires simultaneous action on disease, diet, and infrastructure sustained over a generation. Nonetheless, that seems like an investment worth making. The future of hundreds of millions of children depends on it.

This study computes comparable child stunting rates for 122 countries across the 20th century, extending our understanding of child stunting much deeper into the past. Countries that have eradicated stunting could provide further evidence on how to eradicate child stunting today.

This study computes comparable child stunting rates for 122 countries across the 20th century, extending our understanding of child stunting much deeper into the past. Countries that have eradicated stunting could provide further evidence on how to eradicate child stunting today.

This document summarises what the stunting special issue papers contained in Development Southern Africa contribute to our understanding of stunting and what can be done to address it. It highlights key research gaps — particularly the need for local evidence on the role of in utero alcohol exposure, maternal health, environmental health and gut health — to match important international findings.

This document summarises what the stunting special issue papers contained in Development Southern Africa contribute to our understanding of stunting and what can be done to address it. It highlights key research gaps — particularly the need for local evidence on the role of in utero alcohol exposure, maternal health, environmental health and gut health — to match important international findings.

The article discusses an AI-powered WhatsApp bot used in South African schools to identify possible hearing loss among learners. By enabling early screening through accessible mobile technology, the initiative aims to improve diagnosis and intervention, especially in underserved communities where hearing problems often go unnoticed, affecting education, communication, and long-term development.

The article discusses an AI-powered WhatsApp bot used in South African schools to identify possible hearing loss among learners. By enabling early screening through accessible mobile technology, the initiative aims to improve diagnosis and intervention, especially in underserved communities where hearing problems often go unnoticed, affecting education, communication, and long-term development.

This is a UNICEF summary on violence against children in South Africa explains how children experience abuse and violence at home, school, in communities, workplaces, and the justice system. It highlights physical, sexual, emotional abuse, bullying, corporal punishment, neglect, and cyberbullying.

This is a UNICEF summary on violence against children in South Africa explains how children experience abuse and violence at home, school, in communities, workplaces, and the justice system. It highlights physical, sexual, emotional abuse, bullying, corporal punishment, neglect, and cyberbullying.

This article reviews South Africa’s progress in implementing the National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy. While gains were made in child health and services, inequalities remain for poor children, those under two, and children with disabilities. The authors call for better funding, coordination, and inclusive programmes to improve equitable early childhood development.

This article reviews South Africa’s progress in implementing the National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy. While gains were made in child health and services, inequalities remain for poor children, those under two, and children with disabilities. The authors call for better funding, coordination, and inclusive programmes to improve equitable early childhood development.

This playbook outlines how digital innovation can strengthen support for parents and caregivers through accessible, inclusive, and evidence-based services. It emphasizes using technology to improve parenting support, child development, and family wellbeing. The framework encourages collaboration, ethical digital design, and equitable access to ensure vulnerable families benefit from transformative digital solutions globally.

This playbook outlines how digital innovation can strengthen support for parents and caregivers through accessible, inclusive, and evidence-based services. It emphasizes using technology to improve parenting support, child development, and family wellbeing. The framework encourages collaboration, ethical digital design, and equitable access to ensure vulnerable families benefit from transformative digital solutions globally.

This report summarises global research showing that digital devices are increasingly used to comfort babies and support parents during the first 1,001 critical days of life. Screen use among infants is widespread, sometimes used for sleep and soothing, despite guidance discouraging it under age two. While technology helps manage parenting stress, high early screen exposure is linked to potential developmental risks, highlighting the need for balanced, informed use and stronger support for families.

This report summarises global research showing that digital devices are increasingly used to comfort babies and support parents during the first 1,001 critical days of life. Screen use among infants is widespread, sometimes used for sleep and soothing, despite guidance discouraging it under age two. While technology helps manage parenting stress, high early screen exposure is linked to potential developmental risks, highlighting the need for balanced, informed use and stronger support for families.

This article highlights South Africa’s high rates of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and the absence of a coordinated national prevention programme. The authors argue that FASD has severe lifelong impacts on children, families, and society, and call for stronger government leadership, public health interventions, screening, education, and multisectoral collaboration to prevent prenatal alcohol exposure.

This article highlights South Africa’s high rates of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and the absence of a coordinated national prevention programme. The authors argue that FASD has severe lifelong impacts on children, families, and society, and call for stronger government leadership, public health interventions, screening, education, and multisectoral collaboration to prevent prenatal alcohol exposure.

The WHOeyes app (2023) is a free mobile tool developed by the World Health Organization to help people check their near and distance vision using a simple visual acuity test. It aims to identify possible vision impairment early, raise awareness of eye health, and encourage users to seek professional eye care while promoting preventive eye protection practices.

The WHOeyes app (2023) is a free mobile tool developed by the World Health Organization to help people check their near and distance vision using a simple visual acuity test. It aims to identify possible vision impairment early, raise awareness of eye health, and encourage users to seek professional eye care while promoting preventive eye protection practices.

This report argues that investing in early childhood development is one of the most effective ways to improve human capital and economic growth. The report outlines evidence-based interventions in health, nutrition, early learning, and caregiving, demonstrating how targeted investments generate substantial long-term social, educational, and economic returns.

This report argues that investing in early childhood development is one of the most effective ways to improve human capital and economic growth. The report outlines evidence-based interventions in health, nutrition, early learning, and caregiving, demonstrating how targeted investments generate substantial long-term social, educational, and economic returns.

This issue presents a set of learning briefs focused on improving early childhood development in South Africa. It highlights challenges such as malnutrition, unequal access to early learning programmes, and gaps in developmental outcomes, while drawing on evidence and programme insights to show how targeted interventions can improve children’s health, learning readiness, and long-term development.

This issue presents a set of learning briefs focused on improving early childhood development in South Africa. It highlights challenges such as malnutrition, unequal access to early learning programmes, and gaps in developmental outcomes, while drawing on evidence and programme insights to show how targeted interventions can improve children’s health, learning readiness, and long-term development.

This article explores factors enabling successful scaling of early parenting interventions through qualitative interviews with international experts. They identify key enablers including sustainable funding models, stakeholder buy-in, adaptable yet fidelity-focused implementation, strong multidisciplinary teams, and systems integration. The study emphasises scaling as a complex, long-term, and context-dependent process requiring strategic planning.

This article explores factors enabling successful scaling of early parenting interventions through qualitative interviews with international experts. They identify key enablers including sustainable funding models, stakeholder buy-in, adaptable yet fidelity-focused implementation, strong multidisciplinary teams, and systems integration. The study emphasises scaling as a complex, long-term, and context-dependent process requiring strategic planning.

This report presents a national background report for the 2030 Reading Panel synthesising new evidence on early-grade literacy in South Africa. Drawing on large-scale survey data, it shows that most learners are not yet reading at expected levels, highlights wide inequalities across provinces and languages, and reviews system constraints and emerging interventions. The report stresses coordinated national action, sustained funding, and scaling evidence-based literacy programmes to improve foundational reading outcomes by 2030.

This report presents a national background report for the 2030 Reading Panel synthesising new evidence on early-grade literacy in South Africa. Drawing on large-scale survey data, it shows that most learners are not yet reading at expected levels, highlights wide inequalities across provinces and languages, and reviews system constraints and emerging interventions. The report stresses coordinated national action, sustained funding, and scaling evidence-based literacy programmes to improve foundational reading outcomes by 2030.

This report examines child poverty in South Africa using the MODA approach, measuring multiple deprivations beyond income. It finds slight improvements from 2015–2023, but over half of children remain poor. Poverty is shaped by inequality, geography, and household conditions, with persistent disparities despite gains in income-based poverty reduction.

This report examines child poverty in South Africa using the MODA approach, measuring multiple deprivations beyond income. It finds slight improvements from 2015–2023, but over half of children remain poor. Poverty is shaped by inequality, geography, and household conditions, with persistent disparities despite gains in income-based poverty reduction.

This guide walks adults through everything from adolescent brain development to navigating peer pressure, mental health, and social media, providing practical and simple tools adults can use to support their teens as they grow. When teenagers feel safe, seen, heard, and supported by their loved ones, they are more likely to stay in school, make safer choices, and build towards a positive future. This guide helps adults do exactly that.

This guide walks adults through everything from adolescent brain development to navigating peer pressure, mental health, and social media, providing practical and simple tools adults can use to support their teens as they grow. When teenagers feel safe, seen, heard, and supported by their loved ones, they are more likely to stay in school, make safer choices, and build towards a positive future. This guide helps adults do exactly that.

This report traces the development of antenatal HIV and syphilis sentinel surveillance in South Africa from 1990 to 2022. It highlights its role in tracking prevalence, guiding policy, and improving maternal health. The authors discuss challenges, data gaps, and propose integrating surveillance systems to strengthen future monitoring and response efforts.

This report traces the development of antenatal HIV and syphilis sentinel surveillance in South Africa from 1990 to 2022. It highlights its role in tracking prevalence, guiding policy, and improving maternal health. The authors discuss challenges, data gaps, and propose integrating surveillance systems to strengthen future monitoring and response efforts.

This article examines South Africa’s Child Support Grant as a tool shifting from child-focused relief to broader women’s empowerment. It shows how grants improve household welfare, strengthen women’s financial control, and support livelihoods in rural areas, while highlighting ongoing structural challenges that limit transformative impacts on poverty and gender inequality.

This article examines South Africa’s Child Support Grant as a tool shifting from child-focused relief to broader women’s empowerment. It shows how grants improve household welfare, strengthen women’s financial control, and support livelihoods in rural areas, while highlighting ongoing structural challenges that limit transformative impacts on poverty and gender inequality.

This report highlights large-scale food fortification as a highly cost-effective strategy to reduce global micronutrient deficiencies. It shows current programmes prevent billions of nutrient gaps annually but have untapped potential. Expanding coverage, improving compliance, and strengthening policies could significantly increase impact, reaching more vulnerable populations worldwide.

This report highlights large-scale food fortification as a highly cost-effective strategy to reduce global micronutrient deficiencies. It shows current programmes prevent billions of nutrient gaps annually but have untapped potential. Expanding coverage, improving compliance, and strengthening policies could significantly increase impact, reaching more vulnerable populations worldwide.

This modelling study evaluates large-scale food fortification programmes, showing they significantly reduce micronutrient deficiencies at relatively low cost. It estimates substantial health benefits across populations and finds fortification highly cost-effective. The authors emphasize scaling up programmes, improving implementation, and targeting vulnerable groups to maximize nutritional and economic impacts globally.

This modelling study evaluates large-scale food fortification programmes, showing they significantly reduce micronutrient deficiencies at relatively low cost. It estimates substantial health benefits across populations and finds fortification highly cost-effective. The authors emphasize scaling up programmes, improving implementation, and targeting vulnerable groups to maximize nutritional and economic impacts globally.

This is a summary of a technical brief and FAQ outlining quality standards for UNIMMAP multiple micronutrient supplements. It explains requirements for manufacturing, testing, packaging, and regulatory compliance, helping ensure safe, effective, and consistent products while guiding countries, suppliers, and programmes in maintaining high-quality maternal nutrition interventions.

This is a summary of a technical brief and FAQ outlining quality standards for UNIMMAP multiple micronutrient supplements. It explains requirements for manufacturing, testing, packaging, and regulatory compliance, helping ensure safe, effective, and consistent products while guiding countries, suppliers, and programmes in maintaining high-quality maternal nutrition interventions.

This is a summary of a UNICEF-published technical brief and FAQ outlining updated quality standards for UNIMMAP multiple micronutrient supplements. It highlights manufacturing, testing, and compliance requirements to ensure safe, effective products, supporting countries, suppliers, and programmes in delivering consistent, high-quality supplements for improved maternal nutrition outcomes.

This is a summary of a UNICEF-published technical brief and FAQ outlining updated quality standards for UNIMMAP multiple micronutrient supplements. It highlights manufacturing, testing, and compliance requirements to ensure safe, effective products, supporting countries, suppliers, and programmes in delivering consistent, high-quality supplements for improved maternal nutrition outcomes.

A new pilot study from Pakistan demonstrated that distributing multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) through its existing public health system is feasible and can effectively reach pregnant women. Led by the Junaid Family Foundation and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services, the initiative integrated MMS into routine antenatal care (ANC) by utilizing Lady Health Workers (LHWs) and public facilities.

A new pilot study from Pakistan demonstrated that distributing multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) through its existing public health system is feasible and can effectively reach pregnant women. Led by the Junaid Family Foundation and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services, the initiative integrated MMS into routine antenatal care (ANC) by utilizing Lady Health Workers (LHWs) and public facilities.

This is a summary of a narrative review comparing acceptability of antenatal multiple micronutrient supplements with iron and folic acid supplementation. It finds MMS is generally well accepted, with similar or better adherence, fewer side effects, and positive perceptions among pregnant individuals, supporting its feasibility for wider implementation in maternal nutrition programmes globally.

This is a summary of a narrative review comparing acceptability of antenatal multiple micronutrient supplements with iron and folic acid supplementation. It finds MMS is generally well accepted, with similar or better adherence, fewer side effects, and positive perceptions among pregnant individuals, supporting its feasibility for wider implementation in maternal nutrition programmes globally.

This is a summary of an ATNi policy brief on South Africa’s retail food sector, highlighting how retailer practices affect diets. It calls for stronger policies to promote healthier products, improve affordability and availability, enhance transparency, and encourage responsible marketing to support better nutrition and public health outcomes.

This is a summary of an ATNi policy brief on South Africa’s retail food sector, highlighting how retailer practices affect diets. It calls for stronger policies to promote healthier products, improve affordability and availability, enhance transparency, and encourage responsible marketing to support better nutrition and public health outcomes.

This is a summary of an ATNi country report assessing South Africa’s retail food environment, examining how major retailers influence access to nutritious foods through product availability, pricing, and promotions. It finds most products are unhealthy, healthier options are less accessible and affordable, and stronger retailer policies are needed.

This is a summary of an ATNi country report assessing South Africa’s retail food environment, examining how major retailers influence access to nutritious foods through product availability, pricing, and promotions. It finds most products are unhealthy, healthier options are less accessible and affordable, and stronger retailer policies are needed.

This is a summary of ATNi’s Retail Assessment 2025, evaluating how global food retailers shape consumer diets through product portfolios, pricing, placement, and promotions. It finds retailers often prioritise less healthy options, with limited commitments to nutrition, and urges stronger accountability, transparency, and strategies to improve access to healthier foods.

This is a summary of ATNi’s Retail Assessment 2025, evaluating how global food retailers shape consumer diets through product portfolios, pricing, placement, and promotions. It finds retailers often prioritise less healthy options, with limited commitments to nutrition, and urges stronger accountability, transparency, and strategies to improve access to healthier foods.