The nutrition agenda in Bangladesh: ‘Too massive to handle’?

Abstract

This study is based on the hypothesis that in order to effectively combat malnutrition, (1) nutrition policy must be well aligned with the political motivations of government and non-government actors, and (2) multiple stakeholders must be coordinated around policymaking and implementation. It looks at three main dimensions of nutrition governance: intersectoral coordination on the part of government, donor and other high-level bodies; vertical coordination within the country’s nutrition policy and implementation systems, and the modes of funding that are negotiated through, and used to implement, interventions. It also looks at how monitoring and data systems may support or undermine these forms of coordination and organisation, and at the political sustainability of successful interventions or forms of coordination.

Finally, in order to take account of the bigger picture within which these policy concerns are situated, the study looks at the broader socioeconomic context in Bangladesh. It asks what other issues may be playing a role in nutrition outcomes, and how these may be relevant to the policy issues that are the focus of this research. The overall aim of this research is to contribute to DFID’s effort to help government officials and decision makers in priority countries to effectively tackle the problem of maternal and child malnutrition.

Citation

Taylor, L. The nutrition agenda in Bangladesh: ‘Too massive to handle’? Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Brighton, UK (2012) 22 pp. [Analysing Nutrition Governance: Bangladesh Country Report]

The nutrition agenda in Bangladesh: ‘Too massive to handle’?

Published 1 January 2012