Zambia
Joined Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement:
December 2010National multi-stakeholder platform for nutrition:
National Multi-stakeholder Platform (MSP)Country nutrition status
- Yes
- In process
- No
- Costed
- M&E framework
National multi-stakeholder platform (MSP)
copy available)
National nutrition plan
Advocacy and communications framework/plan
Subnational nutrition coordination mechanism
SUN networks in-country presence
Finance for nutrition
Country priorities 2022
- Continuing with the roll out of the second phase of the First 1000 Most Critical Days Programme (MCDP II) to ensure the implementation of nutrition-specific and -sensitive interventions in at least 60 districts.
- Conducting data analysis, report writing and the dissemination of the Food Consumption and Micronutrient Status Survey findings.
- Continuing with the roll out/scale-up of the healthy diet campaign and the Good Food Logo.
Progress towards SUN 3.0 Strategic Objectives (SO)
The signing of the Food and Nutrition Act (Commencement) Order necessitated the drafting of several statutory instruments for its operationalization, including one to legitimize coordination structures at the national and subnational levels. Food and nutrition issues have been incorporated into the draft Eighth National Development Plan, as well as in other sectors’ policies and strategies, such as the National Health Strategic Plan, National Agriculture Policy and Social Protection Policy. The launch of the National Food and Nutrition Policy has not yet been initiated. The development of the new advocacy strategy is ongoing with the support of nutrition cooperating partners.
The 2018 Health Demographic Survey Report and Zambia Statistics Agency projections indicate that Zambia is not on track to achieve its stunting target of 25 per cent by 2026, down from the 2018 baseline of 35 per cent. Poor funding and changing donor priorities have negatively affected the roll-out of interventions to all districts, demonstrating a need for more funding for food and nutrition programmes. The new Government committed to increasing the Community Development Fund, which will go to each parliamentary constituency’s local authorities in 2022 budget estimates. This will provide an opportunity to roll out the MCDP II to more districts as part of decentralization.
Zambia made significant progress in ensuring that nutrition is mainstreamed in sectors through its nutrition planning and budgeting guidelines. However, it has not been possible to determine the actual allocation to the nutrition budget. There is a need to develop a robust and sustainable financing tracking mechanism to monitor nutrition budgets and expenditures at the national and subnational levels. In addition, the Common Result Framework is to be implemented to strengthen the evidence generation systems of line ministries and other stakeholders.
The function of the MSP is to oversee the implementation of SUN initiatives in the country and ensure alignment of the national development framework, sector policies and strategies, including the National Food and Nutrition Strategy. Accordingly, the MSP’s revised terms of reference specify that the role of the Special Committee of Permanent Secretaries on Nutrition is supported by law. The same structure applies to the subnational level and is already in place through Provincial Nutrition Coordinating Committees and Zonal Nutrition Coordinating Committees, which are crucial for creating mutual accountability.
