Revised National Food & Nutrition Security Policy.

The Revised National Food & Nutrition Security Policy is a national multisectoral policy of Namibia for the period 2021-2030.
Its main objective is to provide integrated, affordable, accessible, and equitable, quality food and nutrition security services that are responsive to the needs of the population. To realize this mission the policy aims to ensure that the population has access to adequate, safe, quality food and water throughout their life cycle, that always meets their nutrient requirements for optimal healthy and productive lives. The Policy's vision is to reach an optimal food and nutrition security for a healthy and productive nation.
In order to realize its mission the policy relies on 4 objectives: Objective 1 - By 2030, reduce the prevalence of undernourishment from 30.9% to 15% and maintain overweight and obesity among children under five years below 5%,by facilitating the provision of adequate food and nutrition for mothers and children and ensuring optimal health and productivity of the people of Namibia throughout their lifecycle; Objective 2 - By 2030, increase domestic food production of local consumption from 30% to 60% and enhance processing, marketing, and consumption of food to improve access to nutritious and safe food for the populace of Namibia at all times; Objective 3 - By 2030, reduce prevalence of stunting from 24% to 12% through nutrition sensitive interventions and by ensuring access to health care services, sanitation, hygiene, education, and social protection programmes for all people in Namibia; Objective 4 - By 2030, increase investment in food and nutrition security by at least 10% of the national budget annually and ensure an enabling environment for effective coordination and implementation.
Food and nutrition security concerns are multi-sectoral and best addressed through a well-coordinated multi-sectoral approach. Hence, an institutional framework will be initiated with the aim of supporting stakeholders at all levels to successfully operationalise the FNSP. The Government will provide overall leadership of the policy implementation with assistance from development partners, civil society organisations, and research and academic institutions. In support of the multi sectoral approach, the Government will establish a four level Food and Nutrition Security Coordination mechanism for Namibia: national level, regional level, V, community level. The current policy shall not be considered as a static document. Rather, it should be revised as national priorities change and new evidence becomes available. The following eight steps may be followed during the revision of the policy; 1) Policy review 2) research and analysis, 3) stakeholder consultations, 4) draft policy, 5) review and revision, 6) implementation, 7) evaluation and 8) revised policy.
To implement this policy, a detailed Implementation Action Plan of the Food and Nutrition Security Policy has been developed through a multi-sectoral approach (supplementary document). The costed multi-sectoral Implementation Action Plan considers existing implementation plans and strategies under the guidance and supervision of the Office of the Prime Minister.