Advocacy Coalition by External Actors and Strategies Used to Influence the Emergence of the National Nutrition Policy in Lao PDR

Viengsamay Sengchaleun,Daniel Reinharz,Mamane Abdoulaye Samri,Sengchanh Kounnavong

doi:10.4236/health.2021.138062

Abstract

This article aims to explore the coalition of external actors and the strategies it deployed to influence the emergence of the National Nutrition Policy (NNP) in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). The Advocacy Coalition Framework and the conceptual model of Effective Advocacy Strategies for Influencing Government Nutrition Policy were used to frame the data collection and their analysis. Sources of information were semi-structured interviews conducted with government and external actors, as well as all available documents on nutrition policy in Laos. The commitment of the government to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to leave the Least Developed Country status created a favorable condition to support the emergence of the NNP in Laos. This context was a driving force for the building of an effective and convincing coalition of United Nations agencies able to accompany the government in redefining health priorities. Various strategies were used by the coalition to this end, including generating, disseminating, and using scientific evidence, assisting the government with a budget and technical expertise, providing decision-makers with opportunities to learn from other countries, and building relationships with the key actor. External actors can be a major force to support the emergence of a public policy in Laos, but this requires a window of opportunity like what the MDGs have been able to bring.

Highlights

Nutrition is a determinant of the ability to fully benefit from one’s potential at birth
This article aims to explore the coalition of external actors and the strategies it deployed to influence the emergence of the National Nutrition Policy (NNP) in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)
External actors can be a major force to support the emergence of a public policy in Laos, but this requires a window of opportunity like what the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been able to bring

Summary

Introduction

Nutrition is a determinant of the ability to fully benefit from one’s potential at birth. In most low and middle-income countries (LMICs), many children do not receive the food needed to answer their development needs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition is defined as deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. There are three main types of malnutrition: 1) protein-energy deficiency, which is the main cause of stunting (low height-for-age), wasting (low weight-for-height) and underweight (low weight-for-age) in children; 2) micronutrient deficiencies (lack of essential vitamins and minerals); 3) overweight [2]. The term malnutrition refers to protein-energy deficit and micronutrient deficiencies

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