Access to nutritious food for children is among the project's objectives. (UNICEF photo) In Madagascar, more than three-quarters of children under two years old still suffer from persistent food poverty. The First Food project, led by the State, UNICEF and local communities, aims to reverse this trend by focusing on sustainable solutions. According to the latest data, 77% of Malagasy children under two years old do not have access to sufficient and diverse food. This concerning situation highlights the major challenges the country faces in child nutrition. To address this, the government, in partnership with UNICEF and local communities, has launched the First Food initiative, a project aimed at improving children's access to nutritious locally-produced food. Initial actions took place in the Androy and Atsimo Andrefana regions. For several days, teams visited families, producers and nutrition agents to understand eating practices and difficulties encountered in food production. These exchanges made it possible to identify solutions adapted to ground realities, taking into account climate and social constraints. Objectives By 2030, First Food aims to strengthen the availability of nutritious food from local production, support agricultural systems more resilient to climate change, and improve access to essential services for children and their families. A dialogue and learning space, called First Food Lab, will support this approach to ensure its sustainability. Beyond the figures, this project reflects collective will. It is about building a future where every child can grow up with the best possible food. Sustainable solutions are not built only for communities, they are built with them. And because every child deserves to start life with healthy nutrition, First Food stands as hope for future generations. Narindra Rakotobe