The daunting challenge of malnutrition across the African continent still exists with 163.6 million children and women of reproductive age being anaemic, 58 million children under the age of five being stunted, (Photo: © FAO/Kenya)

9 September 2016, Nairobi – Africa’s progress in the area of nutrition cannot be denied, but it has been slow. Data show that the continent is now facing a triple burden of malnutrition, with the coexistence of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and overweight or obesity within the same population.

The daunting challenge of malnutrition across the African continent still exists with 163.6 million children and women of reproductive age being anaemic, 58 million children under the age of five being stunted, 13.9 million children being underweight, 10.3 million being overweight and 8 percent of adults over 20 years of age suffering from obesity (Global Nutrition Report, 2015).

These facts provided the grounds for a high-level roundtable discussion organized by the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition during the Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) that took place in Nairobi from 5 to 9 September 2016. The overall objective of the roundtable on agriculture, food systems and nutrition was to discuss business opportunities, political priorities and scope for action in promoting healthy diets for all. The Panel brought together influential food experts whose mission is to ensure that agriculture and food systems support access to nutritious foods at all levels and at every stage of life.

The need for a comprehensive policy and education on nutrition

The Forum emphasized the crucial need for comprehensive national nutrition policies and their implementation towards the Sustainable Development Goals and the Malabo Declaration.

“Nutrition has to be crosscutting in all policy making processes and an intersectoral approach needs to be applied across the sectors of agriculture, health, education, trade, finance, as well as research and development and other areas,” said Bukar Tijani,  FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, in his address to the Panel.

“In addition to the policy aspect, the power of education and information can play a pivotal role in bringing down the number of malnourished people and eradicating hunger globally,” he added.

Education and a better understanding of nutrition and nutritious diets are important in changing mindsets and reducing the current level of malnutrition.

Immediate investment for returns in the next 20 years

The meeting agreed that the slow progress in improving nutrition and the current levels of malnutrition has not only affected human lives, but has also had serious economic impacts that can directly affect individuals and indirectly, societies and nations as a whole. Nationwide effects of malnutrition include high losses of human capital, high health system and insurance costs, high economic output foregone, and high constraints to poverty reduction and development goals.

According to the Global Panel on The Cost of Malnutrition and the State of Food and Agriculture (FAO, 2013), “undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight at today’s levels cost the global economy up to US$3.5 trillion”, which majorly hinders governments’ efforts in the fight against poverty.

In the private sector, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can catalyse changes in nutrition improvement. However, there is a need to ensure that policy and institutional monitoring do not undermine the provision of nutritious and quality food which can lead to obesity or other forms of malnutrition.

The impact of food fortification programmes, food quality, and research and value addition was also extensively discussed as additional ways to overcome the current level of malnutrition and ensure that everyone has access to nutritious food all over the world.

Useful links: 

More than US $30 Billion in Commitment to African Agriculture

Commitments made by the private sector

ICN2

Contacts:

Martina Torma | Communications | [email protected]