Dakar, Senegal – The African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank Group have launched an initiative to combat malnutrition across Africa. The effort, spearheaded by the African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) in collaboration with the Senegalese government, commenced with a regional consultation in Dakar, Senegal, from August 19-20, 2024.
The event marked the beginning of an ambitious project to establish Africa’s first Multisectoral Nutrition Policy Framework (MNPF) and set investment targets for tackling malnutrition. Participants gathered data, reached consensus on critical interventions, and developed actionable insights to address malnutrition-related issues such as stunting, wasting, anemia, and obesity, especially among women, children, and adolescents.
The consultation brought together experts from healthcare, nutrition, education, agriculture, and finance, representing nine West African countries, including Senegal, Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire. Representatives from civil society organizations, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and key development partners were also present.
This initiative follows a resolution passed during the African Union’s 41st Executive Council meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, in 2022, which called for the development of a multisectoral policy framework and a nutrition investment target to ensure adequate funding for nutrition programs across the continent.
Ibrahima Gueye, Director of Cabinet for the Prime Minister of Senegal, underscored the need for increased funding for nutrition, urging African leaders to take ownership of nutrition goals and commit to mobilizing sustainable resources.
Gertrude Kara, Technical Advisor for Nutrition Policy at the African Union Commission, said insights from this initial consultation will guide similar events across Africa, shaping a comprehensive framework for improving nutrition outcomes continent-wide.
George Ouma, ALN Coordinator at the African Development Bank, noted that the consultation’s holistic approach will influence policies not only in West Africa but across the entire continent.
These consultations will also encourage participation in the upcoming Nutrition for Growth Summit in France, a global event aimed at accelerating progress toward ending malnutrition by 2030.
Participants committed to collaborating on prioritizing high-impact interventions across health, social protection, water and sanitation, education, and agriculture.
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