The project focuses on addressing key priorities and challenges in food systems across the African continent to promote better nutrition and health outcomes. It aims to increase the availability and affordability of healthy diets, reduce food loss and waste, analyze policies related to taxation and regulation, and optimize food systems to address the triple burden of disease.
Key achievements include organizing an in-person meeting of scientific staff in Kigali, Rwanda, where research findings were presented, discussed, and actionable recommendations were developed. The meeting facilitated knowledge exchange among team members and provided a platform to review and finalize the Food Systems report and presentation to FHERA Lancet Commission. Additionally, AAPH, effectively managed financial resources, ensuring each working group had the necessary support to conduct research activities efficiently.
Collaborators include renowned institutions such as Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Emory University, and UNICEF Ethiopia.
Future plans involve disseminating project findings in 2024 to share insights and recommendations with stakeholders. The project's impact lies in its ability to identify key priorities and challenges in African food systems and propose actionable recommendations for optimization, ultimately benefiting the nutrition and health of the African population.
Overall, this project serves as a crucial initiative in advancing research and action-oriented approaches to address food system challenges, contributing to improved health outcomes and well-being across the African continent.