What: Regional Consultation on Multisectoral Nutrition Policy Framework for the Eastern Africa Region
Who: The African Union Commission (AUC) and African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN)
When: 30 September - 1 October 2024
Where: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
The African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank's African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) will host a two-day regional consultation in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from September 30 to October 1, 2024, on the development of a Multisectoral Nutrition Policy Framework (MNPF) and funding target for Eastern Africa.
The Eastern Africa meeting follows successful regional consultations in West Africa and Southern Africa on the continent's first unified Nutrition Policy Framework. This consultation will be pivotal for shaping nutrition policy across Eastern Africa. Participants will collaborate on developing a unified approach to addressing malnutrition through a multisectoral strategy, prioritizing high-impact interventions, and establishing sustainable funding mechanisms for nutrition programs.
This regional consultation follows Decision number EX.CL/1367(XLI) by the 41st Ordinary Session held in Lusaka, Zambia, in 2022, which called for developing a multisectoral policy framework and a nutrition investment target to ensure domestic resource allocation for nutrition programming. The outcomes of this consultation will be crucial in guiding policy formulation and advocating for increased investments in nutrition across the region.
The event will gather experts from various sectors, including Health, Nutrition, Education, Agriculture, and Finance, from Eastern African countries. Participants will include high-level representatives from member states, regional bodies such as Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the UN System, and other key stakeholders in the nutrition ecosystem.
Key objectives of the consultation include:
- Establishing a clear understanding of nutrition initiatives' funding sources and financial requirements.
- Generating actionable insights for the MNPF development and financing strategies.
- Strengthening collaboration among various stakeholders in the nutrition sector.
- Sensitizing the Eastern African region on the forthcoming Nutrition for Growth Summit.
The consultation aims to prioritize high-impact interventions across health, social protection, water and sanitation, education, and agriculture sectors to reduce malnutrition in Eastern Africa. It will also develop a unified, multisectoral approach to address malnutrition more effectively, fostering collaboration among various sectors and stakeholders. These outcomes are expected to improve nutrition policies and strategies throughout the region significantly.
For more information, contact Natalie Nkembuh, Communications Lead, African Leaders for Nutrition, [email protected].