Action Contre la Faim (ACF) – a Nutrition Security Approach to tackle under-nutrition (malnutrition?) Lessons from the field, way forward and research needs

1. DRAFT
Breakout Session P1.2 Household Nutrition Security: Speaker’s Brief
ACF Nutrition Security Approach to tackle Under-nutrition. Lessons from the field,
way forward and research needs.
Ms Ait-Aissa (Action Contre la Faim)
Context – the problems being addressed
 Panel discussion and Q&A on meeting nutrition needs through diverse approaches and
regional and national impact pathways;
 Nutrition Security Definitions.
Current activities presented and discussed in the session
Action Contre la Faim (ACF) – a Nutrition Security Approach to tackle under-nutrition
(malnutrition?) Lessons from the field, way forward and research needs:
1. Recall on concepts and terminology: Food Security, Nutrition Security, Nutrition-
sensitive interventions and UNICEF malnutrition conceptual framework;
2. Dispelling the myth: agricultural development does not systematically equal
improved-nutrition;
3. ACF’s approach to maximise the nutritional impacts of food security and livelihoods
interventions. Focus on agriculture and livestock interventions;
4. Case studies: Low-inputs gardens (Zimbabwe), health gardens (Mali), SUSTAIN
(Myanmar), bio-fortification (South & Central America);
5. ACF’s research strategy and key research questions in relation to agriculture and
nutrition: Building evidence on nutrition sensitive interventions (“what works?”),
measuring nutrition outcomes of agricultural interventions, exploring biodiversity for
improved nutrition, multi-sectoral policies, programming and interventions, Nutrition
Causal Analysis and Programme Theory as a key tool for programming nutrition
sensitive interventions, Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) Strategies and
nutrition promotion to complement improvements in crop production and
diversification.
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2. Intended outcomes
Concrete suggestions to move forward on nutrition security: which collaborations, which
funding opportunities etc.
Commitments to collective actions in 2012-2014 (national, regional or international)
i. With existing resources
It depends on the defined collective actions.
ii. With additional support
iii. With specific large scale programme investment
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