The Macroeconomic, Finance and Trade Research Center at the Policy Studies Institute hosted a two-day validation workshop on "Budget Analysis of Nutrition-sensitive Intervention in Agrifood Sectors in Ethiopia" from July 23-24, 2024. The workshop took place at the Yaden Hotel in Bishoftu.
The workshop was attended by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health as well as researchers from various institutes. The main objective of the validation workshop was to gather more information and clarify the contribution of programs, projects and budget lines to nutrition that may be nutrition sensitive but not clearly related to nutrition.
The validation workshop was opened by Professor Beyene Petros, Director General of the Policy Studies Institute. In his remarks, he welcomed all participants to this special event, which served to validate the study conducted by PSI and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) entitled "Budget Analysis of Nutrition-sensitive Intervention in Agrifood Sectors in Ethiopia".
H.E. Professor Beyene Petros, DG of PSI
In his opening remarks, Prof. Beyene emphasized that nutrition is not just about food availability but a comprehensive approach that ensures accessibility and effective utilization of safe, nutritious and diverse food. He explained that Ethiopia's national nutrition programs have set ambitious targets to reduce underdevelopment and improve overall nutrition. However, challenges in coordination, planning, monitoring and evaluation remain due to limited resources and data availability. Professor Beyene emphasized that a cross-sectoral, integrated strategy is essential to achieve food security for all population groups in the country.
Dr. Alekaw Kebede
The validation workshop comprised two presentations followed by a discussion. The first presentation was given by Dr. Tefera Delbiso, National Project Coordinator of FAO Ethiopia. He gave an overview of the current evidence on nutrition-sensitive interventions and highlighted the key questions of what makes programs nutrition-sensitive and how nutrition-sensitive programs affect nutrition outcomes.
Dr. Tewolde Girma
The second presentation was held in two parts. Dr. Alekaw Kebede gave a general overview of the study, while Dr. Tewolde Girma presented key findings from the research results and policy recommendations from the household analysis on nutrition-sensitivity.
Dr. Tefera Delbiso, National Project Coordinator of FAO Ethiopia
Clara Picanyol, a consultant in Agrifood and Food Security and Nutrition Public Expenditure Analysis at the FAO, concluded the discussion with her remarks. She emphasized the importance of this validation workshop in providing valuable input to the broader FAO Value-Added Impact Initiative (VAIV) for better nutrition. The aim of this initiative is to develop, test and apply an approach to identify optimal public spending to make healthy diets affordable for all.
Clara Picanyol, a consultant in Agrifood and Food Security and Nutrition Public Expenditure Analysis at the FAO
Following the presentations, the participants posed various questions and comments to the research team. At the end of the validation workshop, the participants agreed that the results of the study provide a solid basis for budget analysis of nutrition-sensitive interventions in Ethiopia's agriculture and nutrition sectors. The research team emphasized the importance of considering feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, including experts in the field, to refine the final draft of the research report.
In conclusion, the validation workshop served as an important platform to collectively review the research findings and chart the way forward. Participants agreed that the study provides a solid foundation for understanding the budgetary landscape of nutrition-sensitive interventions in Ethiopia's agrifood system. However, stakeholders emphasized the need to continually refine the analysis based on feedback from a diverse range of experts. With the national goals of reducing stunting and improving overall nutrition, this type of collaborative, evidence-based approach is crucial for informing effective policymaking and resource allocation. As Ethiopia strives to ensure food and nutrition security for all, workshops like this one will be integral to translating research into impactful, sustainable actions.