What happens when the world’s most effective large-scale anti-stunting programme opens its doors to neighbours in need? Seven low- and middle-income countries just arrived in Pakistan to find out.
Delegates from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Niger, Timor-Leste, and Pakistan have gathered in Islamabad for a landmark South-South knowledge exchange on making social protection systems truly nutrition-sensitive.
And the star of the show? Pakistan’s Benazir Nashonuma Programme – a WFP, UNICEF, and WHO-backed initiative that has delivered some of the strongest nutrition results ever recorded at national scale.
20% Lower Stunting at Six Months
An independent evaluation by Karachi’s prestigious Aga Khan University revealed:
- Children born to mothers enrolled in Benazir Nashonuma are 20% less likely to be stunted by six months compared to non-beneficiaries.
- That’s one of the most powerful impacts ever documented from a cash-plus nutrition programme operating at scale.
Launched in 2020 under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) – Pakistan’s flagship social safety net reaching over 9 million families – Nashonuma targets the critical first 1,000 days from conception to a child’s second birthday.
How it works:
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women receive conditional cash transfers (linked to health check-ups and nutrition counselling)
- Specialised nutritious foods for mothers and children under two
- Behaviour-change communication on breastfeeding, hygiene, and diet
- All delivered through BISP’s world-class digital payment and beneficiary registry system
“No Child Should Face Malnutrition” – President Asif Ali Zardari
Speaking at the opening of the dialogue, President Zardari declared: “Ending malnutrition is both a development priority and a moral responsibility that shapes the future of all nations. Through Benazir Nashonuma, we are proving that when political will meets smart design, transformation is possible.”
BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid added: “The health of today’s children shapes the promise of generations yet unborn. We will continue – and where possible expand – these efforts.”
From Pakistan to the World: 7 Countries Ready to Replicate Success
Delegates from some of the world’s most vulnerable nations are studying every detail of Pakistan’s model:
- How BISP evolved from fragmented welfare schemes into a digitally-powered national platform since 2008
- The power of “cash-plus” interventions (cash + nutrition + behaviour change)
- Using existing social registries to rapidly target the poorest mothers and children
- Cost-effectiveness: strong results at a fraction of the price of traditional nutrition programmes
WFP Pakistan Country Director Coco Ushiyama summed it up: “Pakistan has shown that integrating nutrition into social protection is not just feasible – it’s one of the smartest investments a government can make.”
Global South Takes the Lead
H.E. Ceu Brites, Vice Minister from Timor-Leste and representative of the Global Task Force on Nutrition-Sensitive Social Protection, praised Pakistan’s leadership: “Let us move from ideas to impact – from commitment to collective action. Together, we can create a world where no mother, no child, and no family is left behind.”
The event also highlighted continued support from the Government of France to the Global Task Force.
Why This Matters in 2025
- 149 million children worldwide are still stunted
- Social protection systems now reach billions – but most are still “nutrition-blind”
- Pakistan just proved you can fix that – fast, digitally, and at scale
As one delegate from Niger put it: “If Pakistan can do this while rebuilding after floods and economic shocks, there is hope for all of us.”
