Book excerpt: Malnutrition is a factor in half of all child deaths, as well as hindering childhood development and increasing the risk of chronic diseases in later life. It is clear that the Millennium Development Goals cannot be reached without significant global efforts to eliminate malnutrition. This report has been jointly produced by UNICEF and the World Bank and examines lessons learned from the development policy agenda to reduce malnutrition levels and promote nutrition programmes. It includes country case studies from India, Madagascar, the Philippines and Tanzania.