Landscape Analysis: Country Assessment in Mozambique
The country assessment in Mozambique took place on 11-21 January 2010.
Aims and objectives
The aims were to review implementation of effective nutrition actions, build awareness on stunting impact and determinants and create support, and make recommendations for a multisectoral action plan on chronic malnutrition.
Country assessment team
The assessment team was led by the Department of Nutrition of the Ministry of Health, with representatives from the Department of Epidemiology, the Technical Secretariat for Food Security and Nutrition (SETSAN) under the Ministry of Agriculture, UNICEF, WFP, FAO, WHO and Helen Keller International (HKI).
Methodology and study sites
The team conducted a total of 66 interviews with stakeholders at national level in Maputo and with programme managers and service providers in the three regions of Gaza, Manica and Nampula. These regions were selected based on geography and rates of chronic malnutrition, within the regions districts were selected based on rates of low birth weight and food insecurity.
Findings
The assessment found a poor perception of nutrition problems, which in turn was an obstacle to mobilization and allocation of financial resources. Moreover, coordination was inadequate hindering a multisectoral response to the malnutrition.
Consensus meeting and recommendations
Government stakeholders and partners discussed the findings in a smaller consensus meeting on 21 January 2010 and agreed on 34 specific recommendations organised under the headings of food, health and care.
Follow-up action
The results and recommendations from the Landscape Analysis country assessment were presented at the National High-Level Seminar on Chronic Malnutrition on 3 March 2010 attended by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Trade, high level officials from other government sectors, representatives from partner development agencies, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society, and private sector. The workshop resulted in the signing of a declaration of commitment aiming at promoting efforts to reduce chronic undernutrition in the country and the development of a National Strategy for the Reduction of Chronic Malnutrition which was launched in September 2010.
The country team has since then made great advances in implementing a number of the Landscape Analysis country assessment recommendations, especially in the areas of strategy formulation, strengthening nutrition coordination, gaining high level political commitment, and technical capability and management. For example, in order to ensure that implementing partners in the nutrition area share their data with government entities and others, the nutrition partners forum was established. The forum meets monthly to share data and to synergize efforts to better coordinate activities.
Further information and links
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Recommendations from the Landscape Analysis country assessment in Mozambique (Portuguese)
pdf, 338kb -
Final report of the Landscape Analysis country assessment in Mozambique (Portuguese)
pdf, 545kb -
National strategy for reduction of stunting (English)
pdf, 3.56Mb -
National strategy for reduction of stunting (Portuguese)
pdf, 4.31Mb - Nutrition Landscape Information System (NLIS) country profile for Mozambique
- Scaling-Up Nutrition (SUN) country page on Mozambique
- REACH country page on Mozambique
