Senegal is considered as being on track thanks to new Nutrition for Growth (N4G) commitments, the budgeted plan on exclusive breastfeeding, the Stronger with Breastmilk Only initiative, the road map to improve supplementary feeding and the preparation of national food recommendations. The PSMN 2018–2022 is available and has a communication and advocacy strategy, but this is not being implemented at present. Stakeholders should be re-energized to finalize the decree on the marketing of breast-milk substitutes following the Government reshuffle and change in leadership of several ministries expected in 2022.
The national nutrition review was not carried out in 2021 but is expected to be completed in 2022 by the National Nutrition Development Council (CNDN) with the support of the Ministry of the Economy. The study report on financing the PSMN is being finalized. All stakeholder strategies are aligned with national priorities. In the health sector, the Investing in Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health (ISMEA) project will make CFA 4 billion available for early childhood development in 2020–2024. The Investing in Early Years for Human Development in Senegal (PIPADHS) project is mobilizing CFA 20 billion in 2019–2024. Despite this, securing adequate long-term funding for PSMN interventions remains a challenge.
In 2021, significant efforts were made in researching anaemia and in completing the study on stunting. Senegal received a grant from the SUN Movement Pooled Fund to mobilize and build the capacity of civil society organizations and other nutrition actors in monitoring the implementation of the PSMN at the decentralized level. These stakeholders also received training in innovative finance, the use of theatre (drama) for behaviour change communication, local monitoring and decentralized nutrition action plans. National data were produced on food and nutrition, including through a national survey on food consumption and an assessment of determinants for infant and young child feeding practices, both carried out in 2021.
The CNDN was established to replace the Malnutrition Unit (CLM), and brings together all nutrition actors. Regional development committees were also established. The CNDN is hosted by the General Secretariat of the Government, where it has a budget line. The institutional anchoring of nutrition is progressing through the introduction of nutrition-sensitive local development plans and a dialogue about creating a local authority network for nutrition. As there has not yet been an overall assessment of the implementation of the PSMN, it is not yet possible to evaluate it.