INCORPORATING FOOD AND NUTRITION ISSUES INTO DEVELOPMENT PLAN, PROJECT AND PROGRAMMES

Abstract

The notion of food and nutrition has recently been given much attention and practically becomes one of the development concerns to people involved in decision makings. Since the November 1992 International Conference on Nutrition, improving the nutritional status of the people remained to be global issue. Nowadays, most countries, greater than ever, have given much attention to nutrition consideration in their national development plans and implementation strategies. Having realized that nutrition problems being both causes and consequences of underdevelopment, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development has given due emphasis on future incorporation of nutrition concerns in the national and regional development plans. Moreover, increasing the awareness of planners and decision makers is a priority agenda to enhance nutrition planning. Therefore, organizing training workshop to tackle nutrition problems is of paramount importance. It is proved that sectoral strategies alone do not bring about significant changes over the existing nutrition problems, particularly at a household level. It may be an established fact that the emphasis on agricultural development improves the nation's capability to increase food supply. However, the level of improvement does not yet end up with solving what makes the people vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition and why a particular society is liable to the situation even at time of food availability. Such practical and visible conditions had led to a deep investigation of the causes and characteristics of food insecurity and malnutrition, shifting mainly from supply side analysis to funher pinning down of entitlement question. This volume which carries the result of the training workshop on different areas of Nutrition surveillance, vulnerability mapping, population policy, structural adjustment, project preparation and techniques of rapid rural appraisal throws light and exposes the readers on different concerns of nutrition planning. Neither the training nor the issues reflected in this volume by no means are exhaustive but they will generate a demand for further reading and create enthusiasm to further investigate the problems of nutrition planning. It is hoped that, this volume provides a general overview of the papers presented along each session. Most of the practical issues and comments raised in the discussion will surely address the food and nutrition problem and serve as a key instrument to shape up nutrition planning. The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development further encourages regional offices to take up these experiences and build up their own capacity in development of nutrition planning. After all the ultimate objective of all development plans is to improve the nutritional status/well being the society.