Improving food and nutrition

security outcomes in East Africa:

what role for universities: status of

food and nutrition security in Kenya

Dr. Newton Nyairo

Dr. Eric Bett

Kenyatta University

Country Facts

Statistic 2015

Population, total (Millions) 43

Population growth (annual %) 2.5

GDP (current US$ (Billions) 35

GDP per capita (current US$ (Billions) 1247

Life expectancy at birth, total (years) 54.8

Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) 54.2

Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24) 92.7

Source: Kenya Economic Survey and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics

Food Security Status in Kenya

Magnitude & Severity of Chronic

Malnutrition

• Over 10 million people in Kenya suffer

from chronic food insecurity and poor

nutrition.

• 3-6 million people require emergency

food assistance at any given time.

• Nearly 30% of Kenya’s children are

undernourished with 35% stunted.

• Micronutrient deficiencies (Iron, Vitamin

A, Zinc and Iodine ) are widespread, with

emerging rise in rickets.

Double Burden of Malnutrition:

Overweight and Obesity

Emerging conditions and diseases known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) Hypertension,Diabetes, Cancer, Cardiovascular diseases due to a risein Overweight and Obesity (40% in women and 22% inchildren)Causes: Shift to increased consumption of highly refined

foods with added Sugars, Salts & Fats Sedentary lifestyle and reduced physical activity

Impacts of Malnutrition

Early and premature deaths

Increased health care costs at national and

household level

Little/No savings for investment and poverty

cycle continues

Complicates the HIV/AIDS situation in Kenya

Depresses productivity

High Impact Nutrition Interventions in

Kenya

Improving the nutritional status of women ofreproductive age - nutrition education onconsumption of healthy foods and strengtheningiron and folate supplementation during pregnancy;

Improving nutritional status of children under fiveyears - exclusive breastfeeding, timely introductionof complementary feeding and micronutrientsupplementation;

Strengthening coordination and partnershipsamong key nutrition actors - partners in water,sanitation and hygiene (WASH), education, health,and livelihood sectors.

Prevention and treatment of malnutrition ( moderate and severe acute forms)

Policy Environment for Nutrition Improvement:

The National Food and Nutrition Security Policy

This policy provides a close link between food and nutrition

hence key role of agriculture sector

Objectives of the NFNSP:

To increase the quantity and quality of food available,

accessible and affordable to all Kenyans at all times.

To achieve good nutrition for optimum health of all

Kenyans.

To protect vulnerable populations using innovative and

cost-effective safety nets linked to long-term development

Key priority areas for the NFNSP

• Food availability and

access

• Food safety, standards

and quality control

• Nutrition improvement

and nutrition security

• School nutrition and

nutrition awareness

programs

• Food and nutrition

security information

• Early warning and

emergency

management

• Institutional and

Implementation

framework

Agricultural Sector Development Strategy

2010-2020

Part of CAADP launched in Kenya in 2005.

Agriculture key driver for delivering 10 % annual

economic growth rate envisaged in the vision

2030

Recognizes food security as an integral part of

agriculture

Emphasis on other enabling factors such as

infrastructure, non-tariff barriers (NTBs) etc.

Strategy for Revitalization of Agriculture

2003-2007

Programs to help farmers: Fertilizer

subsidy program (on and off) – FIRE-

FIGHTING!

National Accelerated Agricultural

Input Access Project

- Kilimo plus -Voucher system for seeds

and fertilizer (Insurance embedded)

Cont..

Kilimo biashara–Low cost-cost credit to

purchase inputs -with support from AGRA

and IFAD)

Njaa Marufuku-supports the up-

scaling of private sector food security

innovations through Public Private

Partnerships (PPP) to undertake food

security projects –with support from

FAO and MDG Secretariat).

KENYA NATIONAL NUTRITION ACTION PLAN

2012- 2017-Key Priority Areas

• Improve the nutritional status of women of reproductive age (15-49 years)

• Improve the nutritional status of children >5

• Reduce the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in the population

• Prevent deterioration of nutritional status and save lives of vulnerable groups in emergencies

• Improve access to quality curative nutrition services

• Improve prevention, management and control of diet related Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

• Improve nutrition in schools,

public and private

institutions

• Improve nutrition knowledge

attitudes and practices

• Strengthen the nutrition

surveillance, monitoring and

evaluation systems

• Enhance evidence-based

decision-making through

research

• Strengthen coordination

and partnerships among key

nutrition actors

Potential to achieving Nutrition Goals

Guiding Documents

• Kenya Vision 2030

• Kenya National HealthSector Strategic plan

• National Food andNutrition Security policy

• National Nutrition ActionPlan

• At global level TheMDGs and Scaling UpNutrition framework foraction

Guiding Principles

The Constitution of Kenya 2010

• 43 (1 ) (C) Every person has the right to be free from hunger and to have adequate food of acceptable quality

• 53(1) (C) Every child has the right to basic nutrition, shelter and health care

Underlying causes of Food & Nutrition

Insecurity

Growing population and endemic poverty -56% of

population living in absolute poverty (53% of the

poor live in rural areas, 47% in urban)

60% of so-called farmers are net buyers of food.

(Rockefeller Foundation, 2010)

Low agricultural productivity, exacerbated by land

degradation and insecure land tenure

HIV/AIDS prevalence

Skewed Income distribution: Top 10% control 42% of

total income; bottom 10% control <1%

Increasing frequency and severity of droughts

What role for universities in FNS?

Position itself decisively to fulfill the CAADP

agenda

Universities as centers/factories of can

potentially contribute knowledge useful in

tackling the food insecurity challenges.

Agribusiness innovations that will deal with food

security and in dealing with the overarching

CAADP agenda.

Working closely with the community in dealing

with challenges at the community level – closer

interaction that can mitigate FNS challenges

Kenyatta University Profile

VISION STATEMENT

"To be a dynamic, an inclusive and a competitive centre of excellence in teaching, learning, research and service to humanity. ”

MISSION STATEMENT

"To provide quality education and training, promote scholarship, service, innovation and creativity and inculcate moral values for sustainable individual and societal development.”

IDENTITY STATEMENT

"A community of scholars committed to the generation and dissemination of knowledge and cultivation of wisdom for the welfare of society.”

Kenyatta University Teaching Programs

Related to Food Security

Kenyatta University has 15 Schools and 70

departments

Out of these two schools directly deal with food

security:

School of Applied and Human Sciences

1. BSc. Food and Nutrition

School of Agriculture and Enterprise

Development

BSc. Agriculture

BSc. Agribusiness

BSc. Agricultural Resource Management

Who are the actors in FNS?

Private sector/industry

United Nations organizations

Governments departments – The Ministry of

Agriculture, The Ministry Health, Ministry of

Water and Irrigation

Donor agencies – USAID, AGRA, Rockefeller

Foundation, IFDC

National Agricultural Research Center – KALRO,

CGIAR, ILRI, ICRAF, ICIPE, IFPRI

Other universities – 30 universities

Theater model

Results of the audit

AISHE

PLAN

DO

CHECK

1.1 Vision

1.2 Policy

1.3 Communication

1.4 Internal environmental management

2.1 Network

2.2 Expert group

2.3 Staff development plan

2.4 Research, external services

3.1 Profile of the graduate

3.2 Educational methodology

3.3 Role of the teacher

3.4 Student examination

4.1 Curriculum

4.2 Integrated Problem Handling

4.3 Traineeships, graduation

4.4 Speciality

5.1 Appreciation by staff

5.2 Appreciation by students

5.3 Appreciation by professional field

5.4 Appreciation by society

0 1 2 3 4 5

Recommendations

The need to clearly define the profile of the graduate

and to identify the component of food and nutrition

security

Coordination of efforts by different

actors/stakeholders in dealing with the challenge of

food and nutrition security

University should begin to work with other

stakeholders – cease being ivory towers in bid to

unleash their full role

Strengthen teaching of agriculture to focus on food

and nutrition security - improve curricula to address

the core issues

MERCI