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Foro Global sobre Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición • Foro FSN


Concern 3
Concern 3University of GuyanaGuyana

Effective Governance Contribution to Nutrition Enhancement in Developing Countries

“Good governance of the nutrition sector entails making adequate policy decisions in a timely manner, committing the necessary financial and organisational resources to their effective implementation, that is ensuring that benefits reach the majority of the population, preferably the most vulnerable. Good governance also entails a sustained political commitment to ensure that nutrition programmes and policies are able to withstand threats and constraints from changes in national leadership and political and socioeconomic upheavals.” [1]

Effective governance is essential in developing countries in order to provide strong leadership and to efficiently coordinate policies and programmes to eliminate food and nutrition insecurity. Therefore the following changes need to be embraced in order to accomplish goals for nutrition enhancement in developing countries.

Governance need to encourage the participation of actors from the state, market and civil society in the decision making process. Their collaboration is vital in order to design and implement nutrition policies that cater for the ‘most vulnerable groups, including women, food insecure households and small scale farmers’. All individuals should have equal access to resources and opportunities to enhance their welfare.

Impartial legal frameworks need to be enforced in developing countries in order to ensure that the right of every individual is protected. "An independent judiciary and an impartial and incorruptible police force will also be required for efficiency."

Fundamental information related to nutrition budget expenditure should be transparent and accessible by the private sector as well as the civil society.

Lastly, “all organizations should also be accountable to individuals who would be affected by their decision. Not only governmental institutions but also the private sector and civil society organizations must be accountable to the public and to their institutional stakeholders. Who is accountable to whom, varies depending on whether decisions or actions taken are internal or external to an organization or institution.” [2]


[ [1] ]Solon, F.S. (2007) ‘Good Governance for Nutrition in the Philippines: Elements, Experiences, and Lessons Learned’, Food and Nutrition Bulletin 27.4: 343–52

[ [2] ] UnitedNations. (2013). What is Good Governance? Thailand: United Nations Economic & Social Commissionfor Asia & the Pacific.                     Retreivedfrom:

UNDP (1997) Governance for Sustainable Human Development. United Nations Development Programme