Implementing the Food and Nutrition Security Strategy in Afghanistan
Food and nutrition insecurity is a severe and widespread problem in Afghanistan. About 30 percent of the population is food insecure, and 40 percent of Afghan children under five years of age suffer from chronic undernutrition. The majority of vulnerable and food insecure people live in rural areas, and depend on agriculture and livestock as their main sources of livelihood. The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) developed a strategy to address the critical issues of food and nutrition security. However, its institutional structures and technical and management capacities need strengthening in order to effectively implement this strategy.
Goal
The project assists MAIL and other relevant institutions in improving their capacities to initiate, plan, implement, coordinate and monitor food and nutrition security-related interventions. In addition, environmental sustainability is an important condition for food and nutrition security, and a prominent issue of the strategy. Therefore, the project helps to implement measures that ensure sustainable land use practices and adaptation to climate change.Impact
The project supports the country in improving the food and nutrition security situation of farmers, and rural, urban and semi-urban households. Specifically, the project assists in increasing food production and supplies; reducing the number of food insecure households; improving stability/resilience to drought and other disasters; and enhancing diets and nutrition.Approach
The project builds on the achievements and lessons learned from the previous German-funded project implemented with FAO, concerning the preparation of MAIL’s food security and nutrition strategy. It focuses on building technical capacities, and providing policy assistance and demand-based advisory support services for the effective implementation of the strategy. The outputs include:
- strengthening the competence and presence of MAIL in addressing and promoting food and nutrition security policy issues;
- enhancing food and nutrition security governance and coordination structures at national and local level;
- establishing and improving the food and nutrition security monitoring and evaluation system at national, provincial and district level;
- enhancing the capacity of staff of MAIL, and relevant institutions to implement food and nutrition interventions, and to develop and introduce innovative approaches for improving household food security and nutrition.