South Africa continues to battle an escalating nutrition crisis. Recent findings from the HSRC and UNICEF place the national stunting rate at 28.8%, a worrying 1.8% increase in just seven years. With more than 20 million people experiencing some form of food insecurity, the implications for young children are profound. Stunting in the first five years not only increases vulnerability to severe infections but also affects cognitive development, school performance, and future economic prospects.

Against this stark backdrop, FoodForward SA’s Mother and Child Nutrition Programme has made significant strides in 2025, providing essential nutritional support to vulnerable pregnant women and young children in partnership with Philani Maternal, Child Health and Nutrition Trust and Grow Great.

Strengthening Foundations: Progress with Philani

Launched in May 2023 in the Western Cape and rural Eastern Cape, the partnership with Philani continued to demonstrate strong outcomes throughout 2025. Mentor Mothers conducted monthly home visits, while social workers and dietitians provided ongoing growth monitoring, rehabilitation, and nutrition education.

Encouragingly, most programme participants recorded positive weight gains, illustrating the effectiveness of combining home-based support with FoodForward SA’s donation of high-protein, nutrient-dense foods. This integrated model is proving powerful in preventing and reversing malnutrition in early childhood.

In a handful of cases where weight improvements were limited, pre-existing health conditions were identified as major constraints, highlighting the importance of holistic, long-term care.

Scaling Up for Greater Impact with Grow Great

One of this year’s major milestones has been the successful expansion of the programme beyond its initial sites. In November 2024, FoodForward SA and Grow Great launched an expanded phase in the Witzenberg and Worcester municipalities, initially enrolling 95 children and 5 low-weight pregnant mothers.

Thanks to community demand and strong early outcomes, an additional 100 participants were added in early 2025. By December, another 100 participants from Ceres and Worcester joined the programme.

Today, the Mother and Child Nutrition Programme supports 180 active participants across multiple regions:

• Eastern Cape – 50
• Western Cape (Crossroads) – 30
• Western Cape (Ceres) – 50
• Western Cape (Worcester) – 50

Grow Great’s deep expertise in addressing stunting, through direct interventions, advocacy, and community mobilisation, makes them an ideal partner for this next phase of growth.

Looking Ahead: Ambitious Goals for 2026 and Beyond

With promising outcomes and strengthened partnerships in place, FoodForward SA is poised for major expansion. Together with the Grow Great Flourish Programme, the partnership plans to scale the programme across five of the nine provinces, reaching communities in:

• KwaZulu-Natal
• Eastern Cape
• Western Cape
• Free State
• Gauteng

Our goal is bold, but essential: Reach 1,000 vulnerable children and pregnant women within the next 12 months and 3,000 participants over the next three years.

By improving access to nutritious food, strengthening community health networks, and prioritising early childhood development, FoodForward SA is helping break the cycle of malnutrition and create healthier futures for mothers and children across South Africa.