Policy Brief No. 34 of 2023/2024 on UNICEF Nutrition Budget Brief (2017/18 to 2021/22)

Abstract

This nutrition budget brief examines the allocation of the national budget for 2017/18 to 2021/22 in addressing the nutrition needs of children in Kenya. Given the multifaceted nature of nutrition, the brief assesses the budgetary allocations of various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). The analysis is based on a comprehensive review of budget documents and IFMIS data covering 2017/18 to 2021/22 financial years. Furthermore, the analysis is supplemented by a thorough examination of nutrition-related policies, international reports such as the Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA), and relevant literature on nutrition. The number of people faced with hunger globally continues to rise from 618 million in 2019 to 768 million in 2021. Similarly, the number of people unable to afford a nutritious diet increased by 112 million. Almost 3.1 billion people around the world are chronically malnourished. Elimination of all forms of malnutrition (wasting, stunting, underweight, low birth weight, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight, and obesity) features among the top priority areas in Kenya’s strategic policy and plans. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) two aims to end hunger and all forms of malnutrition, achieve food security, and improve nutrition (SDG Targets 2.1 and 2.2). According to the state of food security and nutrition in the World Report 2022, exclusive breast feeding among infants under six months of age and child stunting were among the key nutrition targets that showed positive progress, while anaemia among women and adult obesity worsened as per the report. The number of undernourished people decreased by 13.2 per cent globally in the last 20 years. However, this alarming rate still calls for stronger efforts to improve food security and nutrition in the continent.