Dear FNS moderator,
I share a lesson learnt from FNS policy development process in Afghanistan. Lesson learnt from my country food and nutrition security policy development process and implementation indicate that inclusive consensus and collaboration of main stake holders on key FNS issues, good ownership, political support and feasible implementation policies are key issues. Over one third of population of this country is food insecure and there is dire need of FNS policy document. National priority program 2 (food for life) that is part of 22 NPP in the country is developed and well owned by government and currently implemented in the country. On the other hand, non-government entities started to produce policy documents that resulted in development of two documents on nutrition and food security, one document with more focus on nutrition and another document having more focus on food security objectives while the two documents overlap each other on sharing aspects of food security and nutrition. However, the process of development of policies somehow moved in isolation from each in real term and involvement of relevant government and CSO materialized not as being the owner the document but for the sake of agreeing to the process. Now the two documents are still not being seriously considered to be implemented by government due to disagreements on one hand and overlaps of strategic objectives on the other hand and thus decision making is challenged and the document process outcome is not clear yet. In summary the process was prescript rather than based on needs and demand of national government.
Best Regards
Akbar Shahristani
Sr. Akbar Shahristani