Launch of Dialogue Series on the African Union’s Year of Nutrition and Food Security
In support of the African Union 2022 Year of Nutrition and Food Security, AKADEMIYA2063 is partnering with the Senegal National Council of Nutrition Development (CNDN) to host continental-level dialogues with a wide group of stakeholders including policymakers, civil society organizations, farmers’ organizations, research institutions, the private sector, and development partners. The first installment of the dialogue series was held on May 5 and focused on taking stock of Africa’s progress towards meeting nutrition and food security targets (video recording linked here).
USAID Chief Nutritionist Shawn Baker highlighted the agency’s cross-cutting approach to integrate nutrition goals across food security, global health, humanitarian assistance, and other sectors.
In his keynote remarks, Dr. Lawrence Haddad (Executive Director for the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition), highlighted that many African countries have demonstrated progress in meeting World Health Assembly targets, including stunting among children under 5. However, progress remains uneven and slower than Asia and other regions, in part due to shocks. Dr. Haddad also emphasized the critical importance of “diversification as the best insurance against shocks,” calling for strong political action and coordination around diversification of production, diets, energy sources, and biodiversity.
Shawn Baker (USAID Chief Nutritionist) participated as a panelist and highlighted USAID’s cross-cutting approach to integrate nutrition goals across food security, global health, humanitarian assistance, and other sectors. In recognition of the opportunity and challenges across the African continent, Mr. Baker noted that 13 of the 18 USAID Nutrition Priority and Strategic Support Countries are located in Africa. Mr. Baker’s remarks also highlighted USAID/Senegal’s significant work contributions to nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programs, with over $80 million invested over the last decade to support the Government of Senegal’s nutrition priorities.
Future installments of the dialogue series will continue to be hosted by AKADEMIYA2063 and the Senegalese CNDN. Planned topics include: 1) food systems-related opportunities and challenges to advancing nutrition; 2) aligning trade and nutrition policies; 3) climate and environmental goals and shifting to more sustainable consumption patterns; and 4) Africa’s rapid urbanization and impacts on diet quality.
For more information about AKADEMIYA2063’s support to the African Union, please contact Alex Pao (apao@usaid.gov).