On 12 September 2011, the Republic of Benin joined the SUN Movement with a letter from HE, Sabaï Kate, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishery. At the time, Benin had established a multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder platform, the National Council of Food and Nutrition (CAN) under the office of the President . Benin also had a policy document, The Strategic Plan for Food and Nutrition Development (PSDAN) which layed out both nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive approaches to improving nutrition.
“Our vision through the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Food and Nutrition Development: Making Benin a country where every individual has a satisfactory nutritional status in order to participate fully in the development of an emerging Benin” Dr. Boni Yayi, Président de la République du Bénin.
The Food and Nutrition Council, the multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder platform (MSP), has so far been decentralised to 21 of Benin’s 77 communes. An institutional evaluation of this Council took place in November 2016. However, the MSP does not have an annual workplan. A multi-stakeholder group specialising in communication has been established and other technical groups (gender, micronutrients, hygiene, etc.) are in the process of being set up. The civil society, donor and UN agency networks participate in implementing the platform’s nutrition priorities. Commune-level consultation frameworks for nutrition are in place in 21 of Benin’s 77 communes, each with performance indicators.
Last updated: November 2017
Last updated: December 2016
The leadership, centrality and presence of CAN in the food and nutrition sector have been confirmed. Internal communication has been improved: Discussions on nutrition and food security within CAN are increasingly being relayed to member structures. Sustainable partnerships are being built between CAN and the other stakeholders. A new dynamic is currently underway to bring synergy to the AGIR and La Nouvelle Alliance processes for Food Security and Nutrition (NASAN-G8).
The SUN Civil Society Alliance (ASCINB) was launched in February 2015 with a roadmap. It is improving visibility for nutrition and contributing to results.
Donors are providing technical and financial support for the implementation of CAN activities via the donors’ platform. This platform, extended to NGOs, liaises with CAN every two months.
Parliamentarians are committed to the idea of creating a parliamentarian nutrition network.
Last updated: October 2015
Although there is no ongoing analysis of legislation, there are a number of provisions that protect nutrition (iodised salt, vitamin-enriched wheat flour) and agricultural and health policies take nutrition into account, particularly in the adolescent and youth health care strategy and the agricultural strategy. A national nutrition policy is currently being produced. The national protocol for treating acute malnutrition has been updated and a plan to promote breastfeeding has been launched. A cooperation agreement has been signed between the Ministries of Health and Agriculture to implement interventions aimed at promoting good food and nutritional practices. A national communication strategy document for social and behavioural change has been validated, aimed at promoting nutrition. The Department for Food and Applied Nutrition (Ministry of Agriculture) and the Benin Food Safety Agency are responsible for ensuring that texts on food safety are applied although the guidelines are implemented.
Last updated: November 2017
Last updated: December 2016
Sectoral policies (health, agriculture, education, social protection, water and sanitation, etc.) are increasingly part of national strategies and a convergence towards a common pro-nutrition results framework is underway. The agriculture sector is taking nutrition into account by creating a strategic food and nutrition document in the agricultural sector, integrating a nutrition component into agricultural projects and programmes, and creating a framework for action for agriculture and food and nutrition security.
A large-scale advocacy programme has been undertaken with the support of United Nations Agencies, donors and civil society which includes:
Benin has a comprehensive communication plan for nutrition. The CAN is elaborating a road map for implementing a Communication Facility at central, decentralised and community levels. As part of the Community Nutrition Project (PNC) implementation, the National Association of Districts in Benin has developed a communication strategy towards local authorities of several districts.
Last updated: October 2015
The 2016-2025 common results framework to combat chronic malnutrition was validated in 2016 but has not yet been costed. The Food and Nutrition Council is being extended to the commune level. For the moment, feedback of information is therefore being done on a sectoral level. The Food and Nutrition Council is supporting the mainstreaming of nutrition into the third-generation communelevel development plans, with aligned contributions from donors and the UN. It should be noted that the strategic food and nutrition development plan will be updated.
Last updated: November 2017
The 2016-2025 common results framework for the fight against chronic malnutrition is being progressively implemented in communes, particularly as part of the Multisectoral food health and nutrition programme. In parallel, government programmes have progressively aligned with the common results framework. Furthermore, a monitoring and evaluation system is being created for the common results framework. The National Association of Communes of Benin (ANCB) has succeeded in having nutrition integrated into its communal development support funds, thanks to its advocacy efforts.
Last updated: December 2016
Last updated: October 2015
During the vote on the 2017 budget, parliamentarians ensured that funds were allocated to nutrition. The agriculture component of the Commune Development Support Fund (the main objective of which is to provide infrastructure capable of supporting the development of agricultural activities) includes nutrition, in order to support actors in the value chains and encourage good production practices.
Last updated: November 2017
Last updated: December 2016
A nutrition resources monitoring process is ongoing with the support of the SUN Movement Secretariat.
Benin is also working to strengthen political commitment with increasing resources in favour of nutrition. The resource mobilisation strategy is under way (28 million USD mobilised of an estimated need of 144 million USD). While a government budget allocation exists, it does not come close to meeting existing needs.
The government will contribute by 15% of the total cost of the PNMN.
Last updated: October 2015
Roch L. Mongbo
Secrétaire Permanent du Conseil National de l'Alimentation et de la Nutrition
Multisector collaboration for improved nutrition at the subnational level
Food insecurity in West Africa could leave 43 million at risk as coronavirus hits
Reducing stunting through multisectoral efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa
Early years nutrition and child development project in Benin supported by the World Bank
Hunger in Africa continues to rise according to new UN report
Benin to boost food and nutrition security with the support of IFAD