Tanzania has experienced steady economic growth in recent years. However, 27 percent of the population of Tanzania still live below the poverty line and an additional 8 percent live in extreme poverty.

A significant share of the population remains malnourished, with high stunting (impaired growth due to undernutrition) and increasing rates of overweight, obesity and vitamin and mineral deficiency. An estimated 20 percent of families are unable to afford a diet with sufficient calories, while 59 percent cannot afford a nutritious diet.