A second chance: Focusing Zambia's nutrition sector in the context of political change. Analysing Nutrition Governance: Zambia Country Report

Abstract

This study looks at three main dimensions of nutrition governance: intersectoral coordination on the part of government, donor and other high-level bodies; vertical coordination within the country’s nutrition policy and implementation systems, and the modes of funding that are negotiated through, and used to implement, interventions. It also looks at how monitoring and data systems may support or undermine these forms of coordination and organisation, and at the political sustainability of successful interventions or forms of coordination. The study also looks at other political and economic factors that may be influencing malnutrition rates, and their potential importance in the larger picture of combating malnutrition in Zambia. The research was carried out during 2011 and involved both desk research, mainly of Zambian government documents and other grey literature. It also involved interviews conducted by phone during August and September 2011 with various key organisations relating to the national nutrition strategy and its implementation. Following the introduction, two sections deal with the dimensions of the problem and the policy history relating to it. Subsequent sections tackle three main dimensions of governance: horizontal coordination between sectors and government bodies; vertical coordination between central and local bodies, and the ways that funding structures are affecting nutrition activities. The final section presents findings and possible entry points for intervention