On 9th April 2015, the Republic of Botswana joined the SUN Movement with a letter of commitment from the Minister of Agriculture, Patrick Pule Ralotsia. At the time, Botswana had already achieved progress in some areas of food security although challenges remained with food accessibility, quality and utilization. Of particular concern, is the impact of natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, on food and nutrition security. Botswana had also recognised the increasing prevalence of low birth weight, from 8% in 2000 to 13.1% in 2007, which is an indicator of poor maternal nutritional status. The complex multi-sectoral challenge of nutrition has been recognised by leadership in Botswana and they are committed to ensuring that the objectives of nutrition, agriculture and health are mutually reinforcing and are eager to contribute to, and benefit from the sharing and learning from across the SUN Movement.
Botswana
Progress
Nutrition situation
31.4%
Under Five Stunting
13%
Low Birth Weight
20.3%
0-5 Months Exclusive Breastfeeding
7.2%
Under Five Wasting
11.2%
Under Five Overweight
28.5%
Woman Anaemia 15-49 years
11.9%
Adult Blood Glucose (Diabetes)
48%
Adult Overweight
22.4%
Adult Obesity
Strategic objectives
- Bringing people together
- Coherent policy and legal framework
- Aligning programs around a Common Results Framework
- Financial tracking and resource mobilization
In 2015 two interim Ministry of Agriculture focal points were nominated to lead on all SUN Movement-related processes. During the reporting period, the focal points have focused, in particular, on identifying capacity gaps of technocrats and programming experts from the Ministries of Health, Local Government and Social Protection. Currently, they are exploring options of building a Multi-Stakeholder and Multi-Sectoral Platform for nutrition, which was raised as a theme at the first ever National Nutrition Conference held in Gaborone in November 2015.
Last updated: December 2016
2015
There is no multi-stakeholder platform specialised in nutrition yet, but three main options are envisaged to create one, either through the Rural Development Council (RDC) which engages Permanent Secretaries of relevant line ministries on various rural development policy issues, NGOs, and the private sector; through the reconstitution of the multi-sectoral country team assembled by the Ministry of Agriculture that prepared for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)/Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) Nutrition Capacity Development Workshop that took place in Botswana in 2013; or through the revival of the National Early Warning Team (NEWT) reporting structures.
Two interim high-level national government official and technical focal points from the Ministry of Agriculture have been nominated to lead all SUN-related process.
Scientists have been very involved in drafting nutrition relevant legislation. Mobilisation of donors, civil society, United Nations agencies and the private sector on nutrition are to be initiated and the establishment and coordination of in-country networks is seen as a priority.
Last updated: October 2015
The National Nutrition Strategy drafted by the Ministry of Health needs to be reviewed to ensure that it cuts across sectors. The draft Infant and Young Child Feeding Strategy is yet to come into force. In Botswana, food fortification is not mandatory but salt iodisation is, and the Food Control Act builds a strong food safety system. Local industries and trade partners, however, do not comply with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. Advocacy efforts are ongoing to integrate nutrition into the National Development Plan for 2016-20.
Last updated: December 2016
2015
It also has regulations for the marketing of breastmilk substitutes which date to 2005, but, Botswana recognises that their effective implementation remains a challenge due to the behaviors of local industries and other country trade partners. The draft of an Infant and Young Child Feeding Strategy exists but is not yet enacted.
Finally, though food fortification is not mandatory in Botswana, the government provides fortified sorghum and maize products through the Vulnerable Groups Feeding Program.
Last updated: October 2015
No Common Results Framework exists in Botswana yet, but representatives from each sector have been tasked with offering their top management with any assistance needed to mainstream nutrition into their programmes. To facilitate this work, specific nutrition networks within sectors are being established to assess
the levels of nutrition sensitivity of various programmes. Botswana, however, recognises that the understanding nutrition linkages within sectors needs to be strengthened, which will also generate more buy-in from sectors.
Last updated: December 2016
2015
Last updated: October 2015
There is no system in place to track nutrition allocations or expenditures for nutrition across sectors. The One health tool which was used in 2014 to cost the entire Essential Health Service Package revealed that nutrition appeared in 4 main programs covering malnutrition treatment, dietetics labs and food control. To deepen the analysis, Botswana undertook the 3 steps approach with key ministries it currently works on
engaging.
Last updated: December 2016
2015
Last updated: October 2015
SUN Government Focal Point
Kekgonne Baipoledi
Interim SUN Government Focal Point, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture
"Being a nutritionist working within the Ministry of Agriculture, I am convinced that we need to make all sectors and especially agriculture, more nutrition sensitive, by contextualising research into policy processes and the political economy to better characterise "enabling environments" for nutrition sensitive cross-sectoral planning and programming, and shape them into a sustained manner."
Tidimalo Beauty Rakgantswana
(Interim SUN Technical Specialist), Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Research, Statistics Wolicy Development,
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- TBC
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