Addis Ababa: AU, AfDB and FAO hosted a side event on malnutrition on the margins of the AU Summit

A high-level continental meeting focused on addressing malnutrition in Africa called for enhanced partnerships across the African Union (AU) member states, civil society, the private sector, and international organisations to leverage resources in the fight against malnutrition.

The high-level meeting – dubbed, Addressing Malnutrition, Catalysing Africa’s Transformation through Enhanced Multi-Sectoral Investments – was organised on the margins of the 37^th African Union Summit.

The meeting was graced with the presence of H.E. Sahele-Work Zewde, President of Ethiopia; heads of state and governments of nine other African countries; AU commissioners, and senior officials of various international organisations.

While increasing awareness on the on-going initiatives, targeting at reducing stunting, wasting, and other forms of malnutrition, the meeting deliberated on mechanisms for collective and cohesive actions that ensure holistic approaches that can reduce malnutrition in Africa.

In her keynote address, H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, President of Ethiopia, noted that the Ethiopian government has launched the Sekota Declaration in 2015 towards ending stunting in children under two years by 2030.

“This ambitious Declaration was designed to eradicate stunting in children within 15 years by implementing high-impact nutrition-specific, nutrition-sensitive, and infrastructure interventions across multiple sectors, including health, agriculture, and natural resources. The progress we have witnessed so far is truly remarkable,” H.E the President remarked.

Conveying the message of Qu Dongyu, Director-General of FAO, Farayi Zimudzi, FAO’s Representative in Ethiopia underscored the fact that advancing progress against malnutrition will require deliberate and sustainable investment in nutrition and nutrition-sensitive agrifood systems. “There is a need to put in place a set of measures that can ensure sustainability, including inclusive and reliable public and private investments.”

President of African Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina, on his part noted the high-level participants that their decision today would help turn the fortunes of millions of children tomorrow. “Today, we and all the other development partners are here, ready to listen to you, and agree with you on a financing plan to support efforts to reduce malnutrition and stunting in your respective countries,” said Adesina.

About malnutrition in Africa

Stunting remains a significant obstacle to African children with a prevalence of 30.7 percent, which is higher than the global average of 22 percent.

The strong linkage between nutrition and education, especially among children, was boldly underlined since chronic under-nutrition can cause cognitive impairment, leading to delayed enrolment in school, high dropout rates, poor grades, and lower incomes later in life.

According to research, stunted children were 13 percent less likely to be in the right grade for their age, 19 percent less likely to be able to read, 12 percent less likely to be able to write a basic sentence and scored 7 percent lower in math when compared with their non-stunted counterparts.

Among adults, women are particularly at risk across Africa, with more than 40 percent of women of reproductive age suffering from anaemia due to lack of nutrients, while no African country is on track to meet anaemia targets.

Nutrition is at the heart of FAO’s mandate, aiming at raising the levels of the standards of living of people across the world.  While agriculture is the foundation of nutrition, which, in turn is, the foundation of life itself. 

Contact

Meseret Abiy: National Communications Specialist, [email protected],

Abebe D. Banjaw, FAO Eastern Africa Communications, [email protected]

Kakou Kaba: Nutrition Officer, [email protected]