African Regional Nutrition Strategy (ARNS, 2015 – 2025)

Akoto OseiNutrition Specialist, DSA/AUC

Acknowledgments

• African Union Commission

• UNICEF

• The African Task Force on Food and Nutrition Development (ATFFND)

• European Union

• Consultant – Bjorn Ljungqvist

• The revised nutrition policy was launched by the AU Nutrition Champion, on July 13th, 2015 in Ethiopia.

What motivated the revision?

• ARNS was first developed in 2005, for the period 2005 – 2015

• The revised ARNS is for the period 2015 – 2025

Expiration of the initial policy

What motivated the revision?

Low (< 20 %)

Medium (20 - 29%)

High (30 - 39 %)

Very high (≥ 40%)

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Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 years old

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Persistently high rates of malnutrition

What motivated the revision?

• Renewed focus on improving nutritional status of women and children below 2 years

• Recognition of nutrition as a national development issue

• New policies and commitments

Some paradigm shifts in the approach to nutrition security

Targets to be achieved by 2025

• stunting among children by 40%• child wasting to less than 5%• low birth weight by 30%• exclusive breast-feeding by 50%• anaemia in women of child-bearing

age by 50%• increase of overweight in children and

women

Strategic outcome areas

• Scale-up both direct and indirect nutrition interventions

• Ensure multi-sectoral approach to nutrition

Strategic outcome 1: Guide the development of policies and frameworks for adoption by AU Member State

Strategic outcome areas

• Facilitate collaboration within and among sectors and agencies

• Facilitate evidence generation and sharing of lessons

Strategic outcome 2: Facilitates consensus, “One voice” on nutrition

Strategic outcome areas

• Advocacy to sustain commitment and increase resources for nutrition

• Facilitate alignment of nutrition policies

Strategic outcome 3: Advocate and promote implementation of the ARNS from 2016-2025

Strategic outcome areas

• Ensuring capacity and skills exist • Enhance accountability

Strategic outcome 4: Establish decision-making architecture on implementation of the revised nutrition strategy

Other key element in the strategy

• Implement strategies to address the double burden of malnutrition

THANK YOU