Indicators and actions to address stunting across multiple sectors relevant at subnational level

Abstract

This qualitative study aimed to draft a set of indicators and actions for subnational level governments to address childhood stunting. It spans three domains: law, policy, and finance. Sub-domains include food control, political economy, agriculture and food systems, education, nutrition, water, sanitation and environment, health, social protection, and finance and governance. Provincial officials, responsible for child wellness policies, were interviewed in the Western Cape (n = 7) and Gauteng (n = 8), South Africa, and Bulawayo (n = 10), Zimbabwe. Findings revealed that data needed to populate the indicators and identify actions were mostly available, but not always easily accessible. Findings further suggest that a well-developed set of indicators and actions can inform advocacy, improve data collection, enhance monitoring, inform policy, and drive governance improvements for stunting reduction. The set of indicators and actions offer potential, with further development, to track political commitment, and advance multisectoral actions to address childhood stunting at subnational level.