Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
82. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the details of Irish Aid's recent joint review of its work on nutrition in Malawi; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37327/13]
View answerMalawi is one of the nine key Partner Countries for the Government’s Development Cooperation Programme, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance. Through our Malawi Programme Ireland supported the Department of Nutrition, HIV and AIDS to host the Joint Nutrition review which was held from the 5th-7th of August 2013. This was the first such joint review bringing together the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Education, Science and Technology, Local Government and Gender all of which are engaged in the national nutrition response. The objective of the review was to assess the performance of the nutrition programme and to identify challenges and resource gaps.
The review noted very significant progress in a number of areas including an increase in the number of school going children benefitting from school meals, the establishment of Nutrition Rehabilitation Units at district level and strengthened coordination structures at community, district and national levels. The importance of addressing nutrition in a multi-sectoral way is being promoted especially through District Nutrition Committees. This is making a real difference in the lives of millions of Malawians.
This review also offered the opportunity for participation of Ireland’s Missions in Sierra Leone and Tanzania in sharing the experiences and progress made in their respective countries, as well as key issues and challenges encountered in addressing nutrition. This technical exchange provided good cross programme learning and will improve planning for future nutrition interventions in Malawi, Tanzania and Sierra Leone.
While good progress has been made through Ireland’s and other donor support, Malawi continues to face significant challenges. 80 per cent of the population depend on subsistence farming and the susceptibility of the country to droughts and flooding means that Malawi faces a continuing struggle to ensure that its people have enough food to survive. The extent of the problem of hunger in Malawi is reflected in its nutrition indicators; more than one in five children under five years old are under-weight; one in 20 suffers from acute severe malnutrition; stunted growth is widespread, particularly in rural areas. Continued investment in efficient and effective nutrition interventions will remain a key component of our support to the people of Malawi.
Ireland’s support to Malawi commenced during the food security crisis in 2002 when assistance was channeled through Irish and international aid agencies. The Embassy in Malawi opened in November 2007. Building on our own experience and analysis of the long term needs of Malawi and in consultation with the Government of Malawi, the current Country Programme was developed and approved in March 2010. The Programme will run to 2014 with a total anticipated budget of €66 million over the five years. The goal of the Country Programme is to ensure households are better nourished, food secure and less vulnerable to poverty.
