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A nutrition conference in South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo repositions nutrition as a development priority
From 24 to 26 May 2016, the South-Kivu Nutrition Conference 2016 on “Repositioning nutrition as a development priority in South Kivu” was held in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was co-organized by the provincial government of South Kivu,…
May 31, 2016 - Last update: February 10, 2023
From 24 to 26 May 2016, the South-Kivu Nutrition Conference 2016 on “Repositioning nutrition as a development priority in South Kivu” was held in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was co-organized by the provincial government of South Kivu, the Provincial Multi-sector Nutrition Committee, and the Provincial Ministry of Public Health with the support of United Nations agencies (UNICEF RDC, FAO, WFP), development partners, science network, private sector and civil society.
The event aimed to establish a favorable multi-sectoral environment for the improvement of nutrition in South Kivu by educating policy-makers and stakeholders on the nutritional situation of children and ways to address it; developing a roadmap and setting up a structure for the governance of nutrition at the provincial level.
The conference was accompanied by an exhibition fair where nutrition stakeholders had the opportunity to showcase their efforts in addressing malnutrition in the province. Moreover, the event hosted the TV show “The Voices of children” (La voix des enfants) that brought together the National Health Minister, UNICEF and child reporters to discuss about children nutritional situation in the province.
The South Kivu Province accounts for 2.78% of the national territory and about 5% of the total population of the Republic Democratic of the Congo, one of the 34 high burden country around the world which collectively carry 90% of the world undernutrition of children. This province counts not only a high proportion of children under five suffering from chronic malnutrition, standing at 53% according to the latest Demographic Health Survey held in 2013-2014, but this trend is, worryingly, on the rise, when compared to numbers in 2001 (with a proportion of under 5 children suffering from chronic malnutrition standing at 48% in 2001).
The main outcome of the event was the signing of a chart (Charte de Bukavu) on key nutrition milestones and commitments in South-Kivu. Learn more about the Charter.
VIew the Agenda, Terms of Reference, flyers and other communication materials (in french)
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