UNICEF is committed to working towards a world where every child survives and thrives. Through Goal Area 1 of its Strategic Plan, 2022–2025, UNICEF recognizes that malnutrition prevents millions of children from growing and developing to reach their full potential. This report summarizes the specific contribution of UNICEF child nutrition and development programmes to achieving Strategic Plan results for children in 2024. Despite notable declines in child stunting and increases in the global rate of exclusive breastfeeding over the past few decades, multiple global threats continue to undermine children’s right to nutrition and development, including increasing inequities, rising food prices, conflict and climate crises, and the proliferation of ultraprocessed foods and harmful food environments. Within this context, in 2024, UNICEF programmes aimed to strengthen national systems to deliver nutritious diets, essential services and nurturing care practices to give every child the best chance to survive and thrive across the life course. In 2024, UNICEF implemented child nutrition and development programmes in 130 countries in development and humanitarian contexts across three results areas: (1) nutrition in early childhood, including early stimulation and care; (2) nutrition of school-age children, adolescents and women; and (3) early detection and treatment of malnutrition. UNICEF also played a crucial role in global advocacy, thought leadership and knowledge generation to end child food poverty and tackle the triple burden of malnutrition.