The status of food and nutrition security policies and institutional framework in Eswatini.
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Date
2022
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Abstract
Overview of this paper
Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) has a number of components in it; institutions, policies,
programs, and projects. This research looked at all of these and the relationship to one another.
Hence this dissertation will first present the FNS theory and its framework, the role of multistakeholder
engagement in FNS, policy analysis theory in the context of FNS, and the policy
framework and institutional set up for FNS in Eswatini. Further, challenges and
recommendations raised by key informants will also be covered. The findings, discussions and
recommendations arising from the results shall also be presented.
Objective
To assess the policy and the institutional set up for FNS in Eswatini in order to identify existing
policy challenges and recommendations.
Methods
This is a qualitative study that involved interviews with key informants who were selected by
non-probability expert sampling from among twenty institutions with direct or indirect
connections to FNS in Eswatini. The methodology of this research involved assessment of
deep insight of the multi-sectoral approach used to implement food and nutrition security
activities from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Natural
Resources and Energy, Academia, UN Agencies, Civil Society, and Non-Governmental
Organization. The crucial sector policies, and strategic plans, and annual reports were
studied so as to determine the effectiveness in participation in relation to functionality in
the coordination of multi-sectoral or inter-sectoral activities. These documents (policies
and strategic plans) were in current governance structures.
This dissertation starts by introducing the research with a theory paper that defines the two key
concepts ‘Food security and Nutrition security’. This was critical as it highlighted the
knowledge gap regarding the uniqueness, yet equal importance of each of these concepts in
policy development and implementation and the interrelation between them. It also sets the
stage for the thesis. The next step was to try to elucidate the multi-stakeholder nature of food
security and nutrition security dynamics and how these stakeholders are meant to function
seamlessly to achieve food security and nutrition security simultaneously without scarifying
one concept over the other. This is important because resources and expertise are not always
centralized in one institutions, hence they must be coordinated by a superior body like the
central government which has a mandate to do public good. Another critical step was to define
policy and the general stages of policy development, and to define the policy analysis process
in the context of food and nutrition security. This is vital because analysis can be of policy or
for policy. Hence, one has to know how to analyse the situation for policy to be developed
precisely for the existing problem or be reviewed to tackle arising issues which were not there
at its inception. Based on these basic theory papers, the research project was designed and
implemented to examine the status of food and nutrition security policies and the related
institutional framework in Eswatini. The intent of the research was to offer recommendations
based on the findings of the study.
Results and findings
The study found that there are a number of FNS-related policies that are used by various
government ministries including the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Tourism and
Environmental Affairs, the Deputy Prime Minister’s office, and other partners. Unfortunately,
there is little coordination and inclusivity in developing and implementing these policies such
that the FNS issues of key populations like women, and youth are not adequately tackled by
these policies. The FNS-specific policies are mainly held in the Ministry of Agriculture and the
Ministry of Health. The other entities facilitate a supporting role of the policies and programs
held in these two institutions. The dispersed nature of FNS policy implementation by
institutions makes the implementation ad hoc and disjointed resulting in the difficulty to track
progress and coverage.
Conclusion
FNS is a central concern to public health in Eswatini as it influences child growth and
development and affects children’s potential contribution to economic growth at adulthood in
the long term. One key issue is the pernicious cycle of chronic malnutrition that persists for
several generations. FNS cuts across multiple stakeholders, ranging from government
ministries, NGOs, civil society, and international development bodies. As such, they require a
thorough coordination by a superior body with authority to convene all relevant stakeholders.
This body can enforce accountability from all stakeholders on resources assigned to them either
by the government, or development partners. This will help facilitate timely and inclusive
policy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and review of policy,
minimizing waste of resources and maximizing efficient use of available resources.
Recommendation
Based on the final conclusions, policy makers may consider assigning a FNS coordinating body
operating at the highest level of government which have authority to summon all key FNS
stakeholder to strategize collaboratively on developing, implementing, monitoring and
evaluating FNS policy. This body could also coordinate collecting, analysing and interpreting
FNS-related data for monitoring and evaluation. Enablers and barriers to achieving FNS will
also be collectively documented to be used as reference for future improvement of policy
development and implementation including development of comprehensive and coherent
strategies and plans to fill in policy and service provision gaps, remove existing hindrances, and
intensify FNS enablers.
Description
Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.