Stakeholders discuss good practices on Food and Nutrition Security and the Right to Food in Sierra Leone
Stakeholders in the food and nutrition sector met on 22nd – 23rd June to share experiences, lessons learnt and capitalize on the promising practices from the implementation of the Mainstreaming Food and Nutrition Security and the Right to Food (FNS&RtF) into the Smallholder Commercialization Programme (SCP) in Sierra Leone.
The two days Capitalization Workshop on Nutrition Governance, Capacity Development and Innovative Activities on Linking Agriculture and Nutrition was organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) at the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown.
Collaboration in promoting food and nutrition security
The Acting FAO Representative, David Mwesigwa told stakeholders that the FNS&RtF project has been aimed at promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture through food-based strategies which is aligned with the country’s Food and Nutrition Security Plan of 2013 - 2013.
“At FAO, we recognise the importance of improving the quality of the diets and in preventing malnutrition”, he stated.
Mr. Mwesigwa noted that the project supported the Government of Sierra Leone by guiding the country’s strategy on the Smallholder Commercialisation Programme and to ensure that the dual objective of wealth creation and improvement of food and nutrition security is realised.
The Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Helmut Kuhmunch stated that capitalisation of experiences is a vital process within the fight against hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition as it brings together different stakeholders and shows their commitment and willingness to collaborate.
Mr. Kuhmunch noted that working on nutrition demands a multi-sectorial approach and involves different actors from agriculture, health, water and sanitation, fisheries and so many others.
He applauded the efforts of the Government of Sierra Leone in streamlining nutrition into its policies and programmes.
The representative from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security , Eddie Bayoh applauded FAO’s commitment in the implementation of the project and capacitating agriculture extension officers across the country.
“It is our mandate as a ministry to ensure food sufficiency in the country, but the production of diverse food and good eating habit is also essential”, he stated.
Remarkable achievements
During the past three years of implementation, the FNS&RtF project received technical support from FAO in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS), Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) and the Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) Secretariat.
The project has succeeded in supporting MAFFS to mainstream nutrition in development plans at national and district levels. Besides, the right to food issues are in process of being integrated into the revised national constitution.
To date, the project has made positive contributions both at national and district level. Notable among them are the incorporation of Food and Nutrition Security and the Right to Food in the Njala University curriculum and pre-service program; development of the Sierra Leone Food Based Dietary Guideline (FBDG) for Healthy Eating which is soon to be launched; in-service training of agriculture extension workers on basic nutrition concepts and strengthening district level coordination mechanisms.
The workshop methodology was a mixture of experience sharing, expert talks, small thematic presentations on promising practices in small groups, and a plenary discussion.
It will be thoroughly documented to make knowledge and information available to a wide range of stakeholders nationally and internationally.
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