Reducing hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition is central to the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the World Food Summit (WFS) targets. Commitment to and achievement of these goals and targets remain a major challenge for the world community and Asia in particular.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has for years been assisting national governments and stakeholders to develop and strengthen their capacities to provide nutrition education and communication to the general public, school children and highly vulnerable groups. Through FAO’s field programmes and other activities, various communication networks have been established to facilitate exchange of information on best practices and lessons learned regarding nutrition education programmes. A range of resource materials for nutrition professionals, trainers and educators have been developed that provide up-to-date information for promoting healthy food consumption patterns. The effective implementation of nutrition education and communication programmes depends on sound training so that knowledge and skills for behaviour change can be communicated to target audiences.
Strengthening public knowledge and information about nutrition education, and addressing problems of food insecurity are also areas of particular interest to FAO.
“Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger” (FMFH) is an FAO global education initiative aimed at introducing young people to the issues of hunger, malnutrition, and food security. It enables and encourages children and youth to become actively involved in helping to create a world free from hunger and malnutrition. FAO, in collaboration with partners, is promoting the implementation of the FMFH initiative, including in its field programme in various countries in the Asia region. This report describes the outcome of the field implementation of the FMFH initiative by five project teams in the eastern, western and south-central regions of India. This publication demonstrates the feasibility of the FMFH approach and the sensitization of school children to hunger and malnutrition issues in India. I trust this document will be useful to school teachers and policy-makers in the region.
He
Changchui
Assistant
Director-General and FAO Regional Representative
for Asia and the Pacific
