Intersectoral Coordination for Nutrition in Zambia

The underlying determinants of nutritional status are adequate food, health and care; the goods and services related to these will necessarily be available from a range of sectors, provided in a coordinated fashion for maximum effect. Despite this recognition, there is currently little evidence of coordination between nutrition relevant sectors in Zambia. In Mumbwa District, a facilitated process is underway to coordinate ministries and NGOs involved in the provision of nutrition-related services. The creation of a District Nutrition Coordination Committee (DNCC) has been useful, and sustained facilitation has built trust and mutually supportive learning between diverse stakeholders. While recognising that it will take time for fully effective and implementable solutions to emerge, the DNCC is a potentially durable and effective way of addressing undernutrition over the long term. This article describes some of the theories, processes, challenges and learning from the first two years of the DNCC in Mumbwa.