Nutrition Sector Stakeholders Meet in Cox’s Bazar
Image: PolicyLINK
The December 20, 2021 event welcomed 51 representatives from six public, seven private, 22 nonprofit, and two research institutions
At a first-of-its-kind workshop held in the coastal city of Cox’s Bazar, Policy LINK’s Bangladesh team has brought together a diverse group of regional stakeholders for a series of dialogues around the national nutrition policy framework. The December 20, 2021 event welcomed 51 representatives from six public, seven private, 22 nonprofit, and two research institutions and offered an inclusive space to learn as well as share vital insights.
Dr. Shahidur Bhuiyan, Deputy Country Lead for the Feed the Future Bangladesh Policy LINK Agricultural Policy Activity, provided a walkthrough of the major challenges posed by malnutrition in the country as well as a timeline of relevant policies introduced since 1972 and how they were formulated. In a breakout session aimed at identifying key issues hindering nutrition policy formulation, participants cited inadequate coordination with the grassroots, minimal awareness of policies among system actors, the lack of an established accountability and leadership framework, and gaps in access to critical knowledge and technologies for producers and suppliers.
The event was chaired by Dr. Mohammad Akhlas Uddin, Deputy Director at the Department of Agricultural Extension in Cox’s Bazar. During his closing remarks, Dr. Uddin emphasized the need for greater awareness among the various public and private actors contributing to the market economy of Cox’s Bazar. Other notable participants included the District Fisheries Officer at the Department of Fisheries and the District Livestock Officer at the Department of Livestock Services. Participants called on the Policy Activity to continue offering opportunities for collaboration among sector stakeholders.