Zambia
Nutrition for Growth (N4G) commitment
Reported progress
Assessment
1. Increase government expenditure on nutrition to reach the estimated additional US$30 per child under 5 required.
2. Progressively match additional cooperating partner’s resources through new and existing nutrition budget lines.
3. Increase financial contributions by at least 20% annually for the next 10 years.
1.The Government expenditure remained low at approximately US$1.4 per child under 5 required far below the US$30 per child under 5 required.
2. In addition, the government did not progressively match additional donor funding to specific nutrition budget lines as most resources were channeled towards support to fight Covid 19 and support community resilience measures. In 2019/2020, Donors spent significantly more on nutrition-specific budget lines (Management of Malnutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding, Growth Monitoring and Promotion, micronutrient program, and procurement of nutrition support commodities) amounted to US$6 million compared to Government expenditure of US$300,000 on the same budget lines.
3. Annual financial increases have been increasing at an average of 5% below the targeted 20% annually for the next 10 years.
At least half of the individual commitment components are assessed to be off course.
Reducing chronic undernutrition by 50% in the next 10 years.
The recent Zambia Demographic Health Survey (DHS) of 2018 suggests a gradual, yet consistent reduction in nutritional problems in children in Zambia. A comparison of data on key anthropometric measures in the 2013–2014 and the latest 2018 ZDHS shows that all three nutritional status indices (stunting, wasting, and underweight) have improved in the last 5 years. In this period, stunting decreased from 40% to 35%, wasting decreased from 6% to 4%, and the proportion of underweight children decreased from 15% to 12%. The proportion of overweight children (weight-for-height above +2 standard deviations) remained relatively stable from 2013-2014 to 2018 (6% and 5%, respectively). Zambia has managed to reduce malnutrition by 12.5%, from 40.1% in 2013-2014 to 35% in 2018.
Assuming a linear rate of reduction, the stunting prevalence in 2018 (35%) is greater than the required prevalence by this stage (30%) to remain on course with the target of a 50% reduction (20 percentage points) over 10 years.
1. Resolve the human resource and financial gaps in the five key line ministries.
2. Strengthen the governance and coordination mechanisms by establishing direct oversight of progress toward agreed national targets and strengthening the line ministries involved particularly to deliver at community level.
3. Strengthen the functioning and accountability of the National Food and Nutrition Commission of Zambia to adequately coordinate across the key sectors.
1. No Response
2. Various Governance and coordination oversight and coordination structures exist at national and subnational levels, and these include Food and Nutrition Coordinating Committee; National Multistakeholder Platform (MSP); Provincial Nutrition Coordinating Committees; District Nutrition Coordinating Committee; Ward Nutrition Coordinating Committee; Nutrition Support Groups/Zonal groups/ Community Care Groups/ Farmer Groups. The Revised Law on nutrition in Zambia has now legalized the existence of these coordinating governance structures in Zambia
3. The Food and Nutrition Act, of 2020 is now law and its operationalization will strengthen multisectoral coordination at all levels, as well as enhance the effectiveness of the NFNC as a national nutrition coordination entity. Operationalization of this Act has been enshrined in the 8th National Development Plan 2022-2026.
At least half of the individual commitment components are assessed to be on course
Progressively encourage the involvement of the private sector to enable access to affordable and appropriate nutritious foods to mothers, children, and other vulnerable groups.
The private sector was actively involved in the Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network (SBN) that has been coordinating the private sector's involvement in food and nutrition through the Good Food Logo, Healthy Diet Campaigns, and other initiatives in Lusaka, Mongu Mazabuka, Mumbwa. Expansion is in progress to reach at least 12 districts by 2022.
Reported progress shows that private sector involvement is ongoing