Rainer Schwenzfeier / Save the Children Adolescents have often been overlooked in nutrition policy and programming. However, there is growing momentum to target this group through the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016 – 2030) , and the Adolescent Nutrition Call to Action: Better Data Now to Drive Better Programs and Policies in the Future .
This research focus, brought together in our Evidence Note , aims to inform the West Africa Health Organization and other decision-makers in West Africa to support policy and program development for adolescents in the region.
The database of included evidence is also available, as well as a technical note describing how we captured evidence and a poster . Findings of this research were presented at the ECOWAS 16th Nutrition Forum in 2019.
The Forum, whose theme was “Adolescent Nutrition: Institutionalizing Sustainable Actions for Improved Outcomes in West Africa,” generated recommendations for countries to advance adolescent nutrition. Following the launch of these recommendations, Transform Nutrition West Africa led – in close collaboration with the WAHO and partners (UNICEF, AAH, and WFP) – the development of an Addendum to provide practical guidance on how to translate the recommendations into actionable activities at the country level. It highlights where evidence is available, is being generated, or is needed to inform decision making. The final Addendum to these ECOWAS recommendations is available in English , French , and Portuguese .
An upcoming webinar co-organized by these partners will discuss the Addendum in anticipation of the high-level meeting of the Assembly of Ministers of Health.