This has lead to the re-emergence of the age old question: how can Zambia diversify its economic base? To me, the answer is simple: invest in nutrition. Why is that? The evidence from the Global Nutrition Report is clear- every Kwacha invested in nutrition yields 17 Kwacha in return. Infants who are not malnourished go on to do better in school, earn more in the labour force and be more entrepreneurial. This rate of return, 17 to 1, is better than any stock market will bring. The return is not dependent on any one sector because these new entrepreneurs will create wealth in many sectors.
But can we wait that long for these new
entrepreneurs to establish themselves, you ask? There are two answers to
that. First, better nutrition will have immediate impacts for adult
productivity. More energy, stronger bodies, more alert minds and less
days lost to illness will be the quick return. Second, for economic
growth that is sustainable and resilient to shocks, investing in human
infrastructure—brains, bones, and immune systems-- is the only way.
Malnourished mothers give birth to malnourished babies who grow up to give
birth to malnourished babies. It is the malnutrition cycle that needs to
be broken if Zambia is to break the economic cycle of boom and bust.
This
will be a big challenge. Although Zambia is making solid progress in
reducing some indicators of malnutrition (stunting, exclusive breast-feeding
and under 5 overweight), other indicators are lagging (under 5 wasting, anaemia
in women and adult overweight). But, due to the fantastic work of nutrition
champions within government, civil society, business, research and the
international development agencies, Zambia feels, at least to this outsider, to
be on the cusp of achieving something great in malnutrition reduction.
Many
things are moving in the right direction. For example: the National Food
and Nutrition Commission Act went to Parliament in October— this will give a
real shot of energy to nutrition champions within Zambia and those outside.
In addition, several Permanent
Secretaries have become very active in nutrition, with the Ministry of Health's
PS taking on the role of chair of the SUN
Multi-Stakeholder Platform with a public commitment to drive action on
nutrition from all stakeholders. Moreover, the SUN Business Network
in increasing local business interest and engagement on nutrition.
Finally, many Members
of Parliament have been inspired by civil society to form a caucus called the
All-party Parliamentary Caucus on Food and Nutrition.
But
the challenges will not be trivial. This year a poor harvest will lead to
increased hunger and malnutrition. The relief agencies—domestic and
international--need to work as hard as possible to ensure the poor harvest does
not generate a dark lifetime legacy for those still in their first 1000 days of
life. Budget constraints are biting as the economy slows and even
shrinks. Money for human infrastructure (a.k.a. nutrition) must be
protected, but money already allocated to nutrition must be even better spent.
Some Ministries are showing more commitment to nutrition than others. But
there can be no room for sitting on the sidelines in the battle against
malnutrition. The forces that create malnutrition are wide-ranging and powerful
and so the alliances we form to overcome it must be equally wide-ranging and
powerful. All the talents in Zambia will be needed to improve this
cornerstone of development. If they do, all will benefit.
Twelve
years ago, Ghana's stunting rate was similar to Zambia's. Now it is half
of Zambia's. Malnutrition can be reduced quickly. We all know what
to do. But it will require the government to lead the rest of us. They will
need to be brave, stubborn and steadfast. But they can do it because
other governments in similar circumstances have shown that it can be done.
We all need to remember: malnutrition is not a destiny, it is the result
of choices made.
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