Aspiration one (1) of the Agenda 2063 envisions a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development with goal three (3) highlighting the importance of healthy and well-nourished citizens. Agenda 2063 further recognises human capital development as critical to delivering the African Union’s vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful continent; as investment in human leads to improved lives for individuals, higher earnings and improved incomes for countries.

It is against this background that the AU declared 2022 as the Year of Nutrition under the theme “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: Strengthening Agro-Food Systems, Health and Social Protection Systems for the Acceleration of Human, Social and Economic Capital Development”. The theme which was launched during the 35th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in February 2022 aims to celebrate gains made in nutrition and focus the continent on maintaining strong political momentum on nutrition. The year 2022 further provides an opportunity to strengthen continental, regional and national commitments to end malnutrition in all its forms, given the increase in morbidity and mortality related to malnutrition and the associated socio-economic impacts. The 2022 theme will be anchored on continental frameworks including the African Regional Nutrition Strategy (ARNS), which calls on African States to implement multi-sectoral nutrition action plans, budgets and expenditure tracking systems for effective implementation and monitoring of nutrition interventions.

Endorsing the theme of the year, the Heads of States and Government reaffirmed the continued importance of nutrition, especially child nutrition, as a major pillar in human capital development, and social and economic transformation of Africa, and called on all Member States to continue prioritizing nutrition through the implementation of the priorities outlined in the plan of action for the year.

With the increased efforts and commitment to prioritise and invest in nutrition at the continental and national levels, Africa’s share in the world’s undernourished population decreased from 35.5% in 1990 to 22% in 2019, according to The Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) Continental Report. Despite these gains, efforts to improve food security and nutrition on the continent need to be intensified as most AU Member States are unlikely to reach the Malabo declaration goal of reducing stunting to 10% and underweight to 5% by 2025. The Food Security Information Network (FSNI) global report on food crises (2021) indicated that malnutrition remains a challenge as Africa has some of the highest cases of malnutrition globally accounting for more than nine out of ten of all children with stunting, more than nine out of ten children with wasting, and more than seven out of ten children who are overweight worldwide.

The 2022 AU theme recognises the multi-sectoral nature of addressing malnutrition as the root causes of malnutrition are complex, with Africa experiencing the negative effects of climate change and environmental challenges, including recurrent episodes of drought and floods, pest and disease outbreaks, conflicts, natural disasters, insufficient food production, trade restrictions, and unsatisfactory involvement of women and youth in agriculture.

To achieve the goals of the 2022, the AU aims to strengthen data management and information systems, and knowledge generation and dissemination to inform decision making. Advocacy efforts will be levelled up to increase commitment and investment in nutrition. Institutional capacity building as well as forums and workshops to promote coherent and harmonised action and transparency for partnerships and mutual accountability discussions with various stakeholders will be organised for intensified action and delivery of results and impact.

Learn more about the 2022 Theme, by visiting https://au.int/en/theme/2022/year-nutrition