Prioritising the Fight Against Stunting in South Africa

This webinar draws from a special issue of Development Southern Africa, examining why South Africa must urgently prioritise the fight against child stunting. Bringing together interdisciplinary evidence, the research explores how chronic undernutrition, poor health, and difficult living conditions affect children’s growth and development, particularly during the critical first 1 000 days of life.

The findings show that stunting remains persistently high, affecting roughly one in four children under five, with little improvement over time. However, this masks deeper structural challenges. Stunting is not only a food security issue, but a broader development problem linked to poverty, inequality, access to health services, education outcomes, and social conditions. Fragmented governance and limited coordination across sectors further weaken the national response.

Speaker Dr Gabrielle Wills will unpack:

• Why stunting remains one of South Africa’s most persistent development challenges,
  • How structural inequality shapes child nutrition and early development outcomes,
  • The importance of coordinated, multi-sectoral action across government and society,
  • And what is required to strengthen accountability and accelerate progress in reducing stunting.

Join us as we explore how South Africa can better address child stunting and protect the future of its children.