mawuli sablah, chief technical advisor, caadp nutrition at fao regional office for africa

Engaging Businesses in SUN Country National Nutrition Strategies’

SUN Business Network Workshop: East & Southern Africa10-12th June, Nairobi Safari Park Club, Kenya

Mawuli Sablah

Chief Technical Advisor – CAADP Nutrition Mainstreaming – FAO – Regional Office for Africa

Presentation outline

Nutrition Trends in Africa Challenges on food systems and nutrition Opportunities to engage private sector to improve food

system for nutrition Food systems and the private sector; working for nutrition Conclusions

The double burden of malnutrition

Source: WHO Global Database on Body Mass Index

Brazil South Africa Senegal0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Stunted

Undernourished

Over-wt/Obesity

The burden of under-nutrition, overweight & obesity

Data expressed as percentage of population stunted (chdn <5yrs NLiS, DHS), undernourished (population – FAO) and overweight or obese (women 15-49yrs, NLiS, DHS). Data extracted from UN SCN No. 40, 2013 ISSN 1564 – 3743 pg. 23)

Food production, availability, access and utilization

Pressures on natural resources

Climate change

Others,

Rapid urbanization

Increasing population growth

Food Systems,

Human health and nutrition

Climate change, food

insecurityOver-exploitation

of natural resources

Challenges on Food Systems

Urbanization megatrend

Percent

Source: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Population Division Downloaded May 24, 2014

Very little diversity in the way we eat now:

UNDERNOURISHMENT AND OVERACQUISITION TRENDS IN AFRICA (GNR – 2014)

1991 2000 2010 20120

20

40

60

80

100

120

14 1520 22

30 3025 24

56 55 55 55

Neither undernourishment or over acquisitionUndernourishmentOver acquisition

Source: Huffman et al. MCN 2014

Sierra Leone (2008)

Nigeria (2008)

Namibia (2006-2007)

Liberia (2007)

Ghana (2008)

Cameroon (2011)

0 20 40 60 80

Sugary FoodsInfant FormulaFortified infant cerealsEggsVit A - rich foods

Zimbabwe (2005-2006)

Zambia (2007)

Uganda (2011)

Tanzania (2010)

Swaziland (2005-2006)

Malawi (2010)

Madagascar (2008-2009)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Sugary foodsInfant formulaFortified infant cerealsEggsVit A - rich foods

West Africa East Africa

% of children 6-23 mo consuming selected types of foods preceding interview day:

% of children 6-23 mo consuming sugary foods preceding interview day by rural urban sites:

Sierra Leone (2008)

Nigeria (2008)

Namibia (2006-2007)

Liberia (2007)

Ghana (2008)

Cameroon (2011)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

UrbanRural

Zimbabwe (2005-2006)

Zambia (2007)

Uganda (2011)

Tanzania (2010)

Swaziland (2005-2006)

Malawi (2010)

Madagascar (2008-2009)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Urban Rural

West Africa East Africa

Source: Huffman et al. MCN 2014

INDIGENOUS FRUITS – RICH SOURCES OF ASCORBIC ACID, ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS & PROTEIN (Safou & Baobab), MINERALS (Calcium, Iron, Magnesium) (Slide courtesy of F. Smith)

Forest Foods of animal origin contribute bioavailable sources of protein, micronutrients such as iron, zinc (Slide courtesy of F. Smith)

The Food System Is Broken: We Need to Involve All Stakeholder Groups in Finding SolutionsPosted: 05/05/2014 1:43 pm EDT Updated: 05/05/2014 1:59 pm EDT OPed in the Huffington Post by the Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

Basic underlying cause

Poor Quality of dietsOver-processed foods: energy dense, high in sugar, fat, salt

Local foods and indigenous foods considered inferior; foods for the

poor

Changes in the diet of populations

Globalization, urbanization and rising income growth lead to dietary change. Diets include more: • animal food products• fats and oils• Sugars and high levels of salt• ultra-processed foods

Declines in consumption of traditional protein sources including legumes

Opportunities for Private Sector to positively influence the food system

What is the Food System?

Food Systems: includes the entire range of activities from agricultural inputs and productions, through processing, marketing and retailing to consumption.Food systems also involve the people and institutions …and technological environment in which these activities take place (SAFA, 2013)”

Private sector responsibility / Public sector policy

Initial apprehension on engaging private sector on SUN

Agricultural Policy Shifts – Most common:

• Increase output and farm incomes• Improve quality of the products

– Less common:• Combating under-nutrition• Reducing obesity and diet-related NCDs• Promoting healthy diet

THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL’S ZERO HUNGER CHALLENGE

Elements of the Food System

Production up to farm gate

Post harvest supply chain(Farm gate to retailer)

Consumer

R&D, inputs, production, farm

management

Advertising, labelling, education/empowerment,

safety nets, etc.

Marketing, storage, trade, processing,

transportation, retailing

Why Engage the Private Sector in Food Systems for Nutrition?

Determines whether food is available, affordable, acceptable, of adequate quantity and quality

With nutrition transition there is reliance on processed foods and convenient foods

Food companies are influencing the food system by shaping consumer demand and responding to demands

Food systems requires working with all stakeholders and defining joint accountability and shared vision

Adequate dietary intake Health

Access to safe water, sanitation

& adequate HEALTH services

Good nutrition and health

Quantity and quality of actual RESOURCES human, economic & organisational and the way they are controlled

Potential resources: environment, technology, people

How can agriculture contribute?

Adequate maternal & child CARE practices

Household access to safe and

diverse FOOD

Production, processing, storage and marketing of nutritious foods Food

availability - (year round)

Income Access (year

round) Utilization Biodiversity

BiofortificationFortification

Natural and human resource management

Nutrition education

Labor saving technology

Income used for health

and hygiene

Food safety and safe

agriculture practices

Ref:Dufour 2011

1. Incorporate explicit nutrition objectives and indicators

2. Assess the context at the local level,

3. Target the vulnerable and improve equity

4. Collaborate with other sectors

5. Improve the natural resource base..

6 Empower women.

7. Facilitate production diversification with nutrient-dense crops and small-livestock.

8. Improve processing, storage and preservation

9. Expand market access

10. Incorporate nutrition promotion and education

How do we improve Nutrition through Agriculture

Improving complementary feeding with local foods

Approach

Right based approach

Learn, test & adapt practices using practical hands on methods of discovery learning that emphasis observation, experimentation, discussion, analysis and collective decision making.

Nutrition in Farmer & Pastoral Field Schools; EHFP/Nutrition Education

ICN - 2• Political declaration endorsed by

member states (Rome Declaration on Nutrition)

* Framework for action to guide implementation of political commitments on Nutrition

• Defining the rules of engagement, standards, enforcing regulations, tax incentives and compliance monitoring.

Private Sector is accountable - To:

i. Promote value chains for enhanced nutrition, improved processing, storage and preservation while expanding market access

ii. Increase access to micronutrient rich foods; large scale fortification and bio-fortified food products

iii. Diversify household food production and consumption through food-based approaches including animal source foods

iv. promote Nutrition Research and Information systems

v. Promote Nutrition Education, BCC & Advocacy for accountable food business operations

Engage private sector appropriately to improve food system for better nutrition outcomes

Increasing incentives for the private sector to channel inputs and services for enhancing food production and marketing systems that promote increased access to safe and nutritious foods

Ensuring that the operations of the private sector do not endanger and violate the fundamental human right to adequate nutritious food by the most vulnerable groups; women and children

Agricultural productionfor better nutrition –

Private Sector Leadership

Thank you