Governance of food and nutrition security in Eswatini: an analysis of government policies and reports

Abstract

Abstract Background Governance of food and nutrition security is vital in achieving sustainable development goals. Yet, the role of governance in shaping and preventing malnutrition risk is complex and poorly understood. This paper examined the governance of food and nutrition security in Eswatini. Methods Policy documents, annual reports, and minutes of board meetings from five government ministries were the documents that were used for this study. The data analysis focused on the strength of nutrition governance, actors involved in policymaking, nutrition-specific and sensitive-programs, and multisectoral coordination of programs. Results The findings show that Eswatini has medium strength, nutrition governance. The nutrition-specific programs included: micronutrient supplementation and deworming programs, breastfeeding campaigns, and treatment of acute malnutrition. The nutrition-sensitive initiatives included programs on school nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, agriculture production, and healthcare. However, multisectoral coordination was ineffective, as collaborative efforts are not structured, during implementation. Conclusion This study examined the governance of food and nutrition security in Eswatini using documents from government ministries. Diverse actors were involved in policy formation and implementation. The strength of nutrition governance was medium and multisectoral coordination was usually ad-hoc. The multiple actors involved in nutrition governance in Eswatini need to intentionally plan to improve multisectoral coordination to achieve higher impact.