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Experts task FG, devt partners on sustainable financing for nutrition

Experts have called for multi-sectoral collaboration between relevant ministries , departments and agencies of the federal government , and development partners to address gaps in…

Experts have called for multi-sectoral collaboration between relevant ministries , departments and agencies of the federal government , and development partners to address gaps in financing nutrition in the country.

They made the call Saturday in Abuja during a stakeholders engagement meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning in collaboration with Results for Development (R4D).

The Country Director, Results for Development (R4D) , Dr Hope Uweja, said ministries of health, education, agriculture, water resources, women affairs, and development partners need to come together and take a more uniform and integrated approach to funding nutrition in the country.

He said nutrition accounts for more than 45 percent of the morbidity of children under five, noting that one of the major nutritional challenges in the country is properly placing who is responsible for financing it.

He said, “if you do not know how nutrition is being financed, it is difficult to mobilize resources for it.

“So this project which is being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is to determine the quantum of finance whether by government, development partners or by the private sectors.”

Dr Uweja added that the whole essence of the project is that when the volume of funding and who is funding it is known, stakeholders will then begin to make plans for additional funding, effective resources, and for a more effective use of funding for nutrition in the country.

He said the nutrition resource tracking tool was developed to ensure accountability, track use, as well as ensure cost effectiveness in delivering more value for money.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Olusola Idowu, said the baseline review of resources survey which was conducted at both the national and sub-national levels revealed gaps in nutrition spending across relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) .

Represented by the Director Social Development of the ministry, Dr Sanjo Faniran, she said the gaps needed urgent attention by stakeholders.

She said the federal government has taken steps such as prioritisation of the National Multisectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (NMPFAN 2021-2025) in the National Development Plan (NDP 2021-2030) to improve funding for nutrition.

Dr Lekan Olubajo, Lead Nutrition Resource Tracking study, said there is poor attention to optimum nutrition in children in the country , adding that nutrition is important for national development particularly in children under two years.

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