Community-based food and nutrition programmes: a review and analysis of experience

This report details a process by the Food and Agriculture Organisation aimed at developing a methodology that allows an in-depth assessments of community-based food and nutrition programmes. The overall purpose is to understand what works in terms of community-based food and nutrition programmes, what does not work, why, and how such programmes can be expanded, strengthened and redesigned.

The report presents an in-depth analysis of nine case studies in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The ultimate aim is to improve the quality of community-based nutrition programmes by constructing and making available a simple tool that nutrition programme planners and implementers can use to assess the likely success and sustainability of an on-going or planned programme

The report concludes with the major global challenges of nutrition programmes:

• the complexities of massive urbanisation and the decentralisation processes
• the need for planners to keep abreast of scientific advances and new technologies
• the need for nutrition programmes to develop partnerships with NGOs, academic and research institutions and the private sector
• the complex process of malnutrition from a global to community level
• the fact that there is no single solution to combat malnutrition but rather general guidance on possible directions to pursue
• experience from lessons learned shows that considerable time is needed to redress the global nutrition situation, and that a strong supportive political and policy environment remains essential throughout the period

[adapted from author]