Situational analysis of infant and young child nutrition activities in the Sahel – executive summary

Abstract

Several international agencies and non-governmental organizations joined forces in 2007 to support an initiative to ‘Reposition children’s right to adequate nutrition in the Sahel’. The overarching goal articulated by these organizations was to achieve optimal feeding of 80% of children 0–24 months based on relevant and internationally agreed-upon childfeeding indicators. An early activity of the working group for this infant and young child nutrition (IYCN) initiative was to carry out a situational analysis to evaluate IYCN activities being conducted in six Sahelian countries of West and Central Africa, namely, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal (1–6). The objectives of this analysis were to compile, analyse and interpret available information on infant and child feeding, and the nutrition and health situation of children <2 years of age in the six target countries. This information was used to determine: (i) whether national IYCN policies and activities match international IYCN recommendations; (ii) where IYCN-related activities have been successful, and why; and (iii) how international agencies can assist in filling gaps to speed progress in improving the feeding practices and nutritional status of infants and young children in the region.