National Nutrition Policy 2019-2024.

This National Nutrition Policy aims to enhance the coverage, accessibility, and utilization of nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions, preventing stunting and other forms of malnutrition to achieve optimal nutritional status for all Liberians. The Policy emphasizes (i) a multi-sectoral approach to nutrition, fostering collaboration among relevant sectors; (ii) a framework for prioritizing nutrition actions considering limited resources; (iii) the creation of new partnerships with key stakeholders to address undernutrition. The focus is on implementing nutrition-sensitive interventions in agriculture, social protection, education, water sanitation, and hygiene. Objectives include (i) ensuring improved access to proven Direct Nutrition Interventions; (ii) fostering a positive enabling environment for nutrition outcomes; (iii) enhancing awareness and practices of positive nutrition behaviors; and (iv) strengthening coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of multi-sectoral nutrition interventions.
To achieve the objectives the Policy envisages the following (i) reaching a 90% coverage of Direct Nutrition Interventions (DNIs) by 2023 through integrating services into the public health sector, focusing on improving infant and young child feeding, enhancing micronutrient prevention, treating acute malnutrition, and strengthening institutional capacities; (ii) scaling up Nutrition Sensitive Interventions across the SUN platform, emphasizing improved targeting, cross-sectoral integration, and reduction of stunting through a national strategy; (iii) improving Nutrition Governance by incorporating clear nutrition goals into national plans and advocating for increased financial allocations; (iv) enhancing Household Food Security through investments in agricultural production and public-private partnerships; (v) ensuring Consumer Protection through Food Safety by raising awareness, formulating standards, and strengthening enforcement; (vi) improving Nutrition Information Systems to measure trends, track progress, and support evidence-based decision-making; (vii) promoting positive attitudes and behaviors through a communication strategy involving community-based initiatives, influential personalities, and mass media; (viii) implementing programs for school-going children and adolescents, developing nutrition service packages, and integrating nutrition into the school curriculum; and (ix) enhancing emergency preparedness and response by reducing response time, building capacities, and transitioning to climate change-sensitive development processes through various strategies, including reinforcing relevant institutions and empowering communities.
The core sector responsible for the provision of nutrition related services to address the immediate causes of malnutrition is the Ministry of Health. The section responsible for the health sector nutrition program is the Nutrition Division at the Ministry of Health. The Nutrition Division will liaise with relevant stakeholder and line ministries to implement nutrition activities in the county.