Children who are stunted are unlikely to finish high school and are unlikely to find employment as adults. Stunting means reduced cognitive development. In South Africa, stunting rates sit at 27% - this is a huge segment of the population that will never fully contribute to the economy. This deeply affects the country’s human capital resources as its preparations for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) require a highly developed skillset that comes from fully developed brains. If we are not investing in the prevention of stunting, any investments made in the future will not be as effective. For every single dollar invested in ending stunting, about $18 is generated in economic returns.

Guest: Kopano Matlwa – Executive director of Grow great