Cameroon

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On 18 February 2013, the Republic of Cameroon joined the SUN Movement with a letter of commitment from HE, André Mama Fouda, Minister of Public Health. At the time, Cameroon had established a National Nutrition Task Force in 2008.

Progress

Bringing people together
 40% 2016

Bringing people together
Coherent policy and legal framework
 27% 2016

Coherent policy and legal framework
Aligning programs around a Common Results Framework
 23% 2016

Aligning programs around a Common Results Framework
Financial tracking and resource mobilization
 8% 2016

Financial tracking and resource mobilization
TOTAL
 25% 2016

TOTAL
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Engaging Elected Representatives

July 1, 2014

Cameroon’s approach to nutrition advocacy has been born out of a long-term neglect for nutrition in the country. Cameroon is among the 36 countries in the world with the largest number of children under five suffering from stunted growth. Nearly 33% of children under five suffer from stunting: equivalent to approximately one million children. Six out of ten children are anaemic (due to iron deficiency).

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Nutrition situation

32.6%

Under Five Stunting

7.6%

Low Birth Weight

28.2%

0-5 Months Exclusive Breastfeeding

5.8%

Under Five Wasting

6.5%

Under Five Overweight

41.5%

Woman Anaemia 15-49 years

5.9%

Adult Blood Glucose (Diabetes)

33.5%

Adult Overweight

11.4%

Adult Obesity
Nutrition Data Definitions

Strategic objectives

The meetings of the Interministerial committee for the fight against malnutrition have permitted an operational plan for the fight against malnutrition to be validated and funds to be released for the creation of a nutritional guide for the public. The four regional platforms are still active and implement local operational plans. Focal points have been nominated for the SUN networks, while a high-level SUN strategic focal point remains to be created. A journalists’ network of has been established for the purposes of advocacy.

Last updated: December 2016

2015
At the national level, coordination is carried out at several levels: within the Interministerial Committee on the fight against malnutrition and within the nutrition working groups at the central and regional level (four regions are concerned: extreme north, north, Adamaoua and east). The nutrition working group meets every month. The multi-stakeholder platform does not yet have sufficient high-level coordination. A political focal point who is either a representative of the Prime Minister or of the President’s office is expected to be appointed.
The Interministerial Committee has been established and is in operation. Its president is the Minister Secretary General of the Prime Minister’s Office.

The civil society platform chaired by Helen Keller International includes various sectors (health, education and agriculture). The civil society platform is mapping actors and developing an action plan. The civil society platform’s activities have been revitalised in anticipation of its legal recognition and launch.

The United Nations network for the SUN Movement, under UNICEF’ leadership, is in operation. Invitations have been sent to other agencies (UNHCR, IFAD, UNFPA).

The French Development Cooperation Agency, representing donors, is working towards creating a platform for donors.

A private sector network for the SUN Movement was launched at the Business Forum on Nutrition (May 2014).

The SUN Movement Business Network was launched in 2014. A consultative framework, an implementing and monitoring mechanism as well as an investment fund for nutrition have been established. A network of members of parliament for the fight against malnutrition is also very active.

Last updated: October 2015

The multisectoral food and nutrition policy has been revised, in accordance with the results of the cost-efficiency analysis of the interventions, with a view to accelerating the reduction in malnutrition. The new policy is anchored in nutrition coordination mechanisms established under the prime minister’s office. The parliamentarians’ network already implements nutrition advocacy and communication actions, so the national media has a raised awareness of the theme of nutrition. A partnership has even been created between the
parliament and the media.

Last updated: December 2016

2015
The strategic guidance document on the fight against malnutrition in the regions of the north, the extreme north, Adamaoua and the east has been approved by the Interministerial Committee and incorporates nutrition into the new strategies for rural development and food security, health, water practices, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), social protection, the advancement of women and educational actions. Nutrition is included in the action plans of United Nations agencies, but tentatively in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework.
Also, a travelling exhibition was held to raise the awareness of traditional leaders, administrative authorities and members of parliament for the drafting of the 2015-2020 Priority Action Plan on the fight against malnutrition. Admittedly, the efforts to implement and disseminate policies must be stepped up.

Last updated: October 2015

In May 2016, development began of the common results framework, based on the new Multisectoral food and nutrition policy, with the technical and logistical support of the local United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) office. The civil society network also participates in this process. Information systems will be integrated into the common results framework in order to monitor the implementation of priority actions to improve nutrition.

Last updated: December 2016

2015
The common results framework has not been developed yet, but the strategic guidance document on the fight against malnutrition has identified the priority areas which will be highlighted to obtain convincing results.
From the perspective of the programmes, direct interventions in the area of nutrition have focused on the “window of opportunity” in the first 1,000 days. The activities are centred on essential nutrition-related actions, the fight against micronutrient deficiencies through a major and large-scale campaign on food fortification and fortification at home using micronutrients in powder form, vitamin A, iron and folic acid supplements; the management of acute malnutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, deworming and maternal nutrition.

Last updated: October 2015

Budgeting for the common results framework will be performed once it has been completed and validated. Furthermore, an activity monitoring and evaluation framework will be developed. A study was performed of the budget allocations for public spending on nutrition for 2015, with the support of the SUN movement secretariat.

Last updated: December 2016

2015
The share of the budget devoted to nutrition has not changed in the sectoral administrations. The budgeting exercise has, however, shown that indirect interventions take up over 90% of the sectors’ budget. With some partners, a major increase in resources has been recorded in 2014.
The costing of the plan can only be achieved once the multisectoral action plan is complete. There is currently no system for monitoring credit financing for nutrition activities and programmes. There is no specific budget line for nutrition. Nevertheless, the advocacy helped to create a budget line on food for infants and young children in the medium-term expenses of the Ministry of Public Health.

Last updated: October 2015

SUN Government Focal Point

Georges Okala
Sub-Director for Food and Nutrition Ministry of Public Health

Donor Convenor

  • France

Key Documents

8 resources found
Cameroon SUN Movement Annual Progress Report 2016
The 2015 SUN Report - Cameroon
SUN_Compendium_ENG_20141026_34Cameroon
Social Mobilisation, Advocacy and Communication for Nutrition
Social Mobilisation, Advocacy and Communication for Nutrition
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