Strengthening capacity of local actors in nutrition-sensitive agrifood value chains in Zambia and Malawi (SCLANSA-FVC)

Prior to our research project that began in 2016, World Food Programme (WFP) conducted a comprehensive food security and vulnerability analysis in Malawi which revealed a severe lack of food diversity and countrywide dependency on maize for dietary energy. Furthermore, one in four households in Malawi was found to have inadequate food consumption, a similar situation also found in Zambia as the number of people at risk of food insecurity had more than doubled in a year (63,000 people in 2012 to 209,000 in 2013). High stunting rates had been persisting over the prior two decades subsequently impeding human development, productivity and economic growth as well as extending the cycle of poverty in both Malawi and Zambia.

Nutrition-sensitive agrifood value chain interventions have the potential to improve production and income, while integrating nutritional benefits along the value chain. To help in the fight against food insecurity in both Malawi and Zambia, our SCLANSA-FVC project objective was to promote the availability, accessibility and consumption of diverse, safe and nutritious food to enhance household nutrition and health. Overall, the project goal was to improve the nutritional status of the farming households in the target countries by enhancing livelihoods, health status, food and nutrition security of poor households in target villages with a particular focus on women and vulnerable groups. The project was implemented over a three and a half-year period spanning April 2016 to December 2019.

• This nutrition-sensitive agrifood value chain project had four key components:
• To conduct food and nutrition assessments
• To assess the performance of nutrition-sensitive agrifood value chains
• To develop capacity building of different stakeholders
• To establish various advocacy and knowledge-sharing platforms and activities.

While officially launching the project in Lusaka on June 9th and 10th 2016, potential project sites were considered and incorporated into the site selection framework. Based on results, the potential sites selected for Zambia were Mbala and Luwingu while those for Malawi were Chitipa and Mzimba.

Based on the logical framework of the project, certain criteria were established to ensure that vulnerable households and population groups in the potential sites would benefit most from the project. Hence, the combined household criteria established was:

• Household was actively involved in one of three target value chains (beans, dark leafy vegetables or fish)
• Household was impoverished (either relative, according to the definition of poverty by local authorities or by assessment of ‘average monthly disposable household funds’
• Household had a woman in the reproductive age (15-49 years of age)

OR

• Household was headed by a female

OR

• Household had a child 24-59 months of age and/or an infant 6-23 months of age

Food and Nutrition Assessments

The first part of the project involved the assessment of various aspects of food and nutrition including baseline and endline surveys, value chain assessment and nutrition monitoring with the project communities. The data collected was cleaned and basic descriptive analysis data was extracted from it which allowed for the food items to be categorized into food groups for dietary intake. Furthermore, an agrobiodiversity assessment was conducted to determine which goods were locally available and their use in local production systems, markets and diets to support objectives to expand production and consumption of nutritious foods.

Nutrition-Sensitive Agrifood Value Chain Assessments

The second part of the project established programmes to improve the nutritional quality and safety of the selected value chains. bean cultivars in both Zambia and Malawi were nutrient profiled. An analysis of the beans as well as the impact of softening them, were also conducted. Additionally, an investigation into the effects of sprouting on the nutrient density and nutraceutical properties of common beans was carried out.

Capacity-Building

Capacity building was an important part of the project as it increased the likelihood of overall project success as well as the betterment of all stakeholders involved. Appropriate techniques at different levels were employed to ensure capacity building. These techniques included but were not limited to nutrition education learning events for adults, nutrient-dense product and processing workshops and enumerator training in nutrition assessments.

Advocacy and Knowledge-Sharing

Similar to capacity building, advocacy and knowledge dissemination were paramount in this project specifically for long-run success. A community-based advocacy program was set up and utilized not only text and video messaging but also radio programs. In addition, social media, workshops and learning events were used to disseminate knowledge within and between communities.