Introduction
Food security and nutrition-sensitive agriculture are critical components of sustainable development, especially in regions where malnutrition, hunger, and poverty remain prevalent. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of how agricultural policies, practices, and investments can be designed to improve food availability, access, utilization, and stability while ensuring that nutritional outcomes are central to agricultural development.
Participants will explore the relationships between agriculture, food systems, and nutrition, gaining tools to integrate nutrition objectives into agricultural projects and programs. The course emphasizes inclusive, context-specific approaches that empower communities, especially women and vulnerable populations, to achieve lasting improvements in food and nutrition security.
Course Objectives
· Understand the concepts of food security and nutrition-sensitive agriculture
· Analyze the drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition
· Learn how to integrate nutrition goals into agricultural policies and programs
· Identify key indicators for monitoring food and nutrition outcomes
· Explore the role of women and youth in enhancing food security
· Understand food systems and value chains from a nutrition perspective
· Develop strategies for climate-resilient, nutrition-sensitive farming
· Promote diversification of crops and diets
· Evaluate public health, social protection, and agriculture linkages
· Formulate community-based and gender-sensitive interventions
Organizational Benefits
· Strengthened food and nutrition security programming
· Better alignment with global nutrition targets and SDGs
· Enhanced capacity for cross-sectoral collaboration
· Improved agricultural planning that addresses malnutrition
· Evidence-based policy design and program implementation
· Increased funding access through integrated approaches
· Support for inclusive, pro-poor development strategies
· Improved resilience of food systems to shocks and stresses
· Enhanced community engagement and behavior change outcomes
· Tools for monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment
Target Participants
· Agricultural development officers
· Nutritionists and public health professionals
· Food security and livelihood program managers
· Government and NGO officials
· Donor agencies and international organizations
· Researchers and academic institutions
· Extension service providers
· Community development specialists
· Policy makers and planners
· Agribusiness professionals
· Rural development practitioners
· Civil society organizations
Course Outline
Module 1: Understanding Food Security and Nutrition
· Definitions and dimensions of food security
· Causes and consequences of malnutrition
· Global and regional trends
· Food and nutrition policies
· Stakeholders and institutional frameworks
· Introduction to nutrition-sensitive agriculture
General Case Study: Community-based food security programming in Ethiopia
Module 2: Agriculture-Nutrition Linkages
· How agriculture impacts nutrition
· Agricultural pathways to improved diets
· Role of income, access, and women’s empowerment
· Value chain nutrition integration
· Evidence and knowledge gaps
· Policy and program implications
General Case Study: Household-level nutrition impact of kitchen gardens in Malawi
Module 3: Food Systems for Nutrition
· Food system components and actors
· Food production, processing, and distribution
· Consumption and dietary patterns
· Nutrition-sensitive value chain analysis
· Post-harvest losses and food safety
· Promoting local and indigenous foods
General Case Study: Strengthening nutrition through school feeding programs in Kenya
Module 4: Designing Nutrition-Sensitive Agricultural Programs
· Program design principles
· Setting nutrition objectives and indicators
· Gender and age considerations
· Community participation and empowerment
· Linking with health and WASH sectors
· Behavior change communication (BCC)
General Case Study: Multi-sectoral agriculture and nutrition program in Rwanda
Module 5: Monitoring and Evaluating Food Security Programs
· Indicators for food and nutrition security
· Tools and methodologies for data collection
· Baseline and impact assessments
· Participatory monitoring techniques
· Reporting and accountability
· Using data to inform decisions
General Case Study: Real-time monitoring system for household food security in Uganda
Module 6: Climate-Smart and Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture
· Climate impacts on food and nutrition security
· Diversified cropping and integrated farming systems
· Agroecological and sustainable practices
· Enhancing resilience of vulnerable communities
· Integrating nutrition into climate adaptation plans
· Resource efficiency and biodiversity
General Case Study: Climate-smart nutrition farms in arid regions of Tanzania
Module 7: Role of Women and Youth in Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture
· Women’s roles in food production and nutrition
· Gender-sensitive planning and analysis
· Youth engagement and empowerment
· Addressing gender disparities in access to inputs and resources
· Nutrition education and leadership development
· Inclusive community-based interventions
General Case Study: Empowering women-led nutrition groups in Burkina Faso
Module 8: Policy and Institutional Support for Food and Nutrition Security
· National policies and frameworks
· Inter-ministerial coordination mechanisms
· Role of international donors and UN agencies
· Mainstreaming nutrition in agricultural extension services
· Advocacy and policy dialogue
· Financing and investment opportunities
General Case Study: Integration of nutrition into agriculture policy in Mozambique
Module 9: Food Access, Equity and Social Protection
· Economic and physical access to food
· Safety nets and social protection programs
· Targeting vulnerable and marginalized groups
· Market access and food affordability
· Public procurement and subsidies
· Humanitarian responses and resilience building
General Case Study: Social protection and food vouchers program in South Sudan
Module 10: Nutrition Education and Behavior Change
· Role of education in improving nutrition
· Designing effective BCC campaigns
· Community-based nutrition education
· Food preparation and dietary practices
· Involving schools, health centers, and media
· Monitoring behavior change outcomes
General Case Study: Community nutrition campaigns improving dietary diversity in Zambia
Essential Information
| Start Date | End Date | Duration | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04/05/2026 | 08/05/2026 | 5 Days |