ENYA—The African Union Commission (AUC), in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Kenya, has convened the 14th Meeting of the African Task Force on Food and Nutrition Development (ATFFND) and the Regional Economic Communities’ (RECs) Consultation in Mombasa, Kenya .
The meeting under the theme “Advancing the Implementation of African Union Nutrition Policies and Strategies” took place from April 2nd to 5th, 2024.
During the conference, the ATFFND evaluated the progress of the Africa Regional Nutrition Strategy (2016-2025) and discussed how to integrate education and nutrition strategies to drive sustainable development in Africa.
Furthermore, the meeting provided an opportunity to review the progress of key initiatives and provide technical guidance on projects such as the African Union Nutrition Champion Work Plan (2024-2026), African Leaders for Nutrition Initiative, Continental Nutrition Accountability Scorecard, Cost of Hunger in Africa Study, Cost of Food and Nutrition in Africa Studies, Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme, and the Post-Malabo Agenda, among others.
Upon completion, the ATFFND members endorsed the 14th African Task Force for Food and Nutrition Development report and made recommendations to the 5th Specialized Technical Committee for Health, Population, and Drug Control (STC-HPDC-5).
Furthermore, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) Consultative Meeting on Adolescent Nutrition will address the difficulties of anaemia in African women, children, and adolescents, as well as discuss adolescent nutrition, health, and well-being.
This will entail collaborating with REC representatives on key ongoing initiatives at the AUC, such as the She’ll Grow Into It (SGII) adolescent nutrition advocacy campaign, the Draft Concept Note for the Development of the Continental Adolescent Nutrition Strategy, and the Strategic Framework of Prevention and Management of Anaemia.
The RECs Consultative Meeting aimed to raise awareness about adolescents’ unmet nutritional needs, reach agreement on the need for a Continental Adolescent Nutrition Strategy, highlight the negative effects of anaemia on children, adolescents, and women, and discuss with RECs the most effective approaches to supporting adolescent nutrition and anaemia interventions at the country level.
Furthermore, it hoped to build momentum and provide a road map for governments, policymakers, and donors to prioritize investments in adolescent nutrition and anemia prevention.
Both meetings saw active participation from African Union Member States, African Union Commission Departments, African Union Development Agency, Regional Economic Communities, African Development Bank, United Nations Agencies, Intergovernmental Organizations, civil society organizations, and academia.
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