National Multi-Sector Nutrition Policy 2018–2022.

The National Multi-Sector Nutrition Policy 2018–2022 has been developed following the review of the National Nutrition Policy and Strategic Plan 2007–2012. The Policy was reviewed through a consultative process that involved a range of stakeholders including the local leaders and communities, line ministries, civil society, development partners, and the private sectors. The process has taken into consideration the lessons learnt, gaps identified and emerging issues. This new Policy aims at ensuring that evidence-based, high impact nutrition interventions are developed and implemented at scale. The Policy will be implemented in line with the overarching National Development Strategy, which considers nutrition as one of the priority area under the social development thematic area. The Policy is aligned with the Scaling Up Nutrition movement, global declarations and commitments, which Malawi is signatory such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the World Health Assembly targets. The Government of Malawi is indebted to all the people and institutions that were involved in reviewing the Policy.
This NMNP 2018–2022 serves as a guiding document for national nutrition stakeholders, including government, civil society, faith-based organisations, academia, the private sector, and development partners to promote: Evidence-based programming and strengthening of the national nutrition response; Scale up of evidence-based innovative interventions; Re-alignment of nutrition interventions to the current national development strategy, the SUN movement, World Health Assembly targets, the Sustainable Development Goals, and other new global declarations, which the government has signed. The Policy provides the framework and context within which sectoral and other strategic plans and budgets should be coordinated, formulated, implemented and monitored.
The Policy goal aims at a well-nourished Malawian population that effectively contributes to the economic growth and prosperity of the country. The expected outcomes of this Policy are: Improved adolescent, maternal, and child nutrition, and health; Reduced prevalence of overweight and nutrition-related NCDs among the general population; Reduced nutrition-related mortality among children under the age of five years, and the general population; Improved enabling environment for effective coordination and implementation of nutrition-sensitive and specific interventions.
The objectives of the policy are to: Prevent undernutrition with emphasis on children under five, adolescent girls, school-going children, pregnant and lactating women, PLHIV, and other vulnerable groups. Enhance gender equality, equity, protection, participation, and empowerment of adolescent, women, and children for improved nutrition. Treat and control acute malnutrition among children under five, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, PLHIV, and other vulnerable groups. Prevent and manage overweight and nutrition related NCDs. Enhance nutrition education, social mobilisation, and positive behaviour change. vi. Improve delivery of nutrition interventions during emergencies. Create an enabling environment for effective implementation of nutrition interventions. Enhance evidence-based programming through nutrition monitoring, evaluation research, and surveillance.
The successful implementation of the Policy will be guided by the following principles: Right to optimum nutrition; Multi-sectoral approach; Gender Equality and Equity; Decentralization; Community empowerment and participation; Evidenced-based interventions. The Policy has identified eight priority areas that consolidate aspirations contained in the goal and the policy objectives such as: 1. Prevention of undernutrition; 2. Gender equality, equity, protection, participation, and empowerment for improved nutrition; 3. Treatment and control of acute malnutrition; 4. Prevention and management of overweight and nutrition related NCDs; 5. Nutrition education, social mobilisation, and positive behaviour change; 6. Nutrition during emergency situations; 7. Creating an enabling environment for nutrition; 8. Nutrition monitoring, evaluation, research, and surveillance.