GOVERNMENT has approved the Nutrition Financing Strategy, citing satisfactory progress in efforts to improve food security and nutrition across the country.
The government said the gains are reflected in results showing a reduction in hunger nationwide.
Zimbabwe’s nutrition financing strategy prioritises increasing domestic budgetary allocation for nutrition to reduce the country’s reliance on external donor funding.
Driven by high-level dialogue between the government and UN agencies, the strategy elevates food and nutrition security as a fundamental economic priority to prevent malnutrition from hindering human capital development.
It is aligned with the National Development Strategy 1, guiding co-ordinated food and nutrition-sensitive interventions across government ministries, local authorities and traditional leadership.
Addressing journalists during a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services minister Zhemu Soda said progress in improving food security and nutrition was satisfying, noting that Zimbabwe’s Global Hunger Index score improved from 35.5 in 2000 to 20.9 last year.
“Cabinet noted with satisfaction the progress that has been achieved in improving food security and nutrition, resulting in the reduction of hunger across the country,” he said.
Soda attributed the improvement in food security and nutrition to interventions such as the Pvumvunza-Itwasa Improved Access to Essential Inputs Food Deficit and Drought Mitigation Program.
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He said the nutritional gains are, however, being threatened by the unhealthy and increasing consumption of sugar, sweetened beverages and fast-foods, which have led to the rise of non-communicable diseases.
“The Nutrition Financing Strategy will, therefore, increase resources towards nutrition and non-communicable disease prevention programmes through the deployment of resources from sugar, sweetened beverages, and fast-food tax revenue,” he said.
“The funds will be allocated across the following strategic pillars, namely health and nutrition, land, agriculture and food systems, co-ordination and program management, human capital development, social protection, water, sanitation and hygiene, advocacy and communication, and research development and innovation.”
Disbursement of the funds will be across strategic pillars, namely health and nutrition, land, agriculture and food.
According to Soda, the specific planned interventions will include scaling up nutrition activities with emphasis on first 100 days from pregnancy, primary health care, non-communicable disease prevention programs, traditional and climate-resilient food systems, and youth nutrition and adolescent health initiatives among others.
“Going forward, technical nutrition policies will be translated into accessible and widespread public information.”
