Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture in Ethiopia: Political Economy Analysis

Abstract

Governments globally are stressing on nutrition interventions combined with nutrition sensitive policies and programs to combat malnutrition. Governance at all levels has been identified as a critical element in ensuring success of national nutrition plan. Ethiopia has an integrated approach to addressing food insecurity and malnutrition; however, there is little clarity about the wider impact of government policy on food and nutrition. Overall, there have been notable successes in nutrition policy in Ethiopia, but significant challenges remain unsolved. Multi-sectoral nutrition governance has been hailed as an effective mechanism to reduce undernutrition. Ethiopia has adopted many approaches and has been implementing nutrition programs with some success, but undernutrition remains high for a range of reasons. This political economy analysis of nutrition sensitive agriculture of Ethiopia will address challenges of nutrition program design, coordination, and implementation, and looks at root causes that remain less understood. If these challenges are to be met successfully, greater consideration of how to address rapidly changing food systems in Ethiopia is needed at national policy level. The focus of government policy needs to shift from food availability to broader issues of food acquisition and particularly food affordability, which is mediated through food prices and waged employment. Ethiopia as country tried to combat food insecurity and malnutrition through different approaches. The country developed National Nutrition program, National food and Nutrition policy, National Nutrition sensitive agriculture strategy and the Seqota Declaration, which all are intended to eradicate poverty and reduce malnutrition. To attain the highest possible food security and nutritional benefits for the people of Ethiopia, it is essential that agriculture, nutrition, and health (ANH) sciences and their related research activities work together in an integrated manner.