Cotonou: More than one in three young children in parts of Benin are growing up with the effects of chronic malnutrition, highlighting a problem that goes far beyond whether families have enough food to eat. In communities across the West African country, poor diets, limited nutrition knowledge, poverty, cultural beliefs and difficult weather conditions are continuing to affect the healthy growth of children.
The problem is especially visible in northern areas such as N’dali, where stunted growth affects more than 30 percent of children under five. Stunting happens when children do not receive enough nutrition over a long period and become shorter than expected for their age. A child affected by stunting may not appear seriously ill, which can make the problem difficult for parents to recognise.
For some families, weight remains the main measure of whether a child is healthy. Height and long term growth receive less attention. Health workers and community volunteers are trying to change this understanding by explaining that a child can have a normal looking weight while still suffering from chronic malnutrition.
The problem is not simply that food is unavailable. Many families in Benin depend on farming and raise chickens, goats and other animals. They may also grow crops such as maize and cassava. However, the food available in a household is not always the food that children need for balanced growth.
In some communities, eggs, milk and other nutritious foods are kept for sale because they provide an important source of income. Families may also follow traditional beliefs that discourage giving certain foods to children or pregnant women. These practices can reduce the amount of protein and other essential nutrients children receive during the most important period of their development.
The first 1,000 days of life, from pregnancy through a child's second birthday, are particularly important. Poor nutrition during this period can affect physical growth, brain development and health later in life. Experts say that once severe stunting becomes established, it can be extremely difficult to reverse.
Benin has been trying to address the problem through nutrition programmes aimed at mothers and young children. A programme launched in 2024 has provided micronutrient supplements and supported school canteens that give children regular hot meals. Community health workers are also visiting households, checking children's growth and helping families understand the warning signs of malnutrition.
The government has set a goal of reducing stunting among children under five to below 30 percent by 2030. It has also made commitments to improve breastfeeding, prevent low birth weight and reduce both chronic and acute malnutrition.
In March 2026, Benin adopted a new national strategy covering food and nutrition for the 2026 to 2030 period. The strategy reflects growing concern that existing efforts have not reduced childhood malnutrition quickly enough and aims to strengthen coordination and investment in nutrition programmes.
The challenge is particularly serious in northern parts of the country, where drought and changing weather patterns can make food production more difficult. Poor harvests can reduce household income and leave families with fewer nutritious foods. Climate pressures therefore add another layer to an already difficult nutrition problem.
Poverty also plays a major role. Families with many children often have to divide limited food and income among several people. Younger and less educated household heads can face additional difficulties in understanding nutritional needs or accessing health services.
The situation in Benin is part of a wider challenge across West and Central Africa. UNICEF estimates that nearly one in three children under five in the region is affected by stunting, while many children do not receive diets containing enough different food groups.
Despite the difficulties, there are signs of progress. School feeding programmes, community health services, nutrition education and support for mothers are giving families more opportunities to improve children's health. The challenge now is to make these programmes reach more households, particularly those living in poor and remote communities.
For Benin, reducing stunting will require more than distributing food or supplements. Families need practical information about what young children should eat, communities need support to reconsider harmful food beliefs, and mothers need access to proper nutrition and health care during pregnancy and after childbirth.
The country's new 2030 target will therefore be an important test. Bringing stunting below 30 percent will require sustained investment and cooperation between the government, health workers, communities and international partners.
The issue is ultimately about more than a child's height. Healthy growth in the early years can shape a person's ability to learn, work and live a healthy life. For thousands of children in Benin, improving nutrition today could have consequences that last well into adulthood.