Food and nutrition security
The goal of ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030 is an ever-growing challenge in the context of population growth, climate change, political conflicts and natural disasters, as well as changing consumption habits.
To contribute to this goal, GIZ combines measures from different sectors and addresses all dimensions of food and nutrition security - availability, access, use and utilisation of food as well as stable framework conditions and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Food is a human right and is essential for everyone. Especially women of reproductive age and young children in the critical first 1000 days from conception to a child’s second birthday need special attention. Negative effects of malnutrition are mostly irreversible during this period.
Our approach:
Nutrition-sensitive value chains and agricultural diversification: We encourage and support actors along agricultural value chains in order to increase the availability of safe and nutritious foods – for example through better market linkages, agricultural and dietary diversification, and reduction of post-harvest losses.
Nutrition knowledge, behaviour and practice: To encourage healthy diets and proper storage, processing and preparation of food, we address people concretely through gender-sensitive, participatory approaches. We target behavioural changes and an enabling environment (e.g. gender equity measures).
WASH, health and care: Hygiene and health are prerequisites for improved nutrient utilisation. We therefore promote access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities as well as to quality health services. We also encourage appropriate feeding and care practices (including breastfeeding and complementary feeding).
Social protection and higher incomes: We improve access to nutritious food and social inclusion, including through social transfers and school feeding programmes. To generate a long-term impact, we combine these with policy advice and income-generating activities.
Nutrition Governance: We advise national, regional and local governments and institutions on the development and implementation of food and nutrition security policies and programmes. In addition, we support multi-sectoral planning, coordination and monitoring processes.
Transitional aid and fragile context: In the case of crises, conflicts and natural disasters, we address immediate food and nutritional needs, protect livelihoods and strengthen the resilience of affected populations. We respond to those situations by linking short-, medium- and long-term measures such as temporary social transfers, nutrition interventions with activities to (re-)boost agriculture.
