The Nutrition Smart Community Program Symposium 2025, hosted by Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and Nutrition Smart Community, took place at the New Brookfields Hotel, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving food and nutrition security in Africa through government-led policy reforms.
WHH Country Director, Octave Emmanuel Bananeza, welcomed distinguished guests, including government officials, development partners, and representatives from NGOs and donor communities. He emphasized the symposium’s significance in addressing food security, malnutrition, and the resilience of food systems, particularly in Sierra Leone, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Burundi—countries where hunger remains a serious challenge.
Despite some progress in nutrition and food security, Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024 findings indicate that hunger remains a critical issue worldwide. Bananeza stressed the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration to combat food insecurity amid growing challenges such as climate change, economic shocks, and poverty.
Speaking at the symposium, UNICEF Representative, Madam Brenda Kaijuka Muwaga, highlighted alarming malnutrition rates in Sierra Leone, with approximately 350,000 children affected by stunting and 47% of children experiencing food poverty. She pointed out the ongoing challenge of high food inflation, which peaked at 64.67% in September 2023, making access to nutritious food increasingly difficult.
Muwaga emphasized that malnutrition contributes to 45% of child mortality, underscoring the urgent need for holistic interventions to strengthen food systems, promote dietary diversity, and address anemia rates among women and children.
Senior Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Andrew L. Sorie, delivered the keynote address on behalf of Minister Dr. Austin Demby, reinforcing the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing food and nutrition security. He highlighted the National Nutrition Policy (2023–2030) and the need for a multi-sectoral approach that integrates nutrition into agriculture, promotes exclusive breastfeeding, and ensures adequate dietary intake for children.
Deputy Minister II of Agriculture and Food Security, Sahr Hemor, outlined the government’s strategic direction under the “Feed Salone” Initiative, led by Hon. Minister Dr. Musa Kpaka. He detailed five key objectives aimed at achieving food sovereignty and economic growth:
- Import Substitution – Increasing local production of staple foods.
- Export Growth – Boosting agriculture as a major foreign exchange earner.
- Job Creation – Providing employment opportunities for women and youths.
- Reducing Hunger & Malnutrition – Enhancing food systems to combat chronic hunger.
- Building Resilient Food Systems – Ensuring sustainable agricultural practices.
The Ministry reported significant progress, including the expansion of rice cultivation to 30,000 hectares, development of a 4,500-hectare irrigation scheme, and establishment of a food security early warning system.
The Nutrition-Smart Community (NSC) project, funded by the German government, is playing a crucial role in improving household food security, dietary diversity, and sanitation practices in rural communities, particularly in Kenema and Pujehun districts. The initiative, based on the LANN+ framework, promotes:
- Sustainable agricultural practices
- Better food utilization and dietary diversity
- Infant and young child feeding improvements
- Collaboration with local stakeholders for cultural relevance
The project has increased crop variety in household gardens from 27% to 70%, and improved sanitation practices from 30% to 60%.
The symposium concluded with a panel discussion on the theme: “Improving Scalability and Sustainability of Food and Nutrition Security in Africa Through Government-Led Policy Reform.” Moderated by Umaru Fofanah, the discussion featured experts from WHH, the Ministry of Health, nutritionists, and the Director of Food and Nutrition.
Speakers emphasized the need for stronger governance, policy alignment, and climate resilience to ensure long-term food security and nutrition in Africa.
As the symposium concluded, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to scaling up interventions, fostering public-private partnerships, and ensuring that nutrition remains central to development policies.
With continued support from governments, donors, and local communities, the Nutrition-Smart Community Approach aims to drive sustainable change, ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.