Nourished: How Africa can build a future free from hunger and malnutrition
This report (PDF) by the Malabo Montpellier Panel identifies interventions that work and recommends options for policies and programs to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in all its forms. African governments can successfully reduce malnutrition, as illustrated by the seven case studies presented in this report. These countries have all been able to carry out successful interventions at the political, institutional, and programmatic level. What is required are policies and interventions that go beyond just increasing agricultural production to making actual improvements in the provision and quality of diets, leveraging the potential of the agriculture sector, and in other rural services such as health, water, sanitation, and hygiene. Only then will it be possible to deliver on the African Union’s aspiration of “a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development” and, in particular, its Malabo Declaration commitment on nutrition. Much progress has been made across the continent, but climate change and protracted crises, coupled with urbanization and a growing double burden of obesity and undernutrition, are threatening to undermine these achievements. Concerted efforts for peace and security are a precondition for nutritional improvement in parts of Africa. There is now a window of opportunity with renewed interest of governments and development partners in nutrition to help deliver on national, continental, and international obligations and targets. Nutrition needs to be prioritized and be at the heart of all efforts.