Senegal: Preventing and managing child malnutrition in highly vulnerable regions

Persistent drought and the rise in food prices have taken a heavy toll in Senegal: more than two million people lack food security and nearly one in five children under the age of 5 is stunted. The Joint Programme's objective is to lower the acute malnutrition rate of children in the five most affected regions to below the international emergency level of 10%.

The programme is based on three strategies:

i) Capacity building of national and local structures for strengthening monitoring and coordination;

ii) Communication and advocacy for behavioural changes; and

iii) The provision of adequate food for children in primary school and the promotion of a healthy environment in pre- and elementary schools that is conducive to learning. 

Initiatives include promoting better feeding practices based on local foodstuffs, providing micronutrients and deparasiting treatments for children and creating a monitoring and early warning system.