Maximizing nutrition outcomes within food systems

The Mainstreaming Nutrition within Food Systems publication series represents the culmination of country-based stakeholder consultations conducted by World Vision in 2020. In partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and in collaboration with Action Against Hunger, this process builds upon the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Program initiative begun in 2011.

We used a food systems approach during a multi-month country-level consultation process to reflect the complementary roles played by different actors at all stages of the food chain – from production and processing to retail and consumption of food. In addition to defining practical steps for governments to effectively engage with key food systems actors for transformational, sustainable change, the partners prioritized actions that benefit the most vulnerable communities to ensure that their food security and dietary needs are met.

Through the consultative process, we:

  • Identified, prioritized, and mapped entry points for transformative actions across the food systems

  • Optimized the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs to accelerate progress in promoting healthy diets as a major contributor to address malnutrition

  • Identified key evidence gaps in policy and programmatic areas to inform a future operational research agenda

  • Meaningfully integrated emerging evidence and thinking on levers for change vis-a-vis gender and social inclusion – along with COVID-19, which will remain a major driver of food outcomes over the next few years.

This publication series is for primary use by national policymakers and program implementers.  Each guidance note seeks to define key policy and program priorities for mainstreaming nutrition within key food subsectors (fisheries, forestry, crops, livestock) across select sub-Saharan African contexts. World Vision’s country partners included Ghana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Uganda. For more information on this series, contact Serena Stepanovic, Associate Vice President, Food Security and Livelihoods sector.

Technical Contributions

FAO elearning Academy

Agrifood system pathways to healthy diets: A stepwise approach

The course is available in English, French, and Spanish

Literature Reviews

Maximizing Nutrition in Crop Production Using a Food Systems Approach (PDF)
Maximizing Nutrition in Crop Production Using a Food Systems Approach (PDF)
Maximizing Nutrition in Fisheries and Aquaculture Using a Food Systems Approach (PDF)
Maximizing Nutrition in Fisheries and Aquaculture Using a Food Systems Approach (PDF)
Maximizing Nutrition in Forestry Using a Food Systems Approach (PDF)
Maximizing Nutrition in Forestry Using a Food Systems Approach (PDF)
Maximizing Nutrition in Livestock Using a Food Systems Approach (PDF)
Maximizing Nutrition in Livestock Using a Food Systems Approach (PDF)

Briefs

Maximizing Nutrition in the Crop Production Sector in Ghana (PDF)
Maximizing Nutrition in the Crop Production Sector in Ghana (PDF)
Maximizing Nutrition in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector in Kenya (PDF)
Maximizing Nutrition in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector in Kenya (PDF)
Maximizing Nutrition in Forestry Using a Food Systems Approach (PDF)
Maximizing Nutrition in Forestry Using a Food Systems Approach (PDF)
Maximizing Nutrition in the Livestock Sector in Eswatini and Zimbabwe (PDF)
Maximizing Nutrition in the Livestock Sector in Eswatini and Zimbabwe (PDF)

Guidance Notes

A Guidance Note On Impact Pathways For Mainstreaming Nutrition based on a case study from Ghana (PDF)
A Guidance Note on Impact Pathways for Mainstreaming Nutrition Based on a Case Study From Ghana (PDF)
A Guidance Note On Impact Pathways For Mainstreaming Nutrition based on a case study from Kenya (PDF)
A Guidance Note On Impact Pathways For Mainstreaming Nutrition based on a case study from Kenya (PDF)
A Guidance Note On Impact Pathways For Mainstreaming Nutrition based on a case study from Uganda (PDF)
A Guidance Note On Impact Pathways For Mainstreaming Nutrition based on a case study from Uganda (PDF)
A Guidance Note On Impact Pathways For Mainstreaming Nutrition based on case studies from Eswatini and Zimbabwe (PDF)
A Guidance Note On Impact Pathways For Mainstreaming Nutrition based on case studies from Eswatini and Zimbabwe (PDF)

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