Malnutrition remains a critical public health issue both in Tanzania and globally. It was estimated that in 2022, 149 million children under the age of five were stunted (too short for their age, an indication of chronic undernutrition) globally, and close to half of child mortality among children under five was linked to malnutrition. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in 2022 stunting affected an estimated 22.3% of children under the age of five globally – that is, 148.1 million children.
The World Bank and UNICEF agree that heightened endeavours are needed to reach the global goal of decreasing the number of children suffering from stunting to 89 million by 2030 [3]. Given the present rate of advancement, the target for 2030 will not be met, resulting in 39.6 million children falling short, with over 80% of these children residing in Africa.
This report begins by reviewing the key policies, strategies, guidelines, and action plans in Tanzania that aim to address stunting and malnutrition in the country. Next, we examine the trends of stunting in Tanzania and associated determinants. Bringing all the results together, we highlight key strengths and recent improvements while identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement to combat this pervasive issue and ensure a healthier, more productive future for all Tanzanians.