National Food and Nutrition Policy 2013-2018.

The National Food and Nutrition Policy is a policy with a national coverage and applicable to the period 2013-2018, which aims to ensure access to safe, affordable, nutritious and sustainable food. It is based on the Ministry of Health promotion principles, which aim to: strengthen and build healthy public policies; create enabling and supportive environments; build and develop personal life skills for individuals; continue to strengthen reorientation of health services. In addition to health promotion principles, the National Food and Nutrition Policy directs efforts towards addressing the social and environmental determinants of health, in tandem with biological and medical factors. These principles are implemented across key food areas essential for creating focus on the food system.
The Policy aims to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. It provides for the implementation of the National Food and Nutrition Policy Action Plan. The goals and objectives to be attained are contextualized through the following areas: (a) Food, Nutrition and Health; (b) Food Availability, Access and Use; (c) Food Safety. For each goal to be attained, strategies are defined. As regards the Food, Nutrition and Health area, strategies are outlined to prevent malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, and to strengthen food and nutrition education.
The Policy aims at making agriculture more productive and sustainable. In the Food Availability, Access and Use area, special attention is given to the promotion of local food production.
The document aims to increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters. In the area of Food, Nutrition and Health, the document lays down strategies concerning disaster risk management. These strategies include collaboration with the Disaster Advisory Committee on developing operational guidelines for nutrition and infant and young child feeding during emergencies in readiness for first response(during initial rapid assessments).
The Ministry of Health provides the context for the monitoring and evaluation of the National Food and Nutrition Policy. In addition, all actions specified within this policy include measurable indicators which will be regularly monitored. The Ministry of Health will facilitate reviews of the progress of the policy, and seek appropriate input to make modifications as needed and in response to relevant research and data.