Scaling up nutrition in Africa

Malnutrition in Africa remains a critical issue, with one out of five Africans facing this challenge on the continent. The global movement for scaling up nutrition has been gaining momentum, aiming to address the complex web of problems contributing to the crisis beyond food production alone. Gerda Verburg, representing the United Nations, sheds light on the progress made since 2016 and the alignment of global corporations and governments to combat malnutrition effectively. Verburg highlights the essential focus on young children during the first thousand days, promoting breastfeeding as a crucial intervention. She acknowledges the advancements in improving the nutritional status of adolescent girls but expresses concerns about the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent crisis between Russia and Ukraine. Despite these challenges, Verburg commends the resilience of African nations in exploring indigenous crops as nutritious alternatives to combat high food prices. Governments across Africa are demonstrating varying levels of commitment to investing in nutrition. While some are fulfilling promises and allocating budgets to address malnutrition, others are compelled to reprioritize due to the emergencies triggered by the pandemic and escalating prices of essential commodities like food and fuel. Verburg emphasizes the importance of political will in eradicating hunger and malnutrition, urging leaders to prioritize sustainable and prosperous futures for their people. In addition to governmental efforts, Verburg stresses the significance of engaging stakeholders across society to collectively tackle malnutrition. Civil society, NGOs, and action groups play critical roles in holding governments accountable and advocating for nutrition as a priority in political agendas. By involving various sectors of society, including local councils and the private sector, the movement gains momentum to address systemic issues contributing to malnutrition. The involvement of the private sector in combating malnutrition raises questions about accountability and trust. Verburg outlines the criteria for private sector engagement, emphasizing the need for companies to prove their commitment to delivering tangible results in nutrition initiatives. While some corporations exhibit eagerness to contribute positively, others face exclusion from the movement, especially if their practices contradict the movement's principles. Amid concerns about global corporations prioritizing commercial agriculture over supporting vulnerable small-scale farmers, Verburg emphasizes the role of governments in fostering sustainable food systems. She advocates for integrating food systems transformation with climate action and universal health coverage, promoting investments in nutritious food production, creating decent jobs, and mitigating climate impact. By aligning these agendas and prioritizing smallholder farmers, governments can build a compelling business case for sustainable development and combatting malnutrition effectively.