National Nutrition Policy

The present Liberia National Nutrition Policy is founded on the following Vision and Goal: Vision: Improved nutritional status for both physical and mental health for all people living in Liberia. Goal: Adequate nutritional intake and utilization for all people living in Liberia, especially the most vulnerable, to ensure health and well-being for sustainable economic growth and development. The Specific Nutrition Objectives are outlined as follows: 1) To reduce the levels of morbidity and mortality due to malnutrition; 2) To reduce the prevalence of malnutrition in all its forms, including micro-nutrient deficiencies; 3) To improve infant and young child feeding and caring practices for women and children. 

The principles guiding the policy are as follows: 1) Nutrition as a Universal Human Right; 2) Political Will and Awareness of the Importance of Nutrition at all Levels; 3) Adequate Financial Resources; 4) Intersectoral Partnership and Coordination; 5) Decentralization; 6) Community Participation and Involvement; 7) Prioritize the most Nutritionally Vulnerable; 8) Focus on Women, 9) Adequate and Capacitated Human Resources; 10) Evidenced-based Planning; 12) Integrated Essential Nutrition Actions Approach.

The Priority Policy Issues are as follows: 1) Mainstreaming Nutrition Goals and Objectives into Development Policies, Plans and Programmes. 2) Improving Household Food Security. 3) Protect Consumers Through Improved Food Quality and Safety. 4) Preventing and Managing Infectious Diseases. 5) Promoting Breast Feeding and Adequate Complementary Feeding for Children Under Two Years. 6) Addressing Micronutrient Malnutrition. 7) Treatment and Management of Acute Malnutrition. 8) Caring for the Nutritionally Vulnerable. 9) Promoting Appropriate Diets and Lifestyles. 10) Assessing, Analyzing and Monitoring Nutrition Situations. 11) Communication to Improve Nutrition for Health and Development. 12) An Enabling Institutional Arrangement for the Planning, Coordination, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation of Effective Nutrition Interventions.

As to the implementation and governance of the Plan the National Nutrition Coordinating Committee (NCC) comprised of government sector, NGOs and other development partners, led by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will coordinate the implementation of the policy and national plan of action. 

The main functions of the NCC shall include: 1) To ensure a unity of purpose by all nutrition stakeholders through a common vision and set of priorities. 2) To improve service delivery and optimum use of available human and financial resources. 3) To facilitate information sharing. 4) To enable periodic review and re-planning based on monitoring and evaluation results. 5) To enable appropriate and timely attention to emerging nutrition issues, such as noncommunicable diseases and urban food safety issue.