Tackling the agriculture-nutrition disconnect in Africa Stuart Gillespie International Food Policy Research Institute and Transform Nutrition 15 March 2017

Most stunting is in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa IMPROVING CHILD NUTRITION: The achievable imperative for global progress. UNICEF 2013

Consequences of malnutrition Child death and illness 25,000 under-fives die every day (11,000 due to malnutrition ie 45%) By far the biggest driver of the global burden of disease Cognitive impairment Lost income-earning potential Annual GDP losses in Africa 11% Intergenerational transmission of stunting Double burden of over- and undernutrition Global epidemic of non-communicable disease (NCDs)

The causes of malnutrition are interconnected Insufficient access to affordable, nutritious FOOD throughout the year Lack of good CARE for mothers & children & support for parents on appropriate child feeding practices Inadequate access to HEALTH sanitation & clean water services ROOTED IN Political & Cultural Environment Disempowerment of women Environmental Degradation Poverty

Why agriculture? Photo: One Acre Fund

What drives progress in nutrition? Contributions to reductions in stunting in developing countries, 1970-2010 (%) Smith & Haddad. "Reducing Child Undernutrition: Past Drivers and Priorities for the Post-MDG Era." World Development 68 (2015): 180-204.

6 pathways between agriculture and nutrition Agriculture as a source of food Agriculture as a source of income Agricultural policy and food prices Women’s employment, time and ability to manage young child care Women’s status, decision making power and control over resource allocation Women’s own health and nutritional status Agriculture is a key driver of poverty reduction but... Pathways to nutrition are diverse and interconnected Source: Gillespie et al., TANDI project

What does an enabling environment for nutrition look like? Framing, knowledge and evidence Politics, policy and governance Capacity and financial resources Impact “Enabling environment” = the wider political and policy processes which build and sustain momentum for the effective implementation of actions that reduce undernutrition Gillespie et al (2013)

pro-nutrition agri-food systems Building pro-nutrition agri-food systems Global Panel 2016

Rethinking food systems for nutrition Agri-food systems are not just about feeding people, they are also for nourishing them. Policymakers and key decision makers need to work throughout the food system to effect diet change. Attacking bits of it will not work. Public and private actors need to come together more to find innovative solutions to providing food that is nutritious safe and affordable, especially to those on lower incomes. Research within the food system needs to be driven to a greater extent by the desire to achieve high quality diets. Better metrics for diet quality and monitoring food system outcomes are needed. Accountability needs to be improved on commitments and actions to strengthen the ability of food systems to support diet diversity and quality.

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