Phnom Penh- The Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) recently launched the 2^nd National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition (NSFSN), 2019-2023. This crucially important strategy offers a unique opportunity for Cambodia to adapt its approaches to defeat malnutrition in all its forms.

Developed by CARD in collaboration with the Technical Working Group for Food Security and Nutrition, the 2^nd NSFSN 2019-2023 aims to reduce stunting in children under five by seven percentage points, from 32 percent to 25 percent, and wasting in children by two percentage points, from ten percent to eight percent by 2023 using 2014 as the baseline. At the same time, it aims to reduce the increasing rates of overweight and obesity among children under five and women of reproductive age.

Cambodia has made significant progress in the past two decades in improving food security and nutrition, and reducing poverty and child and maternal mortality rates. However, malnutrition in all its forms remains a national concern. Rates of stunting, underweight, and wasting are still unacceptably high and overweight and obesity are increasing.  

Poor quality of diet is the main factor responsible for persistently high levels of stunting and underweight, anemia, and vitamin A deficiencies. Another factor associated with poor nutritional outcomes arises from insufficient access to improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Almost half of Cambodian rural population lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

While micronutrient deficiency widely affects children and women of reproductive age, overweight and obesity, as a result of excessive intake of energy-dense foods coupled with reduced physical activity, are also growing concerns in urban settings, especially for women of reproductive age.

Evidence shows that investing in the first 1 000 days of child life is one of the best investments any country can make, as emphasized by UNICEF Representative, Ms Foroogh Foyozat, at the launching ceremony of the NSFSN 2019-2023.

Well-nourished and healthy children are able to perform well at school, access better employment, have lower risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and require fewer social services, resulting in economic growth, while contributing to breaking the cycle of poverty. 

Nonetheless, food security and nutrition is a very complex issue. There are many challenges for achieving food security and improved nutrition in Cambodia. Some are sector specific and require the concerted efforts of all those involved in the sector. In addition, there are complex multisectoral challenges that require joint actions and coordination.

Acknowledging this complexity, the 2^nd NSFSN, 2019-2023 adopts a twin-track approach, advocating each of the main sectors involved (Health, Agriculture, Education, Water Supply and Sanitation, Commerce, and Industry) to develop and lead their own related strategies. Multi-sectoral coordination efforts are focused on six joint priorities: Healthy Diets; Nutrition-sensitive WASH; Food Value Chains, Food Safety and Fortification; Social Assistance; Community-led Nutrition; and Disaster Management and Climate Change.

Mr Alexandre Huynh, FAO Representative in Cambodia and as Co-Facilitator of the Technical Working Group for Food Security and Nutrition, commended the focus of the Strategy on sector-led and joint priorities and the mainstreaming of gender and youth, equity and environment as cross-cutting issues. He also saluted the division of responsibilities for achieving these joint priorities amongst government and development partners involved.

Following the endorsement of the NSFSN 2019-2023, guidelines for implementation at sub-national level and detailed action plans for each of the joint priorities of the Strategy will be developed. There are six main actions that CARD will be handling as assigned by the Office of the Council of Ministers, and under the leadership of the Prime Minister under Sor Chor Nor 934, dated 20 October 2020. They include:

1. CARD should lead and coordinate among all line ministries and relevant institutions to successfully implement the 2^nd NSFSN 2019-2023.
2. CARD should establish working group for scaling up nutrition in Cambodia comprised of different ministries and relevant institutions, in order to meet requirement of the Global Scaling Up Nutrition movement led by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Food Security and Nutrition.
3. CARD should cooperate with relevant ministries, institutions and academia to establish Youth Nutrition Champions groups, to train them and provide opportunities to engage, learn and share knowledge and participate in the development of food security and nutrition policies.
4. All relevant ministries and institutions should collaborate with development partners and civil society organizations in resource mobilization efforts to implement sector-let priorities as well as the multi-sectoral priorities of the 2^nd NSFSN, particularly promoting food safety, healthy diets, community-led nutrition, nutrition-sensitive WASH and monitoring, evaluation and reporting implementation progress to the Royal Government of Cambodia.
5. All Municipal and Provincial Administration should establish Provincial Working Groups to coordinate food security and nutrition, and organize a Sub-National Nutrition Day with participation of development partners, civil society organizations and private sector in alignment with the National Nutrition Day’s theme for the event that the Royal Government sets annually on 6^th November.  
6. All Municipal and Provincial Administrations should mainstream food security and nutrition into the three-year development and investment plans in order to further promote the food security and nutrition at sub-national level.

The 2^nd National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition builds on the recommendations from the Mid-Term and Strategic review (MTSR) of the NSFSN 2014-2018, as well as the policy analysis Accelerating Progress towards SDG2. The FAO-EU FIRST Programme has made significant contribution to the development of the Strategy. FAO partners with the European Union to provide the RGC and CARD with policy assistance and capacity development in support of improved food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture.

Click here to download 2^nd NSFSN 2019-2023.