The CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH) hosted a side discussion at the 6th African Nutrition Epidemiology Conference (ANEC) in Ghana in July 2014. The event explored the role nutrition networks could play in nutrition-sensitive development, particularly related to agriculture. *Presentation provided by the African Centre for Food Security (ACFS) and the University of Kwazulu-Natal.

1. AGRICULTURE-4-NUTRITION CONFERENCEGhana, Accra July 21-25
Dr Joyce Chitja-Acting Academic Leader
Presented by
Richard Jack Kajombo

2. Overview of the Presentation
•Background of ACFS
•Agriculture & Nutrition
•Food Security Dimensions
•The Agency Enhancing Approach
•Projects & Partners

3. Background...
•UKZN ACFS chosen as CoE in Dec 2006
•1stset of MoU’s between UKZN and the constituent members of CoE signed 2012
•These are: Chancellor College, Bunda College, University of Namibia, University of Zimbabwe and Sokoine University.
•Current Curriculum: PGDiploma, Masters and PhD programs
•Research focuses on all dimensions of food security

4. Agriculture and Nutrition
Rationale for strong links between Agriculture and Nutrition
•Malnutritionisbothacauseandconsequenceofpovertyleadingtopoorsocietalandeconomicdevelopment.
•Poornutritionaffectsallaspectsofhealthanddevelopment,someirreversibly.
•Goodunderstandingoffoodsystemsthatdeliveradequatefoodbasketsofgoodnutritionalstatuswouldprovideprogrammaticandpolicydirectionsforappropriate,sustainableandnutritionsensitiveagriculturalplanning.

5. Rationale cont…
•Previous Food Security (FS)focus in African through CAADP has been mostly on improving food availability.
•Food and Nutrition Security is now a central theme in policy and programmes internationally.
•CAADP’s refocus on FS based on its 2014 review is on illuminating the nutrition in the food security agenda. RSA (Food and Nutrition Security Policy)

6. A Multi-Sectoral Approach
•Due to the complexity of improving Food Security, a Multi-Sectoral Approach in Food and Nutrition Security that involves Agriculture, Nutrition, Water, Education, Health etc)

7. Food Security-Dimensions
•Availability-physical existence of food based on own production and national food availability (Concerns: Food diversification and nutritional adequacy)
•Access-enough resources to obtain food depends on production inputs, water , income and prices (concerns: access to nutrition sensitive agricultural planning through extension services and income)
•Stability of Supply nutritious food supply on household level remains constant (Concerns: Macro environment e.g infrastructure, political environment)
•Utilisation & Diet Diversity the body’s physiological ability to utilise food and is affected by health, sanitation and water.

8. Water
•Safe water-(linked to utilisation)
•In RSA, water related illnesses
cause of death among children
less than 14 years old
•Agricultural planning for leafy
greens, tubers and legumes etc)
•Food Preparation
•Hygiene & Education/skills on
water safety

9. Agency Enhancing Approach
•Agency –set of concepts around people centred development that allows people to take actions to meet their needs, manage risks and make progress towards achieving their aspirations (Bennett 2002)
•Focuses on capacity development and empowerment
•Multi-sectoral participation( e.g a need for social scientists)
•A proposal is under review for this proposed work.

11. Some Projects & Partners
•Water Research Commission (Livelihoods , agriculture and gender-Limpopo)
•Traditional Leafy Vegetable (NRF)
•Crop Storage (University Fund)
•Poverty and Food Security-DAFF
•Nutrition, Water and Agriculture (proposed, in review).

12. The End
Thank you for your attention!!!!!!