In Ethiopia, the nutrition program is coordinated by ministry of health and co-chaired by ministry of agriculture and education. There are three sub-technical committee under national coordination body: program implementing, food fortifcation, and research. National multi sectoral coordination is progressing and functioning, however sub national level is not progressing very well.
Commitment and policy environment is crucial to bring those change significantly. Food and nutrition, need multi sectoral coordination at high level. There should be accountability and monitoring mechanism for implementing sectors.
All the programs or activities should be supported with operational researches, and strong evidence; they program should be context specific and should meet countries need. Activities includes: increasing the productivity of agricultural system, making agricultural more nutrition sensitive, promotion of the mechanism to reduce post harvest lost, develop values chain, the equitable food distribution system, mandatory food fortification, promotion of food diversification, and bio-fortification. Activities need to be accelerated are: start of small scale food processing technology for reduction of post harvest lost, start of mandatory food fortification, strengthen bio-fortification program, promote consumption diversified food, strengthen coordination mechanism among nutrition sensitive and specific sectors, and strong monitoring and evaluation. The funding should come from multisources: might Government, Donor, private, and industry.
M. masresha tessema