CSO-SUN wants more allocated to nutrition programs

CSO-SUN Programs Officer Mwandwe Chileshe

The Zambia Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition (CSO-SUN) Alliance has observed that over the last few years, National Budget allocations to Nutrition have remained significantly low and almost stagnant.

CSO-SUN Programs Officer Mwandwe Chileshe says in view of the fact that 40% of Zambia’s children are stunted, 6% wasted and 15% underweight, the funding does not match the problem.

Ms Chileshe tells QTV News that her organization expect that the 2017 National Budget speak to these issues, by increasing the level of financial investment in Nutrition as a percentage of the total National budget.

She says the Zambian government as part of commitments made at the 2013 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in London, pledged to increase government expenditure on nutrition to reach the estimated additional US$30 per child under five required to scale up high impact nutrition interventions.

Ms Chileshe says a pledge was also made to increase budgetary allocations to nutrition by at least 20% annually for 10 years, through new and existing nutrition budget lines.

She adds that however, government spending is at approximately US$ 0.5 per child under 5 on nutrition-specific interventions per year, less than 2% of the agreed target.

The CSO-SUN Programs Officer says the economic costs of not investing in nutrition are significant and have an enormous bearing on the state of Food and Nutrition security in the Country.

Ms Chileshe notes that prioritizing increased funding to Nutrition is necessary if the nation is to secure improved nutrition for the mothers and children.