Bezabih Afework Mulugeta, Kahsay Znabu Hadush, Kahsay Amaha, Bekele Abate, Seid Omer, Asfaw Selemawit, Gebrearegay Freweeini, Tadesse Kidane, Bazzano Alessandra N, Jogo Wellington, Covic Namukolo, Busse Heidi
School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Department of Public Health Nutrition, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Agric Food Secur. 2022;11(1):61. doi: 10.1186/s40066-022-00400-6. Epub 2023 Jan 9.
Nutrition-sensitive agriculture is an effective multi-sectoral approach to address the underlying causes of malnutrition. However, successful implementation requires the involvement of different sectors to jointly plan, monitor, and evaluate key activities, which is often challenged by contextual barriers. Previous studies in Ethiopia have not adequately explored these contextual barriers. Hence, the current study aimed to qualitatively explore the challenges to joint planning, monitoring, and evaluation for nutrition-sensitive agriculture among sectors in Ethiopia.
A qualitative exploratory study was conducted in Tigray and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP) of Ethiopia regional states in 2017. Ninety-four key informants were purposively selected from government agencies primarily in health and agriculture, from local (kebele) to national levels, and ranging from academic organizations, research institutions, and implementing partners. Researchers developed a semi-structured guide and conducted key informant interviews which were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim in local language, and translated to English. All transcriptions were imported into ATLAS.ti Version 7.5 software for coding and analysis. The data analysis followed an inductive approach. Transcriptions were coded line by line; then similar codes were grouped into categories. Subsequently, non-repetitive themes were identified from the categories using thematic analysis methodology.
The following themes were identified as challenges that hinder joint planning, monitoring, and evaluation to link nutrition to agriculture: (1) limited capacity, (2) workload in home sector (agriculture or nutrition), (3) lack of attention to nutrition interventions, (4) inadequate supportive supervision, (5) problematic reporting system, and (6) weak technical coordinating committees.
Gaps in human and technical resources, limited attention from different sectors, and absence of routine monitoring data hindered joint planning, monitoring, and evaluation activities for nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Ethiopia. Short-term and long-term training for experts and intensification of supportive supervision may address gaps in capacity. Future studies should address whether routine monitoring and surveillance in nutrition-sensitive multi-sectoral activities provides long-term improvement in outcomes.
营养敏感型农业是一种有效的多部门方法，可解决营养不良的根本原因。然而，成功实施需要不同部门共同参与规划、监测和评估关键活动，而这往往受到背景障碍的挑战。埃塞俄比亚此前的研究尚未充分探讨这些背景障碍。因此，本研究旨在定性探索埃塞俄比亚各部门间营养敏感型农业联合规划、监测和评估面临的挑战。
2017年在埃塞俄比亚提格雷州以及南方各族州开展了一项定性探索性研究。从主要涉及卫生和农业领域的政府机构中，从地方（乡）到国家层面，有目的地选取了94名关键信息提供者，涵盖学术组织、研究机构和实施伙伴。研究人员制定了一份半结构化指南，并进行了关键信息提供者访谈，访谈进行了录音，逐字逐句地转录为当地语言，然后翻译成英语。所有转录内容都导入到ATLAS.ti 7.5版本软件中进行编码和分析。数据分析采用归纳法。转录内容逐行编码；然后将相似的代码分组为类别。随后，使用主题分析方法从这些类别中识别出不重复的主题。
以下主题被确定为阻碍营养与农业联系的联合规划、监测和评估的挑战：（1）能力有限；（2）本部门（农业或营养）工作量大；（3）对营养干预缺乏关注；（4）支持性监督不足；（5）报告系统存在问题；（6）技术协调委员会薄弱。
人力和技术资源方面的差距、不同部门关注有限以及缺乏常规监测数据，阻碍了埃塞俄比亚营养敏感型农业的联合规划、监测和评估活动。为专家提供短期和长期培训以及加强支持性监督可能会弥补能力差距。未来的研究应探讨营养敏感型多部门活动中的常规监测和监督是否能带来长期的结果改善。
