The body responsible for scrutinising UK aid, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (Icai), has completed its first review of the Department for International Development (DfID)'s contribution to improving nutrition.

The UK has a growing role in raising the profile of global nutrition, both through its aid and its work to promote the cause of undernutrition internationally. While the UK has shown increasingly positive commitment to the global fight to end child hunger in recent years, the Icai report is another stark reminder that there is still a long way to go.

DfID's nutrition portfolio was rated "green-amber" in Icai's traffic light system, with its objectives, delivery and learning all scored at this level. On impact, however, it was rated "amber-red".

It should be acknowledged that nutrition had a late start at DfID: the first full nutrition strategy emerged only in 2010. The latest DfID annual report now profiles nutrition progress.

Although DfID's nutrition contributions did increase between 2010 and 2012, more resources need to be raised to meet projected needs – an additional £6.9bn a year, according to the World Bank. DfID has committed £3.3 billion between 2013 and 2020.

Icai is right to call for an increase in the pace and scale of nutrition projects at country level. National health systems also need to be strengthened if we are to accelerate progress.

The report highlights current shortfalls in aid impact by measuring the number of children suffering from stunting, or stunted growth, as a result of poor nutrition during their first 1,000 days of life. But it is vital to measure impact on all forms of undernutrition (stunting, wasting and micronutrient deficiencies), as well as child mortality rates and illnesses contracted during those critical first 1,000 days, which can prompt, or be the consequence of, the most deadly form of malnutrition – severe acute malnutrition.

To help tackle the difficulty in monitoring, DfID-funded programmes should integrate coverage surveys into impact measuring. These surveys calculate the proportion of malnourished children who are currently receiving treatment in a specific area. This gives a sense of perspective, establishing the reach of the programme.

What the Icai report does not mention is the existing WHO global nutrition targets. To reach them by 2025, and then extending to 2030 as part of the post-2015 development agenda, nutrition advocates recommend that all governments – the UK included – need to make even more progressive policy changes and commit better targeted resources to reduce the number of children affected by acute malnutrition by millions every year.

It goes without saying that every initiative that the UK government contributes to has to be part of the solution to undernutrition, not the problem. For example, Icai echoed what NGOs have been saying about the G8 New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition – it is not clear enough how the initiative will reduce undernutrition, and the UK government needs to be able to demonstrate it will.

Icai also points out that the private sector has a role to play on undernutrition, but investments must be made on evidence – on what works, as well as what to avoid or what causes harm.

Recent years have seen good progress by DfID. Now it's time to look further ahead. Icai calls on DfID to issue a new strategy on undernutrition next year – a 10-year plan that, if fully implemented, would give a clearer indication that the UK is doing all it can to tackle global undernutrition. Long-term impact and reaching those most in need should be the focus of such a plan.

Glen Tarman is international advocacy director for Action Against Hunger. Follow @glentarman on Twitter.

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