Representatives of the African Development Bank, the African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) initiative, the African Union Commission (AUC), and the government of Botswana came together in Gaborone, Botswana to develop a unified approach to addressing malnutrition in Southern Africa.
The event, held on September 10 and 11, 2024, also drew nutrition experts from 15 countries in the region to support the development of Africa's first-ever Multisectoral Nutrition Policy Framework (MNPF). Participants also discussed high-impact interventions, the establishment of sustainable funding mechanisms for nutrition programs, and financing targets. The consultation outcomes are expected to guide policy formulation and promote increased investments in nutrition across the region.
The call for the development of a multisectoral policy framework and an investment target to ensure adequate funding for nutrition initiatives emerged from the 41st Ordinary Session of the African Union's Executive Council, which was held in July 2022 in Lusaka, Zambia.
The economic and social impacts of malnutrition took center stage in the discussions. One-third of African children under five suffer from stunting, even as obesity is an increasing challenge, with rates reaching 55 percent in some countries.
In her remarks, Dr. Mareko Ramotsababa, Secretary for Primary Health Care in Botswana, observed: "The region is still lagging behind in achieving the goals set for the Africa Agenda 2063, particularly in ending hunger, achieving food security, and improving nutrition. Although there's been some improvement in malnutrition rates in the SADC region recently, child undernutrition remains a significant concern. Most member states have stunting rates surpassing 25 percent and wasting rates exceeding 5 percent. This calls for immediate and concerted action."
Prof. Julio Rakotonirina, African Union Commission Director for Health and Humanitarian Affairs in the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, said: "These statistics must worry us because they stand in the way of achieving our aspiration for Agenda 2063, the Africa We Want. It is clear from these statistics that investing in the nutrition of our people to create a healthy and productive society is an economic imperative and should sit at the very center of Africa's transformation agenda. Investing in better nutrition also makes financial sense. For a typical African country, every dollar invested in reducing chronic undernutrition in children yields a return of $16."
Mr. George Ouma, African Development Bank Coordinator of African Leaders for Nutrition, reflected on the event's significance in the context of the Bank's 60th anniversary, which took place on 9-10 September. "This regional consultation exemplifies the African Development Bank's enduring commitment to advancing multisectoral nutrition strategies. As we celebrate 60 years of the Bank's impact, we're reminded that the mandate from the 41st Ordinary Session in Lusaka in 2022 anchors our gathering," he said. "The urgency of a unified, multisectoral approach to combating malnutrition aligns perfectly with the Bank's six-decade journey of fostering collaborative, cross-sector development initiatives."
The regional consultation for Southern Africa follows one for the West Africa region held in Dakar, Senegal, in August 2024. Under the continental MNPF, regional consultations will take place in all five regions of Africa, culminating in the development of a unified policy and investment target for the entire continent.
The consultations will also help mobilize support for African countries ahead of the Nutrition for Growth Summit scheduled to be held in France in 2025. That Summit, a global event held every four years in the Olympic host country, brings governments and other key stakeholders together to accelerate progress toward ending malnutrition by 2030.
About ALN
The African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) Initiative, spearheaded by the African Development Bank and championed by African leaders, works to galvanise political will and significant investments to end nutrition. Since it was officially endorsed on January 31, 2018, by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Governments, ALN has secured critical commitments from governments across Africa, leading to impactful policy changes and cross-sector collaborations.
