THE COHA STUDY ESTIMATES THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CHILD UNDERNUTRITION IN AFRICA
The study has empowered the African Union Commission to take the lead at the regional level to address nutrition issues, as well as equipping Member States to advocate for nutrition interventions. In addition, the study is an effective example of South-South cooperation as it was first initiated in Latin America and the Caribbean and later adopted into the African context.
COHA is based on a model that was originally developed in Latin America by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). The conceptual framework was adapted to the African context with the support of experts and representatives from the national implementation teams of the participating countries. The process of adaptation was carried out in partnership with ECLAC and was endorsed by the African Task Force on Food and Nutrition Development (ATFFND).
This study aims to capitalise on the exchange of knowledge and ideas through increased South-South engagement vis-à-vis school feeding by presenting evidence on and real-life examples of innovations in school feeding programmes across the AU. This study organises and analyses an array of empirical data in order to construct a high-level landscaping of the state of school feeding in Africa, a conceptual framework for sustainable school feeding and a set of entry point recommendations enabling AU member states to advance their programmatic efforts in school feeding and achieve the development goals mentioned in Agenda 2063, CESA 16-25 and the SDGs.