EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Exploring the Nutrition Landscape: Insights from the Kenya Scaling Up Nutrition Event by Ben Schernick

Ben Schernick, Director of the Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia, recently participated in a significant regional gathering in Kenya. This event brought together various civil society alliances from across Eastern and Southern Africa to delve into issues surrounding nutrition under the umbrella of the Scaling Up Nutrition movement.

Namibia has been a member of the Scaling Up Nutrition initiative since 2011, joining forces with around 65 other countries to combat malnutrition in all its forms. Schernick highlighted the three main types of malnutrition: under-nutrition, over-nutrition leading to obesity and related non-communicable diseases, and micronutrient deficiencies. Unfortunately, these forms of malnutrition are on the rise in Africa, particularly in Eastern and Southern regions.

The meeting served as a platform for sharing experiences and insights among diverse country contexts. While some nations, like Namibia, maintain relative stability, others such as South Sudan and Ethiopia grapple with political unrest. Despite these differences, civil society organizations across the board face similar challenges in supporting government efforts to implement nutrition interventions. This involves fostering collaboration across sectors like health, education, agriculture, and gender while ensuring government accountability in fulfilling commitments made at global nutrition summits.

One key focus of discussion was the need for coordinated implementation of food and nutrition security policies, which often face hurdles due to inadequate coordination mechanisms. Honest conversations are vital in addressing what works and what doesn’t, fostering mutual accountability among stakeholders.

Schernick emphasized the role of civil society alliances in this process, underscoring the importance of sharing knowledge and lessons learned. With representatives from over 20 countries and participation from international NGOs and UN agencies, the event provided a rich learning environment. Namibia itself is progressing towards establishing its own UN nutrition network, reflecting a commitment to addressing malnutrition comprehensively.

For Namibia, the urgency of addressing malnutrition couldn’t be clearer. Schernick mentioned ongoing efforts, such as training community health workers in nutrition for health, as part of collaborative initiatives with organizations like the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health and Agriculture.

In essence, the Kenya event facilitated critical discussions and knowledge exchange, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities in the fight against malnutrition. As Schernick concluded, it’s not just about attending such events but also about implementing lessons learned to drive meaningful change on the ground.