West Africa launches landmark nutrition policy framework in Dakar

In a significant step towards combating malnutrition across the continent, the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank’s African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) initiative have kicked off a series of regional consultations, starting with West Africa.

Held in Dakar, Senegal, from August 19-20, 2024, the event marks the beginning of an ambitious effort to create Africa’s first Multisectoral Nutrition Policy Framework (MNPF) and establish an investment target to eradicate malnutrition.

This consultation, the first of five planned across Africa, successfully gathered crucial data and built consensus on strategies to address key nutritional challenges, including stunting, wasting, anaemia, and overweight issues among women, children, and adolescents.

Experts from nine West African countries, along with representatives from various sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and finance, participated in the event. The gathering also included civil society organizations, international agencies like UNICEF and the World Food Programme, and development partners such as the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement and the Canadian International Development Agency.

The initiative is rooted in a resolution from the African Union’s 41st Executive Council meeting in 2022, which called for the creation of a comprehensive policy framework and a dedicated investment target for nutrition.

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Speaking at the event, Ibrahima Gueye, Director of Cabinet for the Prime Minister of Senegal, emphasized the importance of increased funding for nutrition, urging African leaders to recognize that investing in nutrition is investing in the future of their nations.

Gertrude Kara, the African Union Commission’s Technical Advisor for Nutrition Policy, highlighted the significance of this first consultation, noting that the insights gained will inform similar meetings across the continent, ultimately leading to a unified approach to nutrition policy and financing in Africa.

The consultations are also part of the broader effort to prepare African nations for the Nutrition for Growth Summit in France next year, a global event aimed at mobilizing commitments to end malnutrition by 2030.

The outcomes of these regional consultations will play a critical role in shaping Africa’s stance and strategies at this summit.

As the West Africa consultation sets the stage, it serves as a model for other regions, paving the way for a continent-wide strategy to improve nutrition outcomes and ensure sustainable development across Africa.