Addis Ababa,12th February 2019: On the side lines of the 32nd African Union Heads of State and Government Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the African Union Champion for Nutrition, His Majesty King Letsie III, Head of State of the Kingdom of Lesotho, the African Union Commission and the African Leaders for Nutrition on 11th February launched a Continental Accountability Scorecard for Nutrition, under the theme, A call for better advocacy and Accountability for Nutrition Investments in Africa.

The Continental Nutrition Accountability Score Card was developed to measure progress made by African Union member states to achieve nutrition security, by providing a snapshot of Africa’s progress in meeting global and continental nutrition targets as stipulated in Agenda 2063, the sustainable development goals and the 2014 Malabo Declaration. (Assembly/AU/Decl.4(XX111)

In his key note address, His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho applauded the endorsement of the African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) by Heads of State and Government in January 2018. His Majesty stated that the endorsement of ALN by the Assembly marks an important landmark that holds promise of great growth and renewal for nutrition in Africa. As he welcomed the launch of the Nutrition Scorecard he noted that “full cognizance of the centrality of nutrition to unlock the full potential and future of African economies” ‘The Nutrition Accountability scorecard offers an opportunity to lay a solid foundation to aide African leaders to act strategically and deliberately in implementing policies and investing in nutrition programs that tackle malnutrition in our respective countries’ noted his Majesty.
H.E Amira Elfadil Commissioner for Social Affairs noted that the continental nutrition scorecard will provide data and information thus facilitating dialogue with African leaders for new financial and policy commitments on nutrition to deliver the socio economic returns that are most needed by our people.
The Commissioner also highlighted the effects of conflict, hunger and malnutrition on the continent, on this she stressed the need to silence the guns by 2020 and to make progress with establishment of a continental free Trade area all which will lay strong foundations of ending hunger by 2025.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development bank (AfDB) in his remarks commended the African Union, the African Development Bank and partners for their efforts in developing the Continental Nutrition Accountability Score Card. The President of the bank stressed the need to shift the debate from nutrition as a social development issue to one that shapes economic growth and development of African countries. ‘The greatest contributor to economic growth is not physical infrastructure but brain power, what I can refer to as grey matter infrastructure’ Dr. Akinwumi called on all partners present to invest in developing Africa’s’ grey matter infrastructure by investing in better nutrition t for its children who are the future of the continent .

His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho and African Union Nutrition Champion launched the Nutrition Accountability Score Card, which was later endorsed by the 32nd Assembly of Heads of States and Government.
The luncheon was attended by His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho, Mokgweetsi Masisi President of Botswana, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina President of the African Development Bank, H.E Commissioner Amira Elfadil AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Leaders for Nutrition Founders and members of the diplomatic corps.

For more information:
Dr. Margaret Agama-Anyetei Head of Division, Health, Nutrition and Population Department of Social Affairs African Union Commission Agama-AnyeteiM@africa-union.org

Media enquiry:

Ms. Mugisha Barbara, Communication Expert, Department of Social Affairs, African Union Commission (AUC), E-mail: barbaram@africa-union.org

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@africa-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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