1. Africa RISING in the Ethiopian Highlands
Pathways to improved nutrition in the Ethiopian highlands
Kalpana Sharma, Zelalem Lema, Tesfaye Hailu, Kindu Mekonnen, Mariama Fofanah
Introduction
In the Ethiopian highlands, nutritionally-deficient food production and consumption patterns threaten nutrition security, especially for vulnerable women and children. Despite encouraging progress in strengthening nutrition policies and improving nutritional outcomes, under-nutrition remains a significant public health problem in Ethiopia; in 2014, stunting, wasting and underweight of children under five were estimated at 40%, 20% and 9% (Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey 2014). Although Ethiopia recognized the problem and set clear goals under the National Nutrition Program, local implementation remains weak.
Evaluating and identifying current challenges will help mainstream nutrition into existing food production systems and ensure access to nutritious foods.
Findings
Agricultural Pathways
Limited knowledge about diversified crop production system to nutrition
Limited research on soil health and bio-fortification
No strategies to cope with adverse environmental changes
Lack of diversified or nutrition-sensitive farming systems
Lack of expertise and experience in nutrition-sensitive value chain
Inadequate access to and availability of food
Policy and Institutional Issues
Low level of commitment on nutrition sensitive interventions
Poor nutrition advocacy support
Budget constraints
Weak coordination among key actors
Key sectors lack technical expertise and knowledge
Women lack decision-making power
Dietary Practices
Low dietary diversity, diets lack essential micronutrients
Inadequate consumption of animal-source proteins
Lack essential micronutrients in child diets
Recommendations
Agricultural Pathways
Develop short advocacy briefs to highlight the importance of production diversification
Promote bio-fortification to enhance nutritional value of crop/livestock
Increase the availability of animal-source foods
Establish nutrition kitchen gardens
Assess the feasibility of nutrition-sensitive value chain approaches
Identify suitable postharvest technologies facilities to minimize losses
Policy and Institutional Issues
Develop advocacy briefs to highlight the role of agriculture in improving nutrition
Conduct public awareness on nutrition sensitive agriculture.
Assign nutrition champions to strengthen coordination between agriculture and health extension workers
Design training and behavior change materials with key messages relevant for nutrition sensitive agriculture for the different actors.
Jointly train woreda experts, DAs, HEWs and members of IP
Dietary Practices
Promote production and dietary diversification to increase availability of animal-source & vitamin A rich food
Promote nutrition education and behavior change strategies using multiple communication tools and platforms
Integrate gender-sensitive approaches across initiatives to better maximize nutrition impact.
Framework adapted from Feed the Future that shows agriculture, income and gender as main pathways to improve nutrition
Research methodology
Nutrition research was conducted to assess the overall nutrition status of participating and non-participating farmers in Basona and Sinana woredas. Using a household questionnaire administered to 240 households of mothers with children under five, the following key indicators are evaluated: i. Nutrition status of children under five, ii. Household and individual dietary diversity, iii. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAPS) influencing nutrition across various platforms of targeted population, iv. Food security and v. Livestock and crop diversification production patterns.
Additionally, desk research on the national nutrition program policy document, the growth and transformation plan, national strategy for child survival, national strategy for infant feeding, food security strategy, as well as focused group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted.
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