National Food and Nutrition Security Policy 2012-2016.

The National Food and Nutrition Security Policy is a national sectoral policy of Sierra Leone. It is in force for the period of 2012–2016. Its objective is to improve the current nutritional status of the population, especially infants and young children, pregnant and lactating women and other vulnerable groups in Sierra Leone. The objective of the policy is divided into 8 strategic objectives with relevant key strategies.
The first strategic objective aims to undertake advocacy for policy makers, policy advisors and programme designers at national and district levels on nutrition and its relationship to development. To this end, the relevant policy is that all relevant organizations will integrate nutrition considerations in programmes and activities.
The second strategic objective targets to actively promote and facilitate adequate household food security (quantity, quality and safety) to satisfy the daily dietary needs of the population. For this, small-scale farmers should be provided with effective support to improve domestic food production. This will be achieved, among others, by increasing production and supply of food and improving access to food. Concrete measures for the objective will include among others: ensuring availability of adequate and appropriate technologies together with improved agricultural inputs at the appropriate time especially for the poorer groups; strengthening and implementing community based agriculture extension services; collaborating with private sector to improve food storage, processing with value addition, marketing and distribution systems for local markets; documenting, promoting and improving indigenous food processing techniques and their use at the household level; promote food diversification in communities and at all levels; identifying and implementing income generating ventures which are sustainable for rural women; strengthening and implementing national food standards and laws including code and guidelines on food safety and hygiene for locally produced and imported foods etc.
Strategic objective three plans to promote adoption of appropriate feeding practices by households. This aims to protect, promote and support early and exclusive breastfeeding of infants including HIV infected infants from birth until six months, followed by introduction of nutritious and appropriate complementary foods with continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond and promoting appropriate feeding practices for the family especially pregnant and lactating women and other vulnerable groups at facility and community levels.
The fourth strategic objective promotes preventive measures against nutrition related diseases providing that antenatal, postnatal and the family package services should be introduced and promoted at the community level especially through outreach clinics.
Strategic objective five aims to provide curative services to individuals who are either malnourished or present a condition requiring diet therapy. In addition, according to the document, community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition approach should be integrated into child survival and development initiatives.
The sixth strategic objective provides to institute a nutritional surveillance system for monitoring the food and nutrition situation in the country. It specifies that a regular and coordinated food and nutrition system that assists in long term health and development planning, programme management, timely warning and design of intervention programmes should be instituted.
The seventh strategic objective targets to promote operational research and periodic surveys into food and nutrition issues. It indicates that effective operational research and periodic surveys aimed at improving food security and nutrition should be integrated into programmes of relevant research institutions.
The last strategic objective aims to coordinate activities of relevant agencies involved in food and nutrition issues. To this end, it notes that Nutrition Division of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation should ensure that activities to address nutrition issues are reflected in plans of other programmes and implemented in a multisectoral, coordinated manner.
According to the document, implementation of activities under the Policy will be undertaken in a multi-sectoral way. For this reason, there is a need for a coordinating body at the national level. Membership of this task force comprises representatives from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, United Nations agencies and NGOs with expertise in nutrition.