Problem

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) affects approximately 19 million children under the age of 5 and is estimated to account for 400,000 child deaths globally each year. In many low-resource settings, families lack convenient ways to screen for and treat acute malnutrition, and children may progress from moderate malnutrition to more severe, life-threatening conditions before any intervention occurs. Identifying affordable, scalable ways to help children get the nutrition and care they need remains a pressing global health challenge.

In March 2024, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) faced a 31,000 carton shortfall in the supply of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF). Due to IRC’s funding constraints, a reduction in US Government spending to purchase RUTF, and an unreliable supplier, the IRC was seeking alternative sources for their nutrition programs.

Path to Scale

By strengthening clinical partnerships and training, the IRC and MANA aim to integrate RUTF into standard treatment protocols across multiple regions experiencing widespread malnutrition. Their model emphasizes building local capacity—both by equipping frontline health workers to screen and treat malnutrition, and by raising community awareness of the importance of early intervention. This combination of scaling production, community engagement, and government collaboration is designed to reach millions of children, with the ability to replicate the model in additional areas that have similar needs.

Approach

MANA Nutritive Aid Products Incorporated, based in the southern US, strives to combat malnutrition and hunger worldwide. Through innovative partnerships with organizations such as the IRC, MANA has delivered RUTF to 45 countries on 4 continents, feeding over 2.5 million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Our grant to MANA funded the manufacture and distribution of 15,750 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) as part of the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) nutrition programs.

RUTF is a shelf-stable, peanut-based, protein- and calorie-rich product fortified with vitamins and minerals that requires no preparation and can be used in outpatient treatment. Children consume therapeutic food at home while receiving supportive care from local health facilities.

MANA’s implementation approach involves:

• Mass production of high-quality RUTF in accessible packaging.

• Training local clinic staff and community health workers to screen children’s mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and identify malnutrition early.

• Educating caregivers to recognize malnutrition symptoms and administer RUTF safely at home.

• Collaborating with government health agencies to ensure that local health facilities can consistently provide essential resources and follow-up.

Why we think the grant is cost-effective

• High-impact intervention. Untreated severe acute malnutrition increases a child’s likelihood of death by several times, and RUTF treatment substantially reduces this risk.

• Home-based care. With home-based consumption of RUTF, children can recover more quickly, freeing up clinical resources.

• Established supply chains. MANA’s production infrastructure allows for predictable delivery of RUTF at high volumes, keeping per-child treatment costs competitive.

• Alignment with local health systems. By working closely with government clinics and community health workers, the program leverages existing networks rather than creating parallel structures.

Through their implementation approach and by continuing to scale operations, MANA has helped reduce the per-child cost of RUTF since 2010.