Briefing Paper - Undernutrition: What Works

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    Undernutrition: What works?

    Worldwide progress in reducing rates of child-hood undernutrition has been relatively slowand variable. Indeed, in too many countries, rates are

    unacceptably high. There is no doubt that the fight

    against undernutrition will remain relevant for manyyears to come. Nevertheless, behind the global statis-

    tics lie some success stories. This briefing is based on

    the outcome of secondary research which examines

    five such stories Brazil, Peru, Mozambique, Malawi

    and Bangladesh which have had relative success

    in bringing down their rates of undernutrition over the

    past fifteen years, in the quest to find out why and

    how these countries in particular have been success-

    ful. Research aimed to identify policies and practises

    implemented to facilitate the success and analysethe extent to which a reduction in undernutrition has

    been achieved due to a responsive policy environment

    and or social/civil initiatives. Drawing on evidence pre-

    sented in the full report, this briefing presents these six

    key success factors in turn, selecting particular exam-

    ples which stand out, from case studies examined.

    Key messages

    A combination of six key success factors strong

    political will, civil society participation and owner-

    ship, a multi sectoral and multi phase approach,

    institutional coordination and contintuity of sus-

    tainable financial investment make up an ideal

    enabling environment, which if in place should

    facilitate a reduction in rates of childhood undernu-

    trition. In contexts with the most demonstrable suc-

    cess all six factors are present in varying degrees.

    Even in some places which have managed to

    successfully reduce rates of undernutrion, rates

    remain unacceptably high. These are peaceful,

    non emergency settings, yet high rates of under-nutrition persist. Surely this demonstrates that

    undernutrition is not just an emergency issue.

    In fact, addressing undernutrition is clearly linked

    to poverty reduction; concrete steps can be taken

    as the case studies show.

    Strong political will is key if the fight against hun-

    ger and undernutrition is to suceed. Governments

    with the political will and a signed, demonstrable

    Undernutrition: What works?

    A policy briefing

    Executive summary January 2011

    Action Against Hunger | ACF International is an international humanitarian organisation committed to ending child hunger. Recognised as a

    leader in the fight against malnutrition, ACF works to save the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with sustainable

    access to safe water and long-term solutions to hunger. With 30 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster and

    chronic food insecurity, ACF runs life-saving programmes in some 40 countries benefiting nearly 5 million people each year.

    Action Against Hunger www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk

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    commitment have put nutrition at the top of their

    political agenda, with positive results.

    Civil society ownership and participation sig-

    nificantly contributes to the development of viable

    and sustainable policies. Civil society participa-

    tion in the policy making process, and subsequent

    ownership of the policies and practises developed

    and implemented at community level is essential. It

    is likely to improve acceptance and impact among

    affected populations.

    Undernutrition touches upon a wide range of sec-

    tors, including health, food security, agriculture,

    water and sanitation, education, gender, eco-

    nomic and social development. This multi-causal-ity requires promoting a functional multi-sectoral

    approach in order to enhance policy coherence

    and coordination.

    Long-term, sustained and scaled-up action to

    reduce undernutrition is more likely to succeed

    with an institutionalised coordination council in

    place. These bodies need strong political back-up

    to be able to mainstream nutrition and food secu-

    rity in other ministries and institutions, and enoughfinancial resources to be effective.

    The importance ofcontinued fi nancial invest-

    ment from host governments and the international

    donor community cannot be overstated. This is

    particularly relevant in cases where budget sup-

    port is compulsory for policy effectiveness, as in

    Bangladesh, Malawi and Mozambique.

    Box 1: Background

    In order to find out why some countries have had

    relative success in bringing down undernutrition

    rates, while others have not, ACFIN has embarkedon a research project, entitled Zero Hunger. In

    the first phase of this project, trends in indicators

    relating to undernutrition were analysed. On

    the basis of these trends, five case studies

    with demonstrable success in reducing rates of

    undernutrition were selected for further analysis:

    Brazil, Peru, Bangladesh, Mozambique and

    Malawi. Research then involved critical analysis

    of policies and best practise implemented to

    facilitate this success, with the aim of identifying

    common success factors which have together

    led to a reduction in rates of undernutrition for

    the case studies in question. The outcome of

    this part of the project forms the basis for this

    policy briefing.The second phase of Zero Hunger

    involves analysis of the extent to which these

    success factors are applicable in a context in

    which undernutrition is a recurring problem; Niger.

    The aim is to see if the lessons learned and best

    practise can be integrated in Niger and beyond.

    Barriers to implementation are identified, alongside

    recommendations for overcoming such obstacles.

    The third phase of Zero Hunger involves analysis

    of regional level institutions in West Africa, which

    are involved in the prevention and treatment of

    undernutrition. It will examine both policy making

    processes and mechanisms.

    Brazil Peru Bangladesh Mozambique Malawi

    Strong political will

    Civil society ownership and participation

    Multi-sectoral approach

    Institutional co-ordination

    Continued fi nancial investment

    Table 1: Most signifi cant enabling factors by case study

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    Introduction

    ACFIN recognises that undernutrition rates in many

    countries (including in some of the cases examined)

    are unacceptably high. Nevertheless some positive

    strides have been made, as outlined in this report. It

    is important to learn from these contexts so that our

    contribution to the fight against hunger builds on what

    has already been achieved. By highlighting examples

    of best practise and key policy required for successful

    nutrition outcomes, this research provides important

    lessons for policy makers and practitioners alike.

    Drawing on evidence presented in the full report,

    this briefing presents six key enabling factors in

    turn, selecting particular examples which stand out,

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    from case studies examined. It will not include best

    practises identified at the programme level in case

    study contexts, or challenges ahead. These can be

    found in the full report.1 The case studies analysed

    are an example of how a combination of effective

    policy development, good practise at programmelevel, made possible by sustainable investment, some

    countries have achieved positive results in their nutri-

    tion and hunger rates; evidence that reducing hunger

    and under nutrition is an attainable goal. All contexts

    studied have prioritised food and nutritional security,

    recognising that hunger and undernutrition represent

    major challenges.

    Key fi ndings

    Strong political will

    First, the importance ofstrong political will. Despite

    widely differing contexts (players, political economy

    and social dynamics) in all five case studies, strong

    political commitment to reducing undernutrition is

    present, as indicated in Table 1, above.

    Perhaps the most outstanding example of the impor-

    tance of political will is found in Brazil. Here, the

    fight against hunger has been at the centre of social

    policy-making since 2002. This political impetus has

    promoted policy coherence (social, education and

    agriculture policies), appropriate resource allocation

    and stakeholder participation. The Brazilian govern-

    ment has focused on covering basic needs, by inte-

    grating Millennium Development Goals into policy,2and developing the national Zero Hunger (Fome Zero)

    Programme as a decisive tool. At the core of the Zero

    Hunger Programme is the promotion of Brazilian citi-

    zens right to adequate food through nutritional secu-

    rity and social inclusion.3 This rights-based approach

    is enshrined in the Food and Nutritional Security

    Organic Law passed in September 2006. The Right

    to Food approach strengthens the engagement to fight

    against hunger by legally binding the government to

    fulfil its commitments.

    The government ofPeru has placed the fight against

    child undernutrition at the top of the political agenda.

    Resources to address both the determinants of under-

    nutrition and to improve the delivery of nutrition inter-

    ventions through health services are in place. A joint

    UN and NGO initiative, Reduce Child Undernutrition,

    argues that stunting is the most significant handicap

    preventing economic and social development in

    Peru. As part of its advocacy effort, Reduce Child-

    hood Undernutrition invited all presidential candidates

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    to commit themselves to the reduction of stunting if

    elected. President Alan Garcia committed to reduce

    stunting by 5% during his five-year mandate (2006-

    2011). As a consequence, the government of Peru

    has placed the fight against child undernutrition at the

    top of the political agenda, a priority manifested in themajor national strategy, Crecer(to grow).

    Malawi has also demonstrated a strong political com-

    mitment to fighting hunger with extra impetus given

    by the direct engagement of the Presidency. In 2004,

    the Department of Nutrition, HIV and Aids was estab-

    lished under the Office of the President and Cabinet

    (OPC), and since 2006 has been managed directly

    under the aegis of the OPC, rather than under the Min-

    istry of Health, as in most sub-Saharan countries. The

    Department is led by Dr Mary Shewa, an extremely

    motivated and committed individual. Indeed some

    commentators note that Malawis success is largely

    due to her strong leadership; there is no doubt that

    having a strong figure head is beneficial. This high

    level political engagement has led to more coherent

    policy development and in particular the formulation

    of the national nutrition policy. While critics argue the

    nutrition policy emphasises treatment rather than

    prevention, it does address many key determinants

    of nutritional status including prevention, therapeutic

    interventions and food-based approaches. Malawis

    Growth and Development Strategy (2006-2011) high-

    lights six key priority areas, three of which are directly

    relevant to the fight against hunger: prevention and

    management of nutrition disorders and HIV/Aids,

    agriculture and food security and irrigation and waterdevelopment. Government commitment to these three

    areas was highlighted by a significant budget increase

    between 2005/6 and 2008/9: growth averaged 35%,

    44%, and 115% a year, respectively.4

    Civil society ownership and participation

    The fight against hunger in Brazil started 30 years

    ago as a civil society initiative. Here, decades of pres-

    sure from populations demanding transparency and

    accountability led to governments opening dialogue

    with civil society. Civil society (scientific experts, com-

    munity-based organisations, NGOs, solidarity com-

    mittees etc) has continued to push public institutions

    to address hunger as a key political issue. The space

    for participation promoted by the government, espe-

    cially since 2002, has been a decisive boost to the

    empowerment of civil society. The National Council for

    Food and Nutrition Security, under direct control of the

    president, is the most visible example of a number of

    initiatives promoting participatory budgets, implement-

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    ing local committees and monitoring social actions.

    The Council takes a multi-sector and multi-stakeholder

    approach by integrating and coordinating all ministries

    concerned (social action, public health, agriculture),and has played a key role in the promotion of national

    policies in the fight against hunger.

    Multi sectoral approach

    Mozambique provides a good example of the multi-

    sector approach to food and nutrition security. In

    Mozambique, a wide range of stakeholders such as

    the government, NGOs and several civil society insti-

    tutions are involved in complementary initiatives. Theagricultural sector provides a good example of this

    complementarity. In response to rapidly rising prices

    during the food crisis, the government introduced a

    plan to increase agricultural production between 2008

    and 2011 and reduce Mozambiques future vulnerabil-

    ity, 10% of the budget was committed to agriculture, in

    line with the CAADP target.5 In conjunction with this,

    WFP has implemented the cross-border food trade

    monitoring system. The system monitors previously

    unrecorded informal trade flows across borders andincorporates data into national food balance sheets to

    improve the allocation of food aid and the management

    of national food stocks. It also informs trade policy and

    procurement decisions, contributes to the design and

    targeting of agri-business development programmesand, by tracking agricultural imports, serves as an

    early-warning indicator for crop-production decisions

    in coming seasons.

    Mozambiques National Adaptation Programme of

    Action (NAPA), prepared in 2007, sets out priorities

    for the management of risk and natural disaster in the

    shadow of climate change. Closely associated with

    this, is the disaster management institute, which was

    set up in 2000, reflecting the governments commit-ment to disaster preparedness and response. In terms

    of health, the Ministry of Health developed a strategic

    plan for nutritional development in 2005. Focused on

    prevention, capacity building and advocacy, there are

    six key priorities relating to micronutrient deficiency,

    anaemia, iodine deficiency, chronic undernutrition and

    capacity development in nutrition research and advo-

    cacy. At the same time, the Government of Mozam-

    bique recognises the link between undernutrition

    and HIV/Aids and so has incorporated an integrated

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    approach to nutrition related to HIV into its Strategic

    Plan (2004 2008).

    Bangladesh provides another good example of the

    importance of implementing a multi sectoral approach.

    The National Food and Nutrition Policy formulated in1997 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

    (MoHFW) was a first attempt to include food diver-

    sification, health and nutrition as key priorities in the

    national food security system. This later evolved into

    the National Food Policy (NFP) of 2006 which aims

    to ensure food security for all by increasing food pro-

    duction and attaining self-sufficiency.6 The NFP was

    formulated by the Ministry of Food and Disaster Man-

    agement in coordination with partner ministries, devel-

    opment partners and NGOs. It is an unprecedented

    attempt to consolidate and harmonise existing policy

    frameworks and actions for addressing all dimen-

    sions of food security. The NFP framework is articu-

    lated around three core objectives: the adequate and

    stable supply of safe and nutritious food; increased

    purchasing power and improved access to food, and

    adequate nutrition for all individuals, especially women

    and children.

    Nutrition issues are addressed in the MoHFWs

    Health, Nutrition and Population Sector Programme

    (HNPSP), and also by complementary actions from

    the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Fisheries

    and Livestock, among others. Key interventions that

    are currently being implemented under the HNPSP

    include growth monitoring and promotion, infant and

    young child feeding, prevention and control of anae-mia, prevention and control of vitamin A and iodine

    deficiency. In addition to this, the government of Bang-

    ladesh implements a Public Food Distribution System

    (PFDS) to address shortfalls in household access to

    food. Assistance is mainly in the form of food or cash

    based transfers and is targeted at poor and vulner-

    able groups.

    One of the best examples of an effecive multi sectoral

    approach is found in Brazil. Here, initiatives in vari-

    ous sectors are implemented a complementary way

    to achieve one goal; a reduction in undernutrition. The

    parallel promotion of the different health services and

    nutrition education basic packages, access to safe

    water and sanitation programmes, social protection

    programs (cash transfers to purchase food and essen-

    tial goods), school feeding initiatives, food production

    and household income generation initiatives are key to

    this success. The Fome Zero progamme itself involves

    work across sectors. Fome Zero is structured around

    four main axes: access to food, income generating

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    activites, social mobilisation and strenghtening small-

    holder agriculture. There are many initiatives designed

    to improve access to food, the most noteworthy being

    the Bolsa Familia programme, a conditional cash

    transfer (CCT) scheme now covering twelve millionfamilies.7 In order to receive the cash up to a maxi-

    mum of US$ 42 per month 8 families must agree to

    the following conditions: health and nutritional follow

    ups for all family members, enrolment in school cou-

    pled with good attendance rates for school age chil-

    dren, and attendance at nutrition education seesions.

    Strengthening smallholder agriculture is conducted

    through a number of programmes, one of which is the

    small holder credit programme. This facilitates access

    to investment capital, and the food acquisition pro-gramme ensures state purchases for public institutions

    (hospitals, schools and prisons) or for the creation

    of national reserves.9 Alongside these activities, the

    Government of Brazil has identified public health as a

    top priority. The main four initiatives developed include

    efforts to expand overall health services coverage,

    reduce crude child and maternal mortality, expand

    infant vaccination coverage and reduce rates of HIV/

    Aids and malaria.

    Institutional coordination

    Institutional coordination in Peru has been strength-

    ened by the consolidation of nutrition programmes into

    one integrated nutrition plan (Plan Integral Nutricional).The Inter ministerial Social Affairs Commission (CIAS)

    now coordinates 26 programmes in the fight against

    child undernutrition. Originally encompassing a hefty

    82 separate programmes, the Government of Peru

    recognised the need to improve efficiency and so

    fused some programmes and cut others. This drastic

    slim lining strategy has led to improved efficiency and

    effectiveness, helping focus efforts and resources on

    the main objectives of reducing stunting and anaemia

    among infants aged 6-36 months and their mothers

    and, reducing anaemia in 3 to 12 year-olds.

    Crecer(which means to grow) is a key intervention

    implemented at national level by government (national,

    regional and local), cooperation agencies, civil society

    and private entities, with the aim of overcoming poverty

    and chronic undernutrition. It aims, by 2011 to reduce

    chronic undernutrition in under 5s by 9% and reduce

    poverty by 30%. Crecerinvolves a wide range of initia-

    tives including literacy, food assistance, provision of

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    water and sanitation infrastructure, rural agriculture,

    off farm employment with the continued participation

    of regional and local government. As in the Fome Zero

    Programme in Brazil the central tenet ofCreceris a

    CCT programme, known as Juntos (together) which

    has focused on undernutrition since 2007. Evidencesuggests that Juntos is improving a number of key

    welfare indicators for programme participants but so

    far there is little evidence of impact on final outcome

    indicators such as undernutrition rates and anaemia.10

    This further reinforces the need for CCT schemes to

    be complemented by adequate health services and

    health and education practices.

    In Mozambique, the emphasis on coordination

    is impressive. The coordination effort for food and

    nutritional security institutions and initiatives is clearly

    addressed through the National Nutrition Coordination

    Council (NNCC).11 The Council was set up to facilitate

    inter ministry collaboration on nutritional policies and

    programmes. It promotes the multi-sectorial approach

    outlined above by involving most of the key stakehold-

    ers in health, food (from production to trade), and basic

    infrastructures. Development of the NNCC created an

    essential institutional framework or home for nutrition

    at national level. Although this home may have little

    power to influence programmatic action, it legitimises

    nutrition as a national development priority and cre-

    ates a window of opportunity for nutrition advocates

    to enter into national level policy debates. The NNCC

    also lends permanency to long-term efforts to address

    undernutrition in contexts where nutrition advocates

    are usually able to coordinate efforts only via loosenetworks, informal coalitions and where the turnover in

    personnel and administration threatens the continuity

    of the progress.

    Multi-phase approach

    The Malawian approach to fighting undernutrition

    demonstrates the multi phase approach well. The

    national nutrition policy addresses approaches to both

    treatment (short term) and prevention (long term).12

    Community based management of acute malnutri-

    tion (CMAM) was adopted as a national strategy in

    2006, when its gradual scale up and integration into

    the primary health care system began. By 2009, the

    programme had been scaled up to 330 outpatient and

    96 inpatient sites in all of the countrys 27 districts.13

    Between 2005 and 2007, the government implemented

    the Malawi Social Cash Transfer Scheme as well as

    subsidizing maize production. This led to a reduction in

    cereal imports and avoidance of large price increases.

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    Cash transfers are an effective developmental instru-

    ment, and resources are being mobilised for national

    scale up. Cross border food trade monitoring is a long

    term initiative which has had a significant effect on

    food aid allocations and government management of

    national stocks. Benefits have been felt by nationalgovernments, regional bodies and donors alike. This,

    in combination with a strong early warning system

    (implemented by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment

    Committee) is part of Malawis long term approach to

    fighting undernutrition and food insecurity and should

    allow Malawi to act on evolving food security issues

    before they become critical.

    Continuity of fi nancial investment

    The importance of continued financial investment from

    host governments and the international donor com-

    munity cannot be overstated. There is no doubt that

    sustained financial commitment has been instrumental

    in enhancing policy coherence and coordination for

    both Malawi and Mozambique.

    International development assistance plays a cru-

    cial role in Mozambiquesfight against poverty. The

    9th European Development Fund (EDF) invested

    approximately 35 million in the food security sec-

    tor and approximately 10 million in the health sector

    between 2001 and 2007. The EU recommends the

    integration of both sectors on the basis that improved

    health and access to basic services has a positive

    effect on household productivity, therefore increasing

    food security and helping to break the poverty cycle.Increased agricultural production is one of the main

    aims of the National Indicative Plan, which aims to

    empower small producers by transforming public serv-

    ices into facilitators and supporters and reinforcing

    their role in extension services. The Country Strategy

    Paper for 20082013 predicts a total of 622 million

    from the 10th EDF, with approximately 95 million

    (15%) earmarked for food security and agriculture,

    and 56 million (9%) for the health sector (focused

    on reducing HIV/Aids prevalence).

    External funding has also played a key role in address-

    ing hunger and undernutrition in Malawi. Bilateral

    donors have maintained regular and significant fund-

    ing in the country. The EU, a long-time donor to Malawi

    recently launched the 10th European Development

    Fund. This aims to improve the countrys macro-eco-

    nomic situation, strengthen public finance manage-

    ment systems and carry out education and health pol-

    icy reforms. With a budget of 451 million, the Country

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    Strategy Paper 2008 2013 has allocated 25% of its

    budget to ensure agriculture and food security

    UN priorities are outlined in the UNDAF (United

    Nations Development Assistance Framework) 20082011, with efforts particularly focused on nutrition and

    health, and basic services such as water and sanita-

    tion and education. Agriculture, disaster reduction and

    social protection are also part of this integrated and

    multi-sector approach. Undernutrition will be tackled

    by addressing its underlying causes and by supporting

    a more integrated response. Moderate and acute mal-

    nutrition among children underfive will be treated with

    supplementary and therapeutic feeding respectively,

    and community therapeutic centres will be expanded.Capacity for emergency prevention, preparedness and

    response will be strengthened at all levels. UNDAF

    forecasts US$12.6 million for the nutrition sector. .

    Conclusion

    The case studies examined are peaceful, non emer-

    gency settings, yet high rates of undernutrition persist.

    This demonstrates that under nutrition is not just an

    emergency issue. In fact, addressing undernutrition

    is clearly linked to poverty reduction; concrete steps

    can and are being taken, as the case studies show.

    Despite widely differing contexts, the case studies

    analysed demonstrate that reducing rates of under-

    nutrition is attainable, given the appropriate enabling

    environment. Our research has found that govern-

    ments with the political will and a signed, demonstra-

    ble commitment have put nutrition at the top of their

    political agenda, with positive results. Political impetus

    provided by governments is key. Indeed it is a pre

    requisite for ensuing policy development. Civil society

    ownership and participation significantly contributes

    to the development of viable and sustainable policies.

    Civil society participation in the policy making proc-

    ess, and subsequent ownership of the policies and

    practises developed and implemented at community

    level is essential. It is likely to improve acceptance and

    impact among affected populations.

    It is well known that childhood undernutrition has

    mulitiple causes. Indeed, it touches upon a wide

    range of sectors, including health, agriculture, water

    and sanitation and education, with the relative impor-

    tance of each differing according to context. This multicausality requires promoting a functional multi sectoral

    approach in order to enhance policy coherence and

    coordination. Long-term, sustained and scaled-up

    action to reduce undernutrition is more likely to suc-

    ceed with an institutionalised coordination council in

    place. These bodies need strong political back-up to

    be able to mainstream nutrition and food security in

    other ministries and institutions, and enough financial

    resources to be effective.

    The combination of both short and long-term

    approaches to nutrition has proved effective in many

    of the contexts studied. Long-term initiatives, such as

    the promotion of food production for self-reliance and

    the reinforcement of access to employment for the

    most vulnerable, have been complementary to short-

    term approaches, such as the improvement of health

    services to mothers and children alongside social pro-

    tection strategies such as CCT programmes. Indeed,

    a recent review of CCT programmes emphasises the

    need for a multi-phase approach. It concludes that

    CCT will not reduce undernutrition in isolation, but

    should be integrated into a more holistic, integrated

    approach together with education services and pro-

    ductive or economic development initiatives.14

    It is essential that governments implement strate-

    gies which address both the immediate and underly-

    ing causes of undernutrition. Fighting undernutrition

    involves implementing both prevention and treatment

    activities; the priority given to each will vary according

    to context and depends on the wider political econ-

    omy. Both prevention and treatment are integral ele-

    ments of the fight against undernutrition. Continued

    investment and support from state and donors alike is

    fundamental if the relative success already achieved,

    is to be built upon.

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    Endnotes

    1 See Sanchez, M. and Salse, N 2010, Undernutrition: What works?

    A review of policy and practiceACFIN/Tripode London

    2 Objetivos de Desenvolvimento do Milenio, Presidncia da Rep-

    blica. Relatrio Nacional de Acompanhamiento, Grupo Tecnico

    para acompanhamento dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento do

    Milenio, Maro 2010.

    3 Definicin programa Fome Zero, conceito http://www.fomezero.gov.

    br/o-que-e

    4 Tavakoli, Hedger 2009 Public Expenditure in Malawi: Analysis of

    Trends and Performance, ODI London

    5 Club of Mozambique, 10 March 2009. Mozambique plans to

    increase its grain harvest by 13 percent in 2009 /2010,

    http://www.clubofmozambique.com/solutions1/sectionnews.php

    ?secao=mozambique&id=14405&tipo=one

    6 See http://www.nfpcsp.org/Downloads/Homep/National%20

    Food%20Policy%202006%20English%20Version.pdf

    7 http://www.mds.gov.br/bolsafamilia

    8 Paes-Souza, R. and Pacheco L.M. 2009 Measuring the impact of

    Bolsa Familia Program based on data from Health and Nutrition

    Days (Brazil) FAO Working papers 7. http://www.rlc.fao.org/

    iniciativa/pdf/WP7.pdf (Accessed 06/09/2010)

    9 OXFAM 2010 Halving Hunger: Still Possible? Building a rescue

    package to set the MDGs back on trackOXFAM UK

    10 Perova et al. 2009 Welfare impacts of the Juntos Program in Peru:

    Evidence from a non -experimental evaluationWorld Bank Washing-

    ton

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    11 Benson, T. 2004 Improving Nutrition as a Development Priority:

    Addressing Nutrition in National Policy Processes in SSA, Interna-

    tional Food Policy Research Institute, Research Report 156.

    12 Treatment involves therapeutic interventions and food based

    approaches.

    13 UNICEF 2009 Tracking progress on NutritionUN New York

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