Understanding food systems policies for healthy diets in Ethiopia: Opportunities for urban inclusion

Desalegn, Paulos; Rezaei, Ma yam; Alikhano a, Shahzoda
Resea ch Repo
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in
E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
ODI Global Repo
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Sugges ed Ci a ion: Desalegn, Paulos; Rezaei, Ma yam; Alikhano a, Shahzoda (2025) : Unde s anding
ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion, ODI Global
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Repo
Unde s anding ood sys ems
policies o heal hy die s in
E hiopia
Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
Paulos Desalegn, Ma yam Rezaei, Shahzoda Alikhano a
Ap il 2025
Unde s anding ood
sys ems policies o
heal hy die s in E hiopia:
Oppo uni ies o u ban
inclusion
Paulos Desalegn, Ma yam Rezaei,
Shahzoda Alikhano a
ODI Global
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London SE1 8NJ
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© ODI Global 2025
Online ISSN: 2052-7209
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How o ci e: Desalegn, P., Rezaei, M. and Alikhano a, S. (2025) Unde s anding ood
sys ems policies o heal hy die in E hiopia: oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion.
London: ODI Global (h ps://odi.o g/en/publica ions/unde s anding- ood-
sys emspolicies- o -heal hy-die s-in-e hiopia-oppo uni ies- o -u ban-inclusion)
Acknowledgemen s
The au ho s ex end hei g a i ude o he e iewe s o hei aluable commen s on inal
d a – Tim Kelsall (Senio Resea ch Fellow, Clima e and Sus ainabili y, ODI Global), Jose Valls
(Policy O ice , Food Sys ems and Food Sa e y Di ision, Uni ed Na ions Food and Ag icul u e
O ganisa ion), Ashag ie Gib an (Lead Resea che Economic Sec o , Policy S udies Ins i u e o
E hiopia).
Abou his publica ion
This epo is a p oduc o ODI Global’s pa ne ship wi h he Wo ld Vege able Cen e, as pa o
he Veggies 4 People and Plane (V4P&P) p ojec , suppo ed by he IKEA Founda ion.
Abou he au ho s
Paulos Desalegn is an independen business and de elopmen consul an in E hiopia, wo king on
ag i- ood alue chain, policy and p i a e sec o de elopmen .
Ma yam Rezaei is a esea ch ellow in he Clima e and Sus ainabili y eam a ODI Global. She
leads he wo k on ood sys ems.
Shahzoda Alikhano a is a Senio Resea ch O ice in he Clima e and Sus ainabili y eam a ODI
Global.

Con en s
Acknowledgemen s / IV
Ac onyms / VII
1 In oduc ion / 1
1.1 Backg ound / 1
1.2 Resea ch aim and ques ions / 4
1.3 Resea ch signi icance / 5
2 Me hodology / 6
2.1 Concep ual amewo k / 6
2.2 Resea ch app oach / 8
3 Coun y ood sys ems policy e iew / 12
3.1 Food sys em policy documen s / 12
3.2 Case 1 – Na ional Food and Nu i ion Policy / 16
3.3 Case 2 – Na ional Nu i ion-Sensi i e Ag i-Food Sys ems S a egy (2024–2030) / 20
3.4 CASE 3 – E hiopia Food Sys ems ision 2030 / 24
3.5 D a E hiopian T ade Policy / 29
3.6 Policy ac ions on ege able p oduc ion, ma ke ing and consump ion / 33
3.7 Mul i-le el ood sys ems go e nance – analysis and implica ions / 35
3.8 The ole o sub-na ional ac o s in ood sys ems go e nance / 37
4 Discussion – ood sys ems policy making in E hiopia / 42
4.1 Fac o s de e mining ood sys ems policy p ocess / 42
4.2 S akeholde s’ in luence / 48
4.3 Indica i e heo y o change / 51
5 Conclusion / 54
6 Policy ecommenda ions / 56
Re e ences / 59
Appendix 1 Ranking ma ix used o selec ood sys ems policy / 62
Appendix 2 Food sys em policy ch onology / 65
Appendix 3 Food sys em policy documen s scan no e / 67
Appendix 4 Re iew o lessons lea ned om o he coun ies / 75
Tables
Table 1 Selec ed cases pe segmen , sco e, and selec ion a ional / 9
Table 2 Lis o na ional ood sys ems policies / 13
Table 3 FNP co e age summa y / 17
Table 4 NNAFSS co e age summa y / 21
Table 5 EFS ision co e age summa y / 25
Table 6 E hiopia T ade D a Policy co e age summa y / 30
Table 7 Main issues and p oposed ac ions / 35
Table 8 Ra ing o policy p ocess de e mining ac o s / 43
Figu es
Figu e 1 Food sys em polices ha a ec ege able ma ke sys em / 4
Figu e 2 Adap ed Kaleidoscope Model / 7
Figu e 3 S eps and main ools / 11
Figu e 4 FNP de elopmen imeline / 19
Figu e 5 S akeholde oles in de eloping he FNP / 20
Figu e 6 Timeline o NNAFSS / 22
Figu e 7 S a egy de elopmen co e and echnical membe s composi ion / 23
Figu e 8 S akeholde s’ oles in NNAFSS p ocess / 24
Figu e 9 Timeline o EFS ision / 27
Figu e 10 Mul i-s akeholde dialogue pa icipan s / 27
Figu e 11 S akeholde engagemen and oles in EFS p ocess / 28
Figu e 12 Timeline o E hiopian ade policy de elopmen / 32
Figu e 13 S akeholde s’ ole in d a ade policy p ocess / 33
Figu e 14 Le el o s akeholde in luence in selec ed cases / 49
Figu e 15 Theo y o Change / 52
Display i ems
Ac onyms
AGP Ag icul u al G ow h P og am
ATI Ag icul u al T ans o ma ion Ins i u e
CRGE Clima e-Resilien G een Economy
CSO ci il socie y o ganisa ion
ECCSA E hiopian Chambe o Comme ce and Sec o al Associa ions
EFS E hiopia Food Sys ems
FAO Food and Ag icul u e O ganisa ion
FNP Food and Nu i ion Policy
GAIN Global Alliance o Imp o ed Nu i ion
GLI G een Legacy Ini ia i e
KII key in o man in e iew
MoA Minis y o Ag icul u e
MoE Minis y o Educa ion
MoH Minis y o Heal h
MoTRI Minis y o T ade and Regional In eg a ion
NCD non-communicable disease
NFIS Na ional Financial Inclusion S a egy
NGO non-go e nmen al o ganisa ion
NNAFSS Na ional Nu i ion-Sensi i e Ag i-Food Sys ems S a egy
NNP Na ional Nu i ion P og am
NSAS Nu i ion-Sensi i e Ag icul u e S a egy
SDGs Sus ainable De elopmen Goals
UNFSS Uni ed Na ions Food Sys ems Summi
V4P&P Veggies o Plane and People
WTO Wo ld T ade O ganiza ion
1 In oduc ion
1.1 Backg ound
The E hiopian go e nmen has
implemen ed a ious ini ia i es o
add ess ood sys em challenges,
pa icula ly ood insecu i y, malnu i ion,
and mic onu ien de iciency. I has
in oduced mul i-sec o al na ional ood
and nu i ion policies and s a egies,
such as he Food and Nu i ion Policy
(FNP) (FDRE, 2018) and Na ional Food
and Nu i ion S a egy (FDRE, 2021a)
o achie e he coun y’s de elopmen
goals. Since 2018, E hiopia has shi ed
i s concep ualisa ion o he ood sys em
o inco po a e measu es o imp o ed
nu i ion ac oss ood and ag icul u al
p oduc ion and consump ion. S a egies
and p og ammes in ag icul u e ha e
become mo e nu i ion-sensi i e,
indica ing a ecogni ion o he iple
bu den o malnu i ion on public heal h
and he s ain on public inances. Despi e
p og ess in ackling ood insecu i y
and malnu i ion, he Ma ch 2023
na ional baseline su ey showed he
s un ing a e a 29%, was ing a 11%,
unde weigh a 22% and o e weigh a
6%. The indings also indica ed signi ican
le els o anaemia and mic onu ien
de iciencies among child en unde i e
yea s and women o ep oduc i e age
(Minis y o Heal h e al., 2023). Only
8% o households su eyed in E hiopia
had a di e se ood baske , meaning hey
consume all six ood g oups in a day
(Wo kicho e al., 2023), as ecommended
in he na ional ood-based die a y
guidelines (EPHI, 2022).
Beyond he unde eloped capaci y o
he coun y in ag icul u e p oduc ion,
which is a key ac o in shaping ood
a ailabili y, a ange o indi idual, poli ical,
en i onmen al, and s uc u al ac o s
de e mine quali y, access, a o dabili y,
and ood s abili y o all. These ac o s
cu ac oss mul iple ac i i ies, sec o s
and disciplines ac oss ood sys ems
and should be conside ed in de eloping
holis ic ood secu i y and nu i ion
policies and ac ions. Household
weal h, indi idual educa ion le el and
geog aphic loca ion a e among he
con ibu ing ac o s ha de e mine
ood baske di e si y (Wo kicho e al.,
2023). Vege ables a e among he mos
ecommended sou ces o i amins
and mine als bu a e gene ally unde -
consumed in E hiopia (Wool ey e
al., 2021). E hiopia anks among he
i e coun ies in sub-Saha an A ica
wi h he highes p e alence o ze o
ui and ege able consump ion
among child en, a ec ing 69% o he
popula ion (Semagn and Abubaka i,
2023). Ce eals (including e , maize and
whea ) we e he mos dominan ood
g oup consumed, ollowed by pulses
(such as peas and beans). Unheal hy
die s high in ul a-p ocessed ood,
suga , sal and sa u a ed a and lacking
ui s and ege ables a e he d i e s o
non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
(Global Food Resea ch P og am, 2021).
In a coun y wi h an u ban popula ion o
23% in 2023 acco ding o UN es ima es,
obesi y and o he o ms o malnu i ion
a e inc easingly p ominen in ci ies.
8Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
insigh s d awn om p e ious simila
s udies, as well as he eam’s expe ise.
The eam ocused on he h ee elemen s
o he Kaleidoscope Model: (1) agenda
se ing, (2) policy design, and (3) policy
implemen a ion. Adop ion, e alua ion and
e o m o policy a e no explo ed in de ail,
as conduc ing such a s udy would equi e
ex ensi e da a collec ion and in-dep h case
analysis beyond he scope o his esea ch.
While assessing he policy case s udies
o iden i y key ac o s and issues in he
ege able sec o – spanning p oduc ion
(a ailabili y, quali y and p ice) and
consump ion (accessibili y, in eg a ion in
die ) – he s udy consul ed he ege able
alue chain analysis conduc ed by he
V4P&P p ojec and o he ele an s udies
o ensu e alignmen wi h he p oposed
policy ac ions.
2.2 Resea ch app oach
The s udy ollowed a pa icipa o y
app oach in collec ing quali a i e da a
and in o ma ion om he key in o man s
and ocus g oups a na ional le el
and in Adama Ci y. This app oach was
complemen ed by an in-dep h e iew o
ele an pee - e iewed and g ey li e a u e.
P elimina y indings we e discussed wi h
key s akeholde s in a na ional consul a ion
wo kshop o ill he da a gaps and
iangula e he collec ed in o ma ion.
Du ing he ini ial documen e iew phase,
he esea ch eam conduc ed a apid
app aisal o 26 ecen ly d a ed and/o
implemen ed ood policies ac oss mul iple
in e ela ed sec o s in E hiopia, and hei
design and implemen a ion p ocess.
Using a s uc u ed selec ion p ocess, he
eam applied a p ede ined se o c i e ia
wi hin an Excel ma ix o e alua e each
policy. Th ee policy cases we e ini ially
selec ed, wi h a ou h case added
du ing he incep ion mee ing based on
s akeholde ecommenda ions o cap u e
addi ional insigh s on mul i-sec o al policy
in eg a ion. Based on he sco ing sys em
(see Annex 1 o de ails), he ollowing
policies we e chosen o de ailed analysis:
• Segmen 1 (Food and Nu i ion –
Consump ion and Social P o ec ion):
Food and Nu i ion Policy o E hiopia
(FNP)
• Segmen 2 (Ag icul u al and Food
P oduc ion): Na ional Nu i ion-
Sensi i e Ag i-Food Sys em S a egy
(NNAFSS)
• Segmen 3 (T ading, In es men and
Finance): E hiopian T ade Policy.
• Addi ional mul i-sec o al case: E hiopia
Food Sys ems (EFS) ans o ma ion
ision (included upon s akeholde
ecommenda ion o insigh s in o mul i-
sec o al policy in eg a ion). The de ailed
anking summa y is p o ided in Annex 2.

9
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
Table 1 Selec ed cases pe segmen , sco e, and selec ion a ional
2.2.1 Da a collec ion and syn hesis
ools
In line wi h he Kaleidoscope Model
amewo k, he p ima y ools used
included:
1. Selec ed ood sys ems policy
ch onology ( ou main ood policy
cases): he ch onology p o ides a
s a ing poin o iden i ying majo
policy decisions, key indi iduals and
in e es g oups, le el o decen alisa ion
(i.e. whe he ci y au ho i ies we e
in ol ed), in o ma ion, and e en s
ha shape ood sys ems policies.
Addi ionally, econs uc ing policy
e en s, deba es and ou comes helps
dis inguish highly in luen ial playe s
om less in luen ial and ma ginal
ac o s. Unde s anding he iming o
key decisions and in luencing ac o s
o en aids in con ibu ing e ec i ely o
ongoing policy discussions. Cons uc ing
a policy ch onology equi es a ca e ul
e iew o a ailable policy documen s,
go e nmen , dono o academic s udies
ela ed o speci ic ood-sys em policies.
Beyond documen e iew, he esea ch
eam conduc ed in-dep h in e iews
wi h key pa icipan s and obse e s o
he policy sys em.
Na ional Food and
Nu i ion S a egy, 2021
Food and Nu i ion
Policy o E hiopia, 2018
EFS T ans o ma ion
Vision 2030
Ten-Yea Ag icul u al
De elopmen Plan
Na ional Nu i ion
Sensi i e Ag i-Food
Sys ems S a egy
(2024 – 2030)
E hiopian T ade Policy,
2023 (d a )
Policy documen Segmen Ac i e
o no
To al sco e Ranking
summa y
Top candida e o
Segmen 1
Second
candida e
o Segmen 1
Top candida e o
Segmen 2
Second
candida e o
Segmen 2
Top candida e
o Segmen 3
Selec ion a ional
Case selec ed as an example o
in eg a ed app oach o FSN
(Food Secu i y and Nu i ion)
policy
Case selec ed as example o
mul i-sec o al ood sys ems
policy p ocess
Case selec ed as a ood
sys em policy wi h nu i ion a
i s co e
Case selec ed o showcase
policy cohe ence
1
1
1
2
2
3
38
37
30
32
31
27
10 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
2. S akeholde mapping: o unde s and a
policy sys em, he second majo diagnos ic
s ep in ol es iden i ying and mapping
he key s akeholde s. The eam used he
ollowing h ee ools o he s udy:
a. s akeholde in en o y – lis s he
ins i u ion, ole, esou ces, in luence
and policy s ance o each policy case
b. policy sys em schema ic – desc ibes
unc ionally how hese key playe s
in e ac in se ing policy agendas,
designing policy op ions, decision-
making, implemen a ion and
moni o ing
c. ci cle o in luence – maps he posi ions
and ela i e powe o key policy
s akeholde s.
2.2.2 S eps and p ocess
The esea ch ollowed a s uc u ed
app oach, beginning wi h a sys ema ic
in en o y o ood sys ems policy
documen s. A ma ix was de eloped o
ca ego ise and e alua e hese documen s
based on p ede ined c i e ia, including
comp ehensi eness, s akeholde
engagemen , policy cohe ence, and
alignmen wi h he ege able sec o .
Th ee case s udies we e ini ially selec ed
om he policy in en o y. Du ing an
incep ion mee ing wi h key s akeholde s,
a ou h case was added o cap u e
addi ional insigh s in o mul i-sec o al policy
coo dina ion. S akeholde s also p o ided
eedback on he selec ion, ensu ing he
cases we e ele an and impac ul in
shaping E hiopia’s ood sys em.
A de ailed policy e iew was conduc ed
o ace he e olu ion o policy decisions,
iden i y key ac o s and in e es g oups,
and analyse policy cohe ence and gaps
and con adic ions be ween di e en
amewo ks. This his o ical analysis
laid he g oundwo k o unde s anding
he b oade ood sys em go e nance
landscape.
To analyse policy in luence dynamics, a
mul i-dimensional s akeholde mapping
p ocess was employed. Each policy case was
examined o map key ac o s and hei oles,
while a unc ional amewo k was de eloped
o illus a e in e ac ions ac oss he policy
cycle – co e ing agenda se ing, decision-
making, implemen a ion, and moni o ing.
The esea ch also assessed he posi ions and
ela i e powe o s akeholde s, iden i ying
majo decision-make s and ga ekeepe s in
E hiopia’s ood policy sys em.
Key in o man in e iews (KIIs) we e
conduc ed in pa allel wi h he documen
e iew, engaging policymake s, go e nmen
o icials, p i a e sec o ep esen a i es,
de elopmen pa ne s and ci il socie y
ac o s. This i e a i e p ocess allowed o
c oss- alida ion o indings, iden i ica ion o
eme ging hemes, con lic s o in e es , and
go e nance challenges.
Finally, indings om documen analysis,
s akeholde mapping and KIIs we e
syn hesised o assess he e ec i eness
o na ional and local go e nmen
coo dina ion. The esul s in o med
ac ionable ecommenda ions o policy
e o ms, p og amma ic in e en ions, and
in es men s a egies aimed a imp o ing
he impac o E hiopia’s ood sys ems
policies on access o ege able- ich die s in
u ban se ing.
11
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
Figu e 3 S eps and main ools
Ini ial Documen /LR - Scanning
Lis ood sys em policy docs Quick scan Con i m 4-3 cases p oposed
Selec ed Cases Food Sys em Policy Ch onolgy (3-4 cases)
De ailed documen e iew In-dep h KII
S akeholde Mapping
S akeholde in en o y Policy sys em schema ic Ci cle o in luence
Selec ed Policy Con en Re iew (enabling and limi ing ac ions)
Vege able p oduc ion Vege able ading Consump ion - ege able ich die
S akholde Join Mapping and Discussion Wo kshop
Wo kshop p epa a ion Na ional le el s akholde s Adama le el s akeholde s
Analysis and Repo
Final Wo kshop - Valida ion and Sha ing Main Findings
12 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
3 Coun y ood sys ems
policy e iew
3.1 Food sys em policy
documen s
Food sys ems encompass he en i e
ange o ac o s, and hei in e linked
alue-adding ac i i ies in ol ed in he
p oduc ion, ma ke ing (agg ega ion,
p ocessing, dis ibu ion, disposal o ood
p oduc s) and consump ion o ood.
This also includes he ood en i onmen ,
including physical and economic access
o ood (p oximi y and a o dabili y); ood
p omo ion, ad e ising, and in o ma ion;
and ood quali y and sa e y – all o which
in luence ood choices, accep abili y and
die s. Acco ding o he HLPE de ini ion,
a ood sys em ga he s all he elemen s
(en i onmen , people, inpu s, p ocesses,
in as uc u es, ins i u ions, e c.) and
ac i i ies ela ed o he p oduc ion,
p ocessing, dis ibu ion, p epa a ion,
and consump ion o ood, along wi h he
ou pu s o hese ac i i ies, including socio-
economic and en i onmen al ou comes
(HLPE, 2017).
In E hiopia, policy began o emb ace he
wide ood sys em in 2018, wi h mo e
explici ood en i onmen in e en ions
becoming appa en (T übswasse e
al., 2022). In ecen yea s, he E hiopian
go e nmen has in oduced mul i-sec o al
na ional ood and nu i ion policies and
s a egies as pa o i s commi men o
p omo e nu i ion-sensi i e ag icul u e,
educe s un ing, and achie e he coun y’s
de elopmen goals. Since 2018, E hiopia
has shi ed i s concep ualisa ion o he
ood sys em o conside nu i ion ac oss
ag i ood p oduc ion and consump ion.
These policies a e led by public sec o ,
p ima ily he Minis y o Ag icul u e
(MoA) and he Minis y o Heal h (MoH),
bu hey a e mul i-sec o al in na u e
and in ol e a ious s akeholde s, who,
di ec ly o indi ec ly, a e engaged in
deli e y o ood sys ems ou comes. A
apid app aisal o 26 ood sys em- ela ed
policies de eloped o e he pas wo
decades e eals a g adual and posi i e shi
in he go e nmen ’s app oach owa ds
mo e holis ic policy design. Howe e , he
implemen a ion o hese policies o en
alls sho o ully emb acing a sys emic
and mul i-sec o al app oach.
The E hiopian go e nmen and i s
pa ne s, including he Wo ld Bank,
Uni ed Na ions Food and Ag icul u e
O ganisa ion (FAO) and o he UN
agencies, non-go e nmen al o ganisa ions
(NGOs) and uni e si ies, ha e
emba ked on a p ocess o ood sys ems
ans o ma ion, guided by he ision o
achie ing heal hy die s o he popula ion.
Recen policy documen s, like he E hiopia
Food Sys ems (EFS) ans o ma ion
ision, d aw lessons om global
expe iences and build on pas ini ia i es
like he Seqo a Decla a ion (FDRE, 2021b)
– a high-le el commi men by E hiopian
go e nmen o end s un ing in child en
unde wo yea s by 2030. The p ocess
o de eloping he EFS ision in ol ed
13
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
conduc ing na ional dialogues and designing
a ood sys ems oadmap and a posi ion pape .
The EFS ision was launched in 2021 wi h a
commi men o conclude implemen a ion by
2030. The e iew indica es ha his ision and
o he ecen policies ha e succeed o some
ex en in add essing eigh ood en i onmen
domains – a ailabili y, a o dabili y, con enience,
p omo ion, quali y (desi abili y), sus ainabili y,
sa e y, and cul u al and social con ex . Howe e ,
when compa ed o global bes p ac ices, he e
a e majo gaps in ackling ood and nu i ion
p oblems, especially ela ed o ood p omo ion,
p ocessing, e ail, p icing and ade.
As indica ed in Table 2, ag icul u al s a egies
and p og ammes ha e become mo e nu i ion-
sensi i e, and policies such as he 2008 Na ional
Nu i ion S a egy ha e complemen a y ac ion
plans and ela ed p og ammes ha con inued
o e he yea s wi h a sa is ac o y deg ee o
p og ess in ackling nu i ion issues.
Table 2 Lis o na ional ood sys ems policies
The con en and dep h o each policy documen
a y, bu gene ally hese policies ha e e ol ed
beyond pa icula sec o o add ess a b oade
scope o he ood sys ems challenges. Some
Pe iod
2008–2017
2018–2024
Food, nu i ion and heal h
• Na ional Nu i ion S a egy,
2008
• Na ional Nu i ion
P og am-I (NNP-I), 2008/09
• Seqo a Decla a ion, 2015
• Na ional Nu i ion
p og am-II (NNP-II), 2016
• Food and Nu i ion Policy,
2018
• Food and Medicine
Adminis a ion
P oclama ion, 2019
• Na ional S a egic Ac ion
Plan o NCDs, 2020
• Na ional Food and
Nu i ion S a egy, 2021
• Seqo a Decla a ion –
Roadmap o Expansion and
Scale-up, 2021
• Na ional Food Sa e y and
Quali y S a egy-Fo
P ima y Ag icul u al
P oduce, 2024 (2024–2030)
Ag icul u e and
en i onmen (ho icul u e
and o he s)
• Clima e-Resilien G een
Economy (CRGE) S a egy,
2011
• Ag icul u al g ow h
p og am I (AGP I)
(2010-2015
• AGP II – 2015/16-2020
• Nu i ion-Sensi i e
Ag icul u al S a egy, 2016
• Ag icul u al Ex ension
S a egy, 2017
• G een Legacy, 2019
• Ten-Yea Ag icul u al
De elopmen Plan, 2021
• The Ho icul u e Policy,
2021
• Ho icul u e Roadmap, 2021
• E hiopia Food Sys ems
Resilience P og am, 2023
• Na ional Nu i ion Sensi i e
Ag i-Food Sys ems S a egy,
2024 (2024–2030)
• Pos ha es Managemen
S a egy, 2024 (2024–2030)
Disas e isk and
social p o ec ion
• Na ional Social
P o ec ion Policy,
2012
• Na ional Policy and
S a egy on
Disas e Risk
Managemen , 2013
T ade and
in es men , and
inance
• In es men
P oclama ion,
1180–2020
• Na ional Financial
Inclusion S a egy
(NFIS), 2021
• In es men
Di ec i e 517-2022
• E hiopian T ade
Policy (d a ), 2023
• F ui and
Vege able
Ma ke ing
Di ec i e (d a ),
2023

14 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
documen s explici ly men ion ac ions
ela ed o ege able sec o , while o he s
ocus on o e all nu ien -dense oods.
The long lis o p oposed solu ions
span scaling up and di e si ying he
p oduc ion and consump ion o ui s
and ege ables; es ablishing and en o cing
ood sa e y and quali y s anda ds;
de eloping and dissemina ing ood-
based die a y guidelines; implemen ing
mass media campaigns and beha iou
change communica ion s a egies;
p omo ing clima e-sma and nu i ion-
sensi i e ag icul u e p ac ices; educing
pos -ha es losses and was e o
ui s and ege ables; s eng hening
ma ke in o ma ion and in elligence
sys ems; enhancing ma ke linkages
and coo dina ion; en o cing ma ke
s anda ds and egula ions; imp o ing
he income and pu chasing powe o
consume s; inc easing he a ailabili y and
accessibili y o ui s and ege ables; and
s eng hening ood sys ems go e nance
and coo dina ion.
The policy documen s a e ca ego ised
in o ou main policy a eas in he ollowing
subsec ions, and a de ailed policy scan
no e is p o ided in Annex 3.
3.1.1 Policies ela ing o ood,
nu i ion and heal h
• Na ional Nu i ion P og am-II
(NNP-II), 2016: ocused on imp o ing
nu i ional s a us ac oss demog aphics.
I speci ically encou aged homes ead
ga dening, pos -ha es p ocessing
and ege able consump ion. S a egies
aimed o enhance die a y di e si y and
ood handling p ac ices.
• Food and Nu i ion Policy o E hiopia
(FNP), 2018: aims o c ea e a sel -
elian E hiopia in e ms o ood and
nu i ion. While i doesn’ explici ly
men ion ege ables, mos policy
di ec ions encompass hem. The ocus is
on imp o ing he a ailabili y, accessibili y
and sa e y o nu i ious oods o all
ci izens.
• Na ional Food and Nu i ion S a egy,
2021: based on he 2018 policy, his
s a egy ou lines 13 objec i es co e ing
a ious aspec s o ood and nu i ion
secu i y. I emphasises nu ien -dense
c ops, including ege ables, o ensu e
a heal hy die . Ini ia i es include
p omo ing ag oecology-based a ming
sys ems and s eng hening ui and
ege able ga dening.
• Seqo a Decla a ion (SD) – Roadmap
o Expansion and Scale-up Phases
2021–2030: a ollow-up o SD 2015. The
commi men aims o end s un ing in
child en unde wo by 2030. Vege ables
play a i al ole in imp o ing nu i ion.
The s a egy emphasises nu ien -
ich ui s and ege ables, inno a i e
homes ead ga dening, and household
die di e si y.
• Food and Medicine Adminis a ion
P oclama ion No. 1112/2019: ensu es
ood sa e y and compliance, speci ically
men ioning ege ables in he de ini ion
o ollow-up o mula.
• Na ional S a egic Ac ion Plan
o NCDs, 2020: a ge s heal hy
die s, including ui and ege able
consump ion.
15
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
3.1.2 Policies ela ing o ag icul u e
and en i onmen
• Nu i ion-Sensi i e Ag icul u al
S a egy (NSAS), 2016: in eg a es
nu i ion in o ag icul u e policies,
p omo ing di e si ied and nu ien -
dense oods, including ege ables.
Women’s empowe men and sec o
coo dina ion a e also key componen s,
ensu ing a holis ic app oach o
imp o ing ood secu i y and nu i ion.
• Na ional Nu i ion-Sensi i e Ag i-
Food Sys ems S a egy, 2024–2030:
aims o imp o e ood and nu i ion
secu i y. I emphasises di e si ied
nu ien -dense c ops, including lea y
ege ables. Ini ia i es include p omo ing
sa e ege able p oduc ion and
es ablishing nu i ion demons a ion
cen es.
• Ten-Yea Ag icul u al De elopmen
Plan, 2021: links wi h he FNP.
Vege able- ela ed in e en ions ocus
on echnology gene a ion, imp o ed
seeds and expo -o ien ed ho icul u al
p oduce. Ag icul u al ex ension includes
aining and demons a ions.
• Ag icul u al Ex ension S a egy,
2017: aims o enhance ood and
nu i ion secu i y h ough plu alis ic
ex ension se ices. I emphasises
nu i ion-sensi i e ex ension, including
women’s empowe men and ege able
p oduc ion.
• Ag icul u al G ow h P og am (AGP I
and AGP II): p omo es die a y di e si y
h ough nu ien -dense c ops, pos -
ha es handling, and ood sa e y. I
indi ec ly con ibu es o ood secu i y
and nu i ion.
• En i onmen Policy – Clima e-
Resilien G een Economy (CRGE)
S a egy, 2011: while no explici ly
men ioning ege ables, CRGE ecognises
sus ainable ag icul u al p ac ices o
ood secu i y and clima e esilience.
• G een Legacy Ini ia i e, 2019: al hough
no di ec ly ela ed o ege ables, his
ini ia i e indi ec ly con ibu es o ood
secu i y by plan ing aluable seedlings,
including ui ees.
3.1.3 Policies ela ing o disas e
isk educ ion and social
p o ec ion
• Na ional Policy and S a egy on
Disas e Risk Managemen , 2013:
he holis ic app oach o disas e
isk managemen indi ec ly impac s
nu i ion and ag icul u al p oduc ion,
including ege able sys ems.
• Disas e Risk Managemen Policy,
2013: his comp ehensi e amewo k
aims o enhance disas e p e en ion
and p epa edness capaci ies. While
no explici ly ocused on nu i ion
and ag icul u e, i s holis ic app oach
indi ec ly impac s hese a eas
h ough p inciples such as p e en ion,
p epa edness and esilience.
• Na ional Social P o ec ion Policy,
2012: p o iding a comp ehensi e
amewo k, his policy ocuses on social
sa e y ne s, li elihood schemes, and
add essing inequali ies. While nu i ion
is pa o basic se ices, he b oade
scope con ibu es o o e all well-being.
16 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
3.1.4 Policies ela ing o ade,
in es men and inance
• E hiopian T ade Policy, 2023 (d a ):
he d a policy emphasises in e na ional
and domes ic ade, bu does no
speci ically men ion ege ables.
• F ui and Vege able Ma ke ing
Di ec i e, 2023 (d a ): his di ec i e
a ge s ho icul u e, including ege ables,
ui s and oo c ops, de ining oles o
s akeholde s.
• In es men P oclama ion, 2020:
ho icul u e bene i s om in es men
incen i es, including ax exemp ions.
• In es men Di ec i e, 2022: de ailed
in o ma ion on in es men incen i es,
wi h ho icul u e quali ying as bene icia y
o he incen i e package.
• Na ional Financial Inclusion S a egy
(NFIS) II, 2021–2025: while no ood-
speci ic, i aims o enhance inancial
inclusion, including ag icul u al inance
ini ia i es.
E hiopia’s ood sys ems policy landscape in
he las decade demons a es p og ession
owa d in eg a ing nu i ion-sensi i e
s a egies ac oss mul iple sec o s. Ini ially,
policies p ima ily add essed nu i ion
h ough b oad ood secu i y measu es, bu
o e ime he e has been a g owing emphasis
on die a y di e si y, pa icula ly he ole o
nu ien -dense c ops like ege ables. This
e lec s a shi om add essing malnu i ion
h ough di ec in e en ions owa d a mo e
sys emic app oach ha conside s ag icul u al
p oduc ion, en i onmen al sus ainabili y and
economic access. While ea lie amewo ks
laid he ounda ion o imp o ing ood
a ailabili y and sa e y, ecen s a egies
explici ly p omo e ege able consump ion,
ag oecology-based a ming and di e si ied
die s, aligning nu i ion goals wi h ag icul u al
and en i onmen al policies. Howe e , gaps
pe sis in linking p oduc ion incen i es,
ma ke accessibili y and a o dabili y
measu es o ensu e ha policy objec i es
ansla e in o angible die a y imp o emen s.
The mul i-sec o al na u e o E hiopia’s ood
policy amewo k is e iden in i s alignmen
ac oss heal h, ag icul u e, social p o ec ion
and ade policies. While nu i ion policies
emphasise die a y di e si y and ood
sa e y, ag icul u e policies inc easingly
in eg a e nu i ion-sensi i e s a egies,
ecognising he ole o di e si ied c opping
and clima e- esilien a ming. Addi ionally,
ade and in es men policies highligh he
po en ial o ho icul u e, hough explici
links o nu i ion emain unde de eloped.
Disas e isk educ ion and social p o ec ion
amewo ks con ibu e indi ec ly by
add essing ulne abili ies ha impac ood
secu i y and die a y ou comes. Despi e his
c oss-sec o al app oach, e ec i e policy
coo dina ion emains a challenge, equi ing
s onge ins i u ional linkages, en o cemen
mechanisms and in es men s a egies o
enhance he implemen a ion o nu i ion-
sensi i e policies ac oss sec o s.
3.2 Case 1 – Na ional Food and
Nu i ion Policy
3.2.1 Policy co e age
The FNP’s co e age and aim a e se ou
in Table 3. The policy aims o achie e
op imal nu i ional s a us ac oss all li e
s ages, ein o cing b oade na ional goals
o enhanced quali y o li e, inc eased
p oduc i i y, and imp o ed longe i y.
17
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
Table 3 FNP co e age summa y
Pe iod
Iden i ica ion
Policy aims and
objec i es
Means and
ac i i ies planned
Implemen ing
agency and
budge
Policy cohe ence
In ended impac
on ege able
p oduc ion,
ma ke ing, and
consump ion
Dimensions
Policy i le
Da e o adop ion
Policy ype
O e all aim(s)
Speci ic
objec i es
Means
Ac i i ies
Implemen ing
agency
P og amme
app o ed
Budge alloca ed
Consis ency
Complemen a i y
and ade-o s
P oduc ion
Ma ke ing and
dis ibu ion
Vege able
consump ion
Summa y
Food and Nu i ion Policy o E hiopia
2018
Public heal h policy and ood secu i y policy
To a ain op imal nu i ional s a us a all s ages o li e, consis en wi h a high
quali y o li e, p oduc i i y, and longe i y.
1. Ensu e he a ailabili y and accessibili y o adequa e ood o all E hiopians
2. Imp o e nu i ion se ices equi ably ac oss all li e s ages
3. Enhance consump ion o di e si ied and nu i ious die s
4. Imp o e ood sa e y and quali y h oughou he alue chain
5. Reduce ood and nu ien losses
6. S eng hen eme gency isk managemen
7. Enhance nu i ion li e acy.
New legisla ion, esou ce alloca ion, capaci y building, esea ch, educa ion,
pa ne ships, in as uc u e de elopmen , moni o ing, e alua ion, ad ocacy and
eme gency esponse.
Nu i ion educa ion, ood o i ica ion, ag icul u al de elopmen , heal hca e
se ices, social p o ec ion, nu i ion sc eening, communi y-based in e en ions,
ood secu i y moni o ing, esea ch, and policy coo dina ion.
MoA, MoH, Minis y o Educa ion (MoE), Na ional Food and Nu i ion Policy
Council, egional and local go e nmen au ho i ies, de elopmen pa ne s and
NGOs.
(No speci ied)
(No speci ied)
In gene al, i aligns wi h ele an na ional policies (ag icul u e, heal h, e c) o
add ess malnu i ion and imp o e o e all heal h.
In e sec s wi h o he sec o s like ag icul u e, heal hca e, and educa ion. The policy
ac ions a e a gene ic lis ; he e is an o e all complemen a i y, bu a en ion is
needed o syne gy and any ade-o s in speci ic in e en ions.
No di ec men ion o ege ables, bu policy di ec ions encompass hem. S a egies
include enhancing p oduc ion, sa e y, and pos ha es managemen .
The e is no speci ic men ion o ege able ma ke ing and dis ibu ion ac ions.
No speci ic ac ions ela ed o ege able consump ion. Enhancing di e si ied and
nu i ion die s and nu i ion li e acy a e among he main objec i es o he policy.
24 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
sub-na ional en i ies a he han di ec
in ol emen in policy design. The low o
in luence shi ed o e ime, wi h ea ly-
s age policymaking domina ed by ede al
ac o s, while la e s ages saw inc eased
engagemen om decen alised en i ies,
NGOs and p i a e sec o ac o s. The
s uc u e highligh s a op-down policy
de elopmen app oach wi h a mo e
decen alised implemen a ion s a egy.
Figu e 8 S akeholde s’ oles in NNAFSS p ocess
3.4 CASE 3 – E hiopia Food
Sys ems ision 2030
3.4.1 Policy co e age
The EFS ision aims o a holis ic shi
anging na u e-posi i e ood p oduc ion
o sus ainable consump ion pa e ns. As
indica ed in Table 5, his ans o ma ion
is s uc u ed a ound h ee key pilla s
– ede al, egional/sub-na ional, and
pa ne ships – wi h he MoA and MoH
leading he e o alongside 16 in e -
minis e ial en i ies, de elopmen pa ne s
and sub-na ional agencies.
MoA
Fede al
o he
o ices
Sub-na ional
en i ies De elopmen pa ne s
(Sa e, FAO, AT)
P i a e sec o and
SH a me s
Communi y
NSAS 2016 lessons
and new policy,
global ends
Agenda se ing
Design Co e Team
Technical
Team
Adop ion
Implemen a ion
2023 2024
Au ho i y
Finance
TA
Goods & se ices
In o ma ion

25
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
Table 5 EFS ision co e age summa y
Aspec
Iden i ica ion
Policy aim and
objec i es
Means and
ac i i ies planned
Implemen ing
agency and
budge
Policy cohe ence
In ended impac
on ege able
p oduc ion,
ma ke ing, and
consump ion
Dimensions
Policy i le
Da e o adop ion
Policy ype
O e all aim(s)
Speci ic objec i es
Means
Ac i i ies
Implemen ing
agency
P og am
app o ed
Budge alloca ed
Consis ency
Complemen a i y
and ade-o s
P oduc ion
Ma ke ing and
dis ibu ion
Vege able
consump ion
Summa y
E hiopia Food Sys ems (EFS) Vision 2030
July 2021
Na ional ision/s a egy
A holis ic ans o ma ion o E hiopia’s ood sys ems om na u e-posi i e p oduc ion
o sus ainable consump ion pa e ns.
P omo e enhanced ood sa e y, nu i ion, and heal hy die s; imp o e equi able
li elihood and land p ese a ion; build esilience o shocks and s ess.
Diagnos ic s udy, oadmap p epa a ion, aligning policy and coo dina ion; onboa ding
de elopmen pa ne s and s akeholde s; o ming in e -minis e ial and o he
go e nance s uc u es; coo dina ion uni o ma ion, socialisa ion, educa ion, and
implemen ing 24 game-changing solu ions. Fo implemen a ion: poli ical and
ope a ional buy-in, socialisa ion o ele an o ganisa ions, media campaign,
egional-le el implemen a ion, and inancing EFS.
The EFS has iden i ied and inalised 24 game-changing solu ions, clus e ed in o 7
ca ego ies; 165 in e en ions (160 aligned, 97%); 605 ac i i ies (481 aligned, 80%).
Lead MoA and MoH wi h 16 in e -minis e ial en i ies, he Ag icul u al T ans o ma ion
Ins i u e (ATI) wi h coo dina ion ole/sec e a ia , and o he wo laye s (sub-na ional
en i ies mainly o implemen a ion and de elopmen pa ne s). P oposed h ee pilla s
( ede al, egional/sub-na ional, pa ne ships).
Aligned in e en ions: 165 in e en ions wi h 160 aligned wi h exis ing go e nmen and
de elopmen pa ne s’ p og ammes (e.g., Food Sys ems Resilience P og am, Seqo a
Decla a ion).
To al budge o EFS ac i i ies: 185.11 billion bi ; an addi ional 1.9 billion bi is equi ed
a e aligning wi h he go e nmen budge and commi men om de elopmen
pa ne s.
Aligned wi h SDGs and UNFSS; also aligned wi h o he ele an policies in he coun y
ela ed o ag icul u e, heal h, and nu i ion.
E o s made o align and c ea e syne gy ac oss in e en ions and policies h ough
clus e ing.
The 24 game-changing solu ions in he oadmap a e di ec ly o indi ec ly ela ed o
ege able p oduc ion, ma ke ing, and consump ion. Examples include: EFS GC 2:
Suppo di e si ied ood p oduc ion o nu ien -dense oods (animal-sou ced and
plan -based) h ough smallholde , g eenhouse, and ga den-le el p oduc ion; EFS GC 19:
Mode nise and upscale indigenous ood p oduc ion and p ocessing o gene al
popula ion consump ion; EFS GC 1: S eng hen na ional ood sa e y managemen and
con ol sys ems; EFS GC 18: P omo e ag icul u al comme cialisa ion by c ea ing
specialisa ion co ido s o nu ien -dense commodi ies and s eng hening ma ke
linkages (e.g., ag o-indus ial pa ks).
The e a e solu ions p oposed ha ela e o EFS GC 8: S eng hen inno a i e supply
chain managemen and handling sys ems, pa icula ly o nu ien -dense c ops ( ui ,
ege ables, and animal-sou ced oods).
In consump ion, he e a e solu ions ha di ec ly and indi ec ly con ibu e, including
EFS GC 9: Sus ain awa eness c ea ion and ood and nu i ion li e acy o change
consume beha iou owa d nu ien -dense and sa e ood, empowe ing women’s
leade ship in ood sys ems.
26 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
The s a egy emphasises ood sa e y,
imp o ed nu i ion and equi able
li elihoods while ensu ing esilience o
shocks and en i onmen al sus ainabili y.
Implemen a ion is guided by a diagnos ic
s udy and oadmap p epa a ion,
inco po a ing policy alignmen ,
s akeholde coo dina ion and go e nance
mechanisms such as an in e -minis e ial
coo dina ion uni . The EFS also p io i ises
socialisa ion e o s, media ou each and
egional-le el implemen a ion o secu e
bo h poli ical and ope a ional buy-in. Wi h
an es ima ed o al budge o 185.1 billion
bi (US$1.4 billion), plus an addi ional 1.9
billion bi in inancing needs, equi ed o
implemen a ion, he EFS in eg a es 165
in e en ions and 605 ac i i ies, wi h 97%
alignmen o exis ing p og ammes like he
Food Sys ems Resilience P og am and he
Seqo a Decla a ion.
A cen al ea u e o he EFS is i s 24
‘game-changing solu ions’, ca ego ised
in o se en clus e s aimed a enhancing
ood p oduc ion, ma ke ing, and
consump ion. On he consume side, he
EFS en isions shi ing die a y beha iou s
h ough sus ained awa eness campaigns
and nu i ion li e acy p og ammes,
pa icula ly emphasising women’s
leade ship in ood sys ems. This elemen
could be an en y poin o di ec ly link
he measu es o p omo ing ege able-
ich die and engaging and empowe ing
local and municipal go e nmen s
and consume s and ci izen g oups.
The s a egy is aligned wi h global
amewo ks, including he Sus ainable
De elopmen Goals (SDGs) and he UN
Food Sys ems Summi (UNFSS), ensu ing
cohe ence wi h na ional policies ac oss
ag icul u e, heal h, and nu i ion. By
clus e ing in e en ions and os e ing
syne gy, he EFS ies o minimise
policy agmen a ion and enhances
implemen a ion e iciency.
3.4.2 Timeline
The EFS ision p ocess, as illus a ed in
Figu e 9, was ini ia ed in No embe 2020
in esponse o he UN Sec e a y-Gene al’s
call o membe s a es o conduc
na ional ood sys ems consul a ions.
To guide his e o , a high-le el expe
panel de eloped a manual, ou lining key
ac ion acks and a backg ound documen
o in o m discussions. Th ee ounds
o na ional s akeholde consul a ions
we e conduc ed, ga he ing insigh s
om go e nmen en i ies, de elopmen
pa ne s and ci il socie y o ganisa ions
(CSOs).
By June 2021, he EFS oadmap and
coun y posi ion pape we e inalised and
o icially launched, p o iding a s a egic
amewo k o ood sys ems e o m.
These documen s we e p esen ed a he
i s UNFSS in Sep embe 2021, ma king
E hiopia’s commi men o he global
agenda. Following his, an in e -minis e ial
sec e a ia was es ablished o o e see
implemen a ion, a comp ehensi e
coun y diagnos ic s udy was conduc ed,
and de elopmen pa ne s we e ac i ely
engaged o s eng hen esou ce
mobilisa ion and coo dina ion. The
go e nmen u he ea i med i s
commi men by pa icipa ing in UNFSS+2,
whe e i sha ed p og ess upda es and
ea i med i s dedica ion o sus ainable
ood sys ems ans o ma ion.
27
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
Figu e 9 Timeline o EFS ision
3.4.3 S akeholde engagemen
The agenda-se ing and design phases
o he policy p ocess we e cha ac e ised
by signi ican engagemen o mul iple
s akeholde s, wi h app oxima ely
130 pa icipan s con ibu ing o he
consul a ions.
Figu e 10 Mul i-s akeholde dialogue pa icipan s
As e lec ed in he echnical syn hesis
epo (ATI, 2024), he majo i y o
pa icipan s (48%) we e de elopmen
pa ne s, including dono s, NGOs,
and policy ne wo ks, unde sco ing
hei dominan ole in shaping policy
discussions and p o iding echnical
and inancial suppo . The ede al
go e nmen accoun ed o 30% o he
pa icipan s, comp ising ep esen a i es
om key minis ies such as he MoA
and MoH as well as he ATI, signi ying
s ong go e nmen lead and owne ship
in he policy o mula ion p ocess.
O he key s akeholde s included
academia (15%), p ima ily uni e si ies
11/2020 12/2020 02/2021 04/2021 05/2021 06/2021 06/2023 10/2023 2018 05/2024
In e -Minis e ial
SC inaugu a ed
Coun y DS
alida ion should
be Janua y 31s
Launched EFS
p ocess
EFS High-le el
ound able
EFS MSD 2
Onboa ding DPs EFS Backg ound
documen
EFS MSD 1 EFS MSD 3 Coun y DS
3
%
1
5
%
4
8
%
Sub-Na ional Gos
P i a e Sec o
Academia
De elopmen Pa ne s
Fede al Go e nmen
4
%
3
0
%
28 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
and na ional and in e na ional esea ch
cen es, con ibu ing o e idence-based
policymaking. Sub-na ional go e nmen
o ices (3%) – such as egional bu eaus o
ade, indus y, and li es ock – had minimal
ep esen a ion, aising conce ns abou he
inclusi i y o decen alised go e nance
s uc u es in ood sys ems decision-
making. Simila ly, he p i a e sec o (4%)
had a limi ed p esence, highligh ing a
po en ial gap in engaging businesses,
pa icula ly hose in ood p oduc ion,
supply chains and ag ibusiness. The lowe
ep esen a ion o hese sec o s sugges s
he need o g ea e in eg a ion o p i a e
sec o inno a ion and egional-le el
implemen a ion pe spec i es in u u e
policy dialogues.
Figu e 11 illus a es he mul i-laye ed
s akeholde ela ionships and in luence in
he EFS p ocess.
Figu e 11 S akeholde engagemen and oles in EFS p ocess
UN Sec e a y
eques o Membe
S a es
Agenda se ing
Design
Adop ion
Implemen a ion
UNFSS
Summi 1 UNFSS
Summi 2
2020 2023 202420222021
Academia
1s
N-MSP
2nd
N-MSP
3 d
N-MSP
De elopmen pa ne s (UN agencies and NGOs)
Sub-na ional ac o s
P i a e sec o , a me s and consume s
FG minis ies
MoA and MoH (Leads) + ATI Sec
(MoE, MoF-PSI, EPHI, EFDA and
o he s)
IMC
Au ho i y Finance TA Goods & se ices In o ma ion
29
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
A he agenda-se ing s age, he UN
Sec e a y-Gene al’s call ini ia ed na ional
consul a ions, engaging academia and
expe panels o es ablish a echnical
ounda ion. Du ing design and adop ion,
ede al minis ies, led by he MoA and
MoH wi h ATI as sec e a ia , played a
cen al ole in ensu ing policy cohe ence
and alignmen . De elopmen pa ne s,
including UN agencies and NGOs,
p o ided inancing and echnical suppo ,
con ibu ing h ough mul i-s akeholde
pla o ms. The In e -Minis e ial Commi ee
coo dina ed c oss-sec o al in eg a ion,
while p i a e sec o ac o s, a me s
and consume s had limi ed in luence
ea ly on bu gained ele ance du ing
implemen a ion. Simila ly, sub-na ional
ac o s ocused on execu ion a he
han policy design, highligh ing a gap in
decen alised decision-making. The low o
in luence (colou ed a ows) e lec s a op-
down app oach, wi h ede al minis ies
and de elopmen pa ne s shaping policy,
while sub-na ional go e nmen s, p i a e
en i ies and communi ies engaged mainly
du ing implemen a ion. This unde sco es
he need o s onge bo om-up eedback
o in eg a e local p io i ies in o na ional
policy.
3.5 D a E hiopian T ade Policy
3.5.1 Policy co e age
The E hiopian T ade Policy (d a , 2023)
aims o c ea e an e icien domes ic
ma ke sys em and a compe i i e
in e na ional economy, os e ing
economic de elopmen h ough
s eng hened ade sys ems. I s objec i es
include enhancing p i a e sec o
compe i i eness, in eg a ing en e p ises
in o egional and global alue chains,
expanding ma ke access, acili a ing
digi al comme ce, p omo ing compe i i e
expo s, ensu ing consume p o ec ion,
and main aining mac oeconomic
s abili y. The policy ou lines a phased
implemen a ion, beginning wi h capaci y-
building o ins i u ions, p og essing
o ade libe alisa ion and Wo ld T ade
O ganiza ion (WTO) accession, and
ul ima ely di e si ying expo s and
a ac ing in es men s. While he Minis y
o T ade and Regional In eg a ion leads
implemen a ion, ull p og amme de ails
and budge alloca ions emain unspeci ied.
Policy cohe ence is emphasised h ough
alignmen wi h he SDGs and E hiopia’s
Indus ial Policy, En i onmen al Policy and
Educa ion Policy, al hough explici links
o ood sys ems policies a e lacking. The
ade policy does no di ec ly add ess
ege able p oduc ion, ma ke ing o
consump ion bu seeks o imp o e o e all
ma ke e iciency, which could indi ec ly
bene i he sec o by enhancing ade
in as uc u e and a o dabili y. Howe e ,
a mo e de ailed sec o al s a egy in
subsequen policy documen s is needed
o ensu e a ge ed suppo o ag icul u al
ade, including ege ables.

30 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
Table 6 E hiopia T ade D a Policy co e age summa y
Re iew aspec
Iden i ica ion
Policy aim and
objec i es
Means and
ac i i ies planned
Implemen ing
agency and
budge
alloca ed/p og am
me app o ed
Policy cohe ence
In ended impac
on ege able
p oduc ion,
ma ke ing, and
consump ion
Dimensions
Policy i le
Da e o Adop ion
Policy ype
O e all aim(s)
Speci ic objec i es
Means
Ac i i ies
Implemen ing
agency
P og am
app o ed
Budge alloca ed
Consis ency
Complemen a i y
and ade-o s
P o isions
s imula ing,
acili a ing, and
empowe ing
ege able sec o
Ma ke ing and
dis ibu ion
Vege able
consump ion
Summa y
E hiopia T ade Policy (d a ), 2023
No ye , Council o Minis e s o adop i
Policy
The ade policy en isions an e icien domes ic ma ke sys em and a compe i i e
in e na ional economy. I aims o os e economic de elopmen by building obus
domes ic and expo ade sys ems, con ibu ing o po e y educ ion and sus ainable
g ow h.
1. Enhancing p i a e sec o p oduc i i y and compe i i eness
2. Coo dina ing en e p ises in egional and global alue chains 3. C ea ing ma ke
access oppo uni ies h ough ade ag eemen s
4. Facili a ing digi al comme ce
5. P omo ing compe i i e p oduc s o o eign ma ke s
6. Ensu ing consume p o ec ion and ai compe i ion
7. Es ablishing a s able mac oeconomic en i onmen o businesses.
The policy ou lines sho -, medium-, and long- e m execu ion s a egies. The ini ial
ocus is on capaci y-building o implemen ing ins i u ions. Subsequen phases include
libe alising comme ce and joining he WTO. Long- e m goals in ol e di e si ying
expo s and a ac ing in es men s.
De ailed p og ammes a e ye o be de eloped bu he policy emphasises s akeholde
consul a ion, moni o ing, and e alua ion.
The Minis y o T ade and Regional In eg a ion leads policy de elopmen and
implemen a ion, wi h o he go e nmen agencies and de elopmen pa ne s
pa icipa ing.
Focus a eas a e iden i ied, bu speci ic p og ammes emain o be de eloped.
Go e nmen ’s egula budge and ull p og amme de elopmen a e men ioned as
unding sou ces.
Policy cohe ence is c ucial o e ec i e go e nance and sus ainable de elopmen .
When policies align and wo k syne gis ically, hey maximise impac , a oid con lic ing
objec i es, and add ess complex challenges. Cohe en policies enhance e iciency,
p omo e equi y, and con ibu e o holis ic solu ions in a eas like ood sys ems. The
policy aims o align wi h o he ele an policies, including he Indus ial Policy, SDGs,
En i onmen al Policy, and Educa ion Policy. Implica ions o add essing economic
challenges like po e y, unemploymen and in la ion should be clea ly inco po a ed.
Iden i ying a eas o policy complemen a i y and po en ial con lic s is essen ial. The
gene al na u e o he documen makes i challenging o disce n hese aspec s clea ly,
as i does no explici ly link wi h o he ood sys ems policies. Ensu ing alignmen and
in eg a ion wi h exis ing policies is c ucial o cohesi e and e ec i e ood sys ems
go e nance.
No speci ic men ion o ege able sec o . The policy b oadly add esses 10 key issues,
including domes ic ade, mac oeconomic en i onmen , in es men , ma ke access,
and pa icipa ion in he global alue chain.
The d a policy discusses ac ions aimed a making he ade unc ion e icien ly
wi hou speci ic ocus on ege ables
No speci ic o ege ables bu aims o make p oduc s mo e a o dable wi h e icien
and be e ading sys em.
31
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
The d a policy p esen s se e al c i ical
gaps ha equi e e inemen o g ea e
e ec i eness. No ably, i lacks su icien
engagemen wi h egional and local
go e nmen s, such as Adama Ci y, and
has no been adequa ely communica ed
o u ban cen es, limi ing i s po en ial o
localised implemen a ion. Addi ionally, i
ails o add ess he unique cha ac e is ics
o nu ien -dense ege ables and ui s,
o e looking egional p oduc ion capaci ies
and supply dynamics. The policy also lacks
comp ehensi e s a egies o in luence
communi y consump ion pa e ns
o deploy ma ke ing ools o coun e
in la iona y p essu es. Fu he mo e, i
does no speci y conc e e p og ammes
o p ojec s o ope a ionalise i s ision,
no does i include di ec i es o sa egua d
consume s om ma ke ailu es o
un a ou able in e na ional ade
ag eemen s. Ano he c i ical omission
is he absence o a clea ole o he
ood p ocessing subsec o , including i s
po en ial con ibu ion o alue addi ion,
he ma ke ing o bio- o i ied and modi ied
ood p oduc s, and he engagemen
o he p i a e sec o in s eng hening
ade in as uc u e. S eng hening
hese aspec s would enhance he policy’s
alignmen wi h E hiopia’s b oade
economic and ood secu i y goals.
3.5.2 Timeline
The o mula ion o E hiopia’s d a
ade policy began in 2019 and has
unde gone a p olonged de elopmen
p ocess due o he complexi y o ade-
ela ed issues and he di e se expe ise
equi ed, acco ding o key in o man s.
The policy’s ex ended imeline e lec s
he need o comp ehensi e s akeholde
consul a ions, alignmen wi h exis ing
economic amewo ks, and conside a ion
o in e na ional ade commi men s.
As depic ed in Figu e 12, E hiopia’s
engagemen in global and egional ade
ag eemen s has ollowed a simila ly
ex ended ajec o y. The coun y ini ially
applied o WTO membe ship in 2003, bu
he accession p ocess emains incomple e
due o ou s anding nego ia ions and
compliance equi emen s. Meanwhile,
E hiopia o mally joined he A ican
Con inen al F ee T ade A ea in 2019,
signalling i s commi men o egional
economic in eg a ion. The delayed policy
inalisa ion unde sco es he challenge o
ha monising domes ic ade p io i ies wi h
global and con inen al ade obliga ions,
ein o cing he need o a clea oadmap
o accele a e implemen a ion.
32 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
Figu e 12 Timeline o E hiopian ade policy de elopmen
3.5.3 S akeholde engagemen
The de elopmen o E hiopia’s ade
policy began unde he Minis y
o T ade and is now led by he
es uc u ed Minis y o T ade and
Regional In eg a ion (MoTRI). A
s ee ing commi ee, chai ed by he
Minis e , has o e seen he p ocess,
wi h ep esen a ion om key
s akeholde s such as he E hiopian
Chambe o Comme ce and Sec o al
Associa ions (ECCSA), Addis Ababa
Uni e si y, and echnical expe s. The
d a ing p ocess ecei ed signi ican
suppo om he Uni ed Na ions
De elopmen P og amme, which hi ed
an in e na ional consul an o p o ide
echnical expe ise. Addi ionally, he
Economic Commission o A ica and
o he de elopmen pa ne s ha e
demons a ed a s ong commi men
by o e ing bo h inancial and echnical
assis ance o enhance ins i u ional
capaci y and ensu e alignmen wi h
in e na ional ade amewo ks.
The Council o Minis ies, esponsible
o policy adop ion, plays a cen al ole
in in eg a ing he policy in o na ional
go e nance s uc u es and ensu ing
i s cohe ence wi h b oade economic
s a egies.
Simila o p e ious policy cases, he
policy o mula ion p ocess has been
la gely d i en by ede al ins i u ions, wi h
MoTRI se ing as he coo dina ing body
ha acili a es in e ac ions be ween
go e nmen agencies, de elopmen
pa ne s and sub-na ional en i ies.
Academia and consul an s con ibu ed
by shaping he policy’s echnical
ounda ion, while de elopmen pa ne s
ein o ced ins i u ional capaci y h ough
esea ch suppo and inancial esou ces.
Al hough p i a e sec o ac o s, including
ECCSA and majo public en e p ises
such as he De elopmen Bank o
E hiopia, E hiopian Ai lines, and E hiopia
Elec ic Powe Co po a ion, ac i ely
pa icipa ed in discussions, hei ole
emained ad iso y. Simila ly, sub-na ional
en i ies we e engaged o a limi ed
ex en du ing he ea ly s ages bu a e
expec ed o play a mo e signi ican ole
in implemen a ion. The o e all s uc u e
e lec s a op-down app oach, whe e
ede al minis ies and de elopmen
pa ne s d i e agenda se ing and policy
1993 2000s 2003 2019 2019
Go e nmen
change and ade
policy e o m
measu es s a ed
Applied o join he
Wo ld T ade
O ganiza ion
(WTO)
E hiopia joined he
A ican Con inen al
F ee T ade A ea
D a policy
o mula ion
s a ed
Policy wai ing o be
endo sed by
Minis ies o Council
2023 2024
D a Policy
De eloped
Pu suing a
de elopmen al
s a e app oach
33
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
o mula ion, while egional go e nmen s,
p i a e sec o ac o s and communi ies
a e posi ioned p ima ily wi hin he
implemen a ion phase. This app oach
highligh s a gap in localised ade policy
conside a ions, excluding e ec i e
inco po a ion o egional economic
dynamics in o na ional ade s a egies.
Figu e 13 S akeholde s’ ole in d a ade policy p ocess
3.6 Policy ac ions on ege able
p oduc ion, ma ke ing and
consump ion
The policy ac ions ou lined in he e iewed
documen s o e a s a egic bu somewha
agmen ed app oach o add essing
he challenges in ege able p oduc ion,
ma ke ing and consump ion in E hiopia.
While he policies ecognise he need
o mode nise and expand ege able
p oduc ion, gaps emain in how hey
ackle he s uc u al cons ain s acing
smallholde a me s. The emphasis on
suppo ing di e si ied ood p oduc ion
and comme cialisa ion h ough
specialisa ion co ido s and ag o-indus ial
pa ks p esen s a p omising amewo k o
scaling up ege able p oduc ion. Howe e ,
limi ed access o c edi , disease- esis an
a ie ies, and e icien pos -ha es
s o age solu ions con inues o unde mine
p oduc ion sus ainabili y. The p oposed
p omo ion o GAP and pos -ha es
echnologies is c ucial, bu wi hou clea
implemen a ion mechanisms – such as
O he
Fede al
O ices MoTRI
Sub-Na ional
En i ies
De elopmen Pa ne s
(UNDP, ECA)
Academia
Consul an /
Commi ee
Public En e p ises and
P i a e Sec o ; ECCSA
Communi y
Agenda Se ing
Design
Adop ion
Implemen a ion
Council
o Minis ies
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Au ho i y Finance TA Goods & Se ices In o ma ion
40 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
in eg a ion is essen ial o aligning
local de elopmen e o s wi h
b oade policy goals. Howe e ,
e ec i e implemen a ion a he local
le el equi es g ea e awa eness and
ins i u ionalisa ion, pa icula ly ega ding
nu i ion- ela ed policies. Wi hou a clea
concep ual unde s anding o nu i ion
go e nance, hese policies isk emaining
agmen ed o unde -used. To b idge
his gap, a dedica ed mixed-me hod
s udy is needed o assess he ex en o
policy-d i en changes and hei impac
on he supply, consump ion and ade
p ac ices o essen ial ood commodi ies,
pa icula ly ege ables and ui s. A
deepe unde s anding o hese dynamics
will be c ucial o e ining policies o
enhance ood secu i y, nu i ion and
ma ke e iciency a he ci y le el.
3.8.3 Local con ex – challenges
and ba ie s in ege able
p oduc ion, ma ke ing, and
consump ion
Adama Ci y is a apidly g owing u ban
cen e (es ima ed popula ion o
875,000) ha is ac i ely implemen ing
na ional and egional ood sys ems
policies. The ci y adminis a ion ocuses
on ini ia i es such as home ga dening
p omo ion, he es ablishmen o Sunday
ma ke s, he o ma ion o consume
coope a i es, and he acili a ion o
ma ke linkages. Acco ding o ci y
epo s, mo e han 18,000 households
ha e ecei ed suppo o ege able
p oduc ion, con ibu ing o ai -p iced
ege able ading o consume s.
Addi ionally, he adminis a ion has
alloca ed 240 squa e me es o land
o a coope a i e o 10 ci il se an s o
cul i a e ege ables, aiming o imp o e
bo h a ailabili y and a o dabili y.
Despi e hese e o s, signi ican
s uc u al and sys emic challenges
hinde he e iciency o ege able
p oduc ion and dis ibu ion. The
ci y’s coope a i e o ice epo s he
p esence o 366 coope a i es, including
126 sa ings and c edi coope a i es,
115 ag icul u al coope a i es, and 124
consume associa ions. Howe e ,
while 10 ui and ege able ma ke ing
coope a i es we e ini ially ope a ional,
only one emains ac i e. These
coope a i es, o iginally in ended o
s abilise ege able p ices and ensu e
a o dabili y, s uggle o compe e wi h
in o mal ade s due o p ice ola ili y,
weak ba gaining powe , and egula o y
ine iciencies. The p ice ceilings
imposed by he ci y’s ade o ice o en
ail o co e cos s, making i inancially
un iable o coope a i es o unc ion
e ec i ely.
A census o ui and ege able ade s
in ou wo edas o Adama Ci y iden i ied
app oxima ely 1,600 endo s, while key
in o man in e iews es ima e ha mo e
han 5,000 ege able and ui endo s
ope a e in he ci y. These ade s ace a
a ie y o cons ain s wi hin he b oade
ood sys em, pa icula ly in e ms o
access, a ailabili y and a o dabili y
o ege ables. P oduc ion challenges
include limi ed access o imp o ed
seeds, mechanisa ion and pes icides,
as well as he inadequa e adop ion o
s anda d quali y measu es and good
ag icul u al p ac ices. The ma ke ing

41
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
sec o also su e s om ine iciencies,
including a lack o s uc u ed incen i es,
inancial suppo and eliable ma ke
in o ma ion. Addi ionally, p ice in la ion,
poo pos -ha es handling, and he
absence o o ganised s o age acili ies
exace ba e supply chain dis up ions.
Vege able consump ion in Adama
is signi ican ly impac ed by ising
p ices, declining consume pu chasing
powe , and inconsis en local supply.
The pe ishable na u e o ege ables,
combined wi h unde de eloped
anspo and s o age in as uc u e,
leads o high pos -ha es losses and
in la ed ma ke p ices. Consume s o en
eso o p ice nego ia ions, pu chasing
smalle quan i ies, o subs i u ing
ege ables wi h mo e a o dable
al e na i es, such as eplacing onions
wi h ca o s and cabbage. This, in u n,
educes die a y di e si y and a ec s
nu i ional in ake. Cul u al consump ion
habi s and limi ed awa eness o
ege able nu i ional con en u he
cons ain demand. A quick assessmen
and key in o man in e iews indica e
ha ecen p ice su ges – caused by
in la ion, dec eased p oduc ion, and
logis ical dis up ions – ha e made
ege ables inc easingly una o dable,
pa icula ly o low-income households.
The b oade business en i onmen also
p esen s ba ie s o ege able ade.
Leng hy bu eauc a ic p ocedu es,
egula o y hu dles, and weak
en o cemen o ood sa e y s anda ds
hinde ma ke e iciency and discou age
in es men . Con amina ion isks and
pes icide esidues pose addi ional
challenges in ensu ing ood sa e y o
consume s. While he ci y adminis a ion
has in oduced measu es such as Sunday
ma ke s and s eng hened consume
coope a i es o sho en he supply chain,
hese e o s emain limi ed in scale
and impac . Key in o man s highligh ed
awa eness campaigns p omo ing home
ga dening and ege able consump ion,
ye he e is no es ablished coo dina ion
mechanism o align s akeholde s a
he ci y le el. S eng hening mul i-
s akeholde engagemen , imp o ing
egula o y amewo ks, and add essing
in as uc u e de ici s will be essen ial in
os e ing a mo e esilien and inclusi e
ege able ma ke in Adama Ci y.
42 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
4 Discussion – ood sys ems
policy making in E hiopia
4.1 Fac o s de e mining ood
sys ems policy p ocess
The p ocess o ood sys ems policy
making in E hiopia is cen alised, and
agenda se ing and design a e ypically
s ee ed by na ional go e nmen minis ies.
Depending on he policy ype, app o al
occu s a di e en le els o go e nmen .
P oclama ions equi e pa liamen a y
endo semen , sec o policies a e app o ed
by he Council o Minis e s, and sec o -
speci ic di ec i es o s a egies ecei e
app o al om he esponsible minis y.
The ac o s de e mining he policy
p ocess a y ac oss he ou cases
e iewed, as discussed in he speci ic
case e iew sec ion. While each policy
documen ollows a dis inc p ocess, he e
a e common de e minan s, pa icula ly in
agenda se ing, s akeholde engagemen
in policy design, and implemen a ion
dynamics. Table 8 summa ises he key
ac o s in luencing policy p ocesses in
hese cases, compa ing hem o indings
om empi ical s udies in Ghana, Malawi,
Sou h A ica, Tanzania and Zambia.
Beyond iden i ying de e mining ac o s a
each s age, he s udy c i ically assesses he
policy landscape in E hiopia, emphasising
s uc u al and sys emic in luences on
policy de elopmen and implemen a ion.
4.1.1 Agenda se ing
Agenda se ing o ood sys ems ela ed
policies in E hiopia is a c ucial phase in
policy de elopmen , p ima ily led by
go e nmen minis ies. The p ocess
equi es app o al om di e en
go e nmen ins i u ions depending on
he policy ype and le el. Policies such as
hose used as ou case s udies eme ge in
esponse o iden i ied challenges wi hin
hei espec i e policy a eas.
In e na ional o ganisa ions play a
signi ican ole in shaping na ional
agendas by ad oca ing policy e o ms
and sensi ising decision-make s. S ong
ad ocacy is essen ial a his s age o
emphasise he need o ood sys ems
ans o ma ion and mobilise s akeholde s.
Knowledge gene a ion and esea ch
p o ide he e idence base o jus i y
policy p io i ies, ensu ing ha policies
a e p oblem-o ien ed and esponsi e o
socie al needs.
43
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
A demand-d i en policymaking p ocess
equi es ac i e pa icipa ion om di e se
s akeholde s, acknowledging social,
economic and en i onmen al challenges.
No ms, biases and ideological pe spec i es
in luence agenda se ing by shaping
s akeholde pe cep ions and p io i ies.
E ec i e decen alisa ion and clea
s akeholde engagemen guidelines can
enhance egional and local pa icipa ion in
policy o mula ion.
Table 8 Ra ing o policy p ocess de e mining ac o s
Policy p ocess/cases
1. Agenda se ing
Rele an p oblem is iden i ied
Focused e en s
Powe ul ad oca es
2. Design
Knowledge and esea ch
No ms, biases, ideology and belie s
Cos -bene i calcula ion
3. Adop ion
Powe ul opponen s e sus
p oponen s
Go e nmen e o playe s
P opi ious iming
4. Implemen a ion
Requisi e budge
Ins i u ional capaci y
Implemen a ion e o playe
Commi men o policy champions
5. E alua ion and e o m
Changing in o ma ion and belie
Changing ma e ial condi ions
Ins i u ional shi s
FNP
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
0
+
+
+
+
+
+
0
NNAFSS
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
0
0
0
+
+
+
+
0
EFS Vision
2030
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
0
E hiopia T ade
Policy (d a )
+
0
+
+
+
+
+
44 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
A he na ional le el, c i ical issues such
as se e e malnu i ion and E hiopia’s
commi men o high-le el in e na ional
decla a ions – including he SDGs and
he UNFSS – ha e been ins umen al
in p io i ising nu i ion in public policy
discou se. High-p o ile e en s and
empi ical da a ha e aised awa eness
abou he u gency o add essing nu i ion-
ela ed challenges. Ad ocacy and
awa eness- aising e en s and ini ia i es
a e c ucial, bu only sus ained ad ocacy by
powe ul coali ions can pu an issue on he
na ional policy agenda.
In e na ional expe iences ha e in luenced
E hiopia’s ood and nu i ion policies. O e
he pas decade, in e na ional con e ences
such as he Second In e na ional
Con e ence on Nu i ion (ICN2), he
Scaling Up Nu i ion mo emen and
he UNFSS ha e guided na ional policy
amewo ks. E hiopia has ailo ed hese
global ecommenda ions o i s local
con ex h ough na ional pla o ms.
Howe e , local go e nmen s, ci il socie y
and he p i a e sec o ha e limi ed
in luence in E hiopia’s policy landscape.
The na ional go e nmen and dono
communi y la gely d i e he agenda-
se ing p ocess. His o ically, poli ical
s uc u es ha e es ic ed he ole o non-
s a e ac o s in shaping policy p io i ies.
The uling poli ical pa y emains he
dominan agenda se e a na ional and
egional le els.
To enhance policy inclusi i y, mechanisms
o meaning ul engagemen o non-s a e
ac o s and decen alisa ion mus be
s eng hened. C ea ing oppo uni ies
o pa icipa ion, dialogue and capaci y-
building ini ia i es can imp o e hei abili y
o in luence policy p io i ies, con en
and na a i es. The agmen ed na u e
o he p i a e sec o and he absence o
independen ci il socie y ac o s a he
g ass oo s le el u he limi hei impac .
Dono agencies and in e na ional NGOs
a e be e posi ioned o in luence policy
agendas due o hei knowledge base,
inancial capaci y, and ad ocacy ne wo ks.
These ac o s ac i ely lobby and p o ide
e idence-based ecommenda ions
ha shape ood sys ems and nu i ion
policies. Da a-d i en esea ch, h ough
combina ion o poli ical economy o
powe analysis, and obus ad ocacy could
pa e he way o s onge engagemen and
ac ion om he wide communi y.
4.1.2 Policy design
Policy o mula ion is shaped by a ious
d i ing o ces ac oss domains. Food
sys em challenges a e gene ally add essed
as long- e m de elopmen p io i ies
and he e is li le o no in eg a ion o
immedia e eme gency esponses in ood
sys ems policy p ocesses. Many de eloping
coun ies d aw on in e na ional guidelines
in designing hei ood sys ems ela ed
policies. E hiopia exhibi s his app oach,
wi h na ional knowledge and esea ch,
socie al no ms, ideological s ances, and
cos -bene i conside a ions in luencing
how in e na ional guidelines a e ailo ed o
he coun y con ex .
In some Eas A ican coun ies, ag icul u al
inpu subsidy modali ies a e shaped
by ideological pe spec i es on ma ke
45
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
ai ness and e iciency. In con as , policies
acili a ing p o ision o mic onu ien
supplemen s and ood o i ica ion a e less
con es ed and ypically in o med by global
bes p ac ices and empi ical cos -bene i
analysis. Policymake s’ iews on he ole
o he s a e e sus ma ke -based solu ions
signi ican ly shape policy op ions.
E hiopia’s policy design p ocess e lec s
a cau ious app oach owa d ma ke -
based in e en ions. While he e is
g owing ecogni ion o he ole o ma ke
ac o s, his o ical ideological in luences,
low us in p i a e sec o , inadequa e
in as uc u e, limi ed inancial access, and
weak business suppo se ices hinde
p i a e sec o engagemen . Policy design
emains domina ed by go e nmen ,
limi ing he con ibu ions o non-s a e
ac o s. The p i a e sec o ope a es in
silos wi h minimal collabo a ion ac oss
indus ies, a ec ing he easibili y o
ma ke -d i en solu ions. These challenges
indica e ha , as wi h agenda se ing, he
policy design p ocess has been hea ily
dependen on he go e nmen , limi ing
he engagemen and con ibu ions o non-
s a e ac o s.
4.1.3 Policy adop ion
Decisions o adop new policies depend
on wo p ima y ac o s: he ela i e powe
o p oponen s and opponen s, and he
ag eemen o go e nmen e o playe s.
Ve o playe s – indi iduals o collec i e
ac o s – mus ag ee o a p oposed policy
change o occu . Minis ies, he p esiden ,
he p ime minis e , and legisla i e ac o s
can ac as e o playe s. The ele an
playe s depend on he policy domain. I
he inance minis y opposes a policy,
suppo e s may need s onge allies o
a eadiness o comp omise. When e o
playe s a e also policy ad oca es, adop ion
p ospec s inc ease. Unde s anding
he ela i e powe o ad oca es e sus
opponen s is c i ical.
In E hiopia, hese ac o s we e c ucial in
mos cases, wi h powe ul opponen s
and p oponen s, along wi h go e nmen
e o playe s, being signi ican in all
e iewed policies. Policies p omo ed
by line minis ies wi h ull powe a he
minis e ial and pa liamen a y le els ace
easie adop ion. Policies ini ia ed a highe
go e nmen le els, such as he p ime
minis e ’s o ice, a e quickly adop ed.
A e he p esen a ion o he d a policy,
i i is a p oclama ion o a policy unde he
manda e o he pa liamen , he espec i e
pe manen commi ee unde he
pa liamen e iews he d a and conduc s
a public hea ing. Any amendmen s a e hen
inco po a ed, and he app o al p ocess
p oceeds wi h o ing. O he wise, based
on he policy manda e le el, he Council
o Minis e s o he espec i e minis y
managemen eam e iews and endo ses i
wi h he equi ed ag eed changes.
In he pas decades, policies p omo ed
by line minis ies wi h he ull powe o
he leading pa y a he minis e ial and
pa liamen a y le els a e usually easily
adop ed. Policies ini ia ed a highe
go e nmen le els, such as he P ime
Minis e ’s o ice, a e also quickly adop ed.
The EFS ision, o example, was adop ed
a a high le el o go e nmen o ices and
ecei ed s ong a en ion a he Council

46 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
o Minis e s, wi h a commi men o
in eg a ing and mains eaming ac ions
in espec i e o ices’ egula plans and
s a ing. Howe e , no all policies see such
swi adop ion. The na ional ade policy,
d a ed yea s ago, emains unapp o ed,
acing c i icism o i s limi ed con en
on ood sys ems elemen s. P opi ious
iming was no a no able ac o in any
o he e iewed cases, unde sco ing he
impo ance o aligning ad ocacy e o s
wi h s a egic oppo uni ies o policy
change. An analysis o he winne s and
lose s o such policies could help answe
he ques ion on which policies ge
p omo ed and why.
4.1.4 Policy implemen a ion
E ec i e policy implemen a ion
hinges on h ee key ac o s: budge a y
esou ces, ins i u ional deli e y
capaci y, and he commi men o
policy champions. In E hiopia, bo h
he FNP and he NNAFSS encoun e ed
signi ican challenges ela ed o inancial
cons ain s and ins i u ional capaci y.
The p esence o commi ed policy
champions and he in luence o e o
playe s shaped he ex en o which hese
policies ad anced beyond he planning
s age. Simila challenges a e obse ed
globally, whe e budge limi a ions and
weak implemen a ion capaci y o en
d i e e o ms, pa icula ly in ag icul u al
inpu subsidy p og ammes. In con as ,
mic onu ien supplemen a ion policies
end o ace ewe obs acles, as hey
a e in eg a ed in o heal h sys ems
wi h es ablished deli e y mechanisms.
Fo i ica ion policies, howe e , p esen
addi ional complexi ies, as hey ely on
p i a e-sec o pa icipa ion, consume
inancing, and obus moni o ing and
compliance sys ems.
Key in o man s emphasised ha policy
o mula ion is no he p ima y hu dle:
he eal challenge lies in execu ion.
While he coun y has a s ong ack
eco d o de eloping policies, success ul
implemen a ion equi es bo h echnical
and adminis a i e capabili ies.
Technical ac o s include educa ion,
specialised skills, and in as uc u e,
while adminis a i e capaci y depends
on ins i u ional s uc u es, delega ion o
au ho i y and coo dina ion mechanisms.
Policies ha in ol e mul iple sec o s –
such as heal h, educa ion and ag icul u e
– equi e e ec i e in e go e nmen al
coo dina ion o p e en agmen a ion.
T anspa ency and accoun abili y
mechanisms, such as pe o mance
con ac s and ci izen sco eca ds, play a
c ucial ole in ein o cing policy execu ion.
A he ede al le el, minis ies such as
he MoA and MoH ha e es ablished ocal
poin s and ec ui ed expe s o o e see
policy implemen a ion. While hese
e o s con ibu e o policy con inui y,
delays in esou ce alloca ion and
budge a y limi a ions con inue o impede
p og ess. Policy champions – whe he
high- anking bu eauc a s o poli ical
leade s – help sus ain momen um, bu
equen leade ship u no e dis up s
implemen a ion. Addi ional challenges
include manda e compe i ion, o e lapping
ini ia i es, insu icien unding a a ious
adminis a i e le els, and he need o
incen i ise echnical expe ise wi hin
go e nmen ins i u ions.
47
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
An analysis o ou key policy cases e eals
ha none we e ully implemen ed as
o iginally en isioned. The NNAFSS builds
upon an ea lie phase ha s uggled wi h
execu ion due o inancial and ins i u ional
limi a ions. Simila ly, he FNP ini ia ed
egional implemen a ion s uc u es bu
has since been o e shadowed by shi ing
p io i ies, pa icula ly he ocus on he EFS
ision. As o 2024, he T ade Policy emains
unendo sed, u he highligh ing delays
in policy p og ession. Beyond esou ce
and capaci y cons ain s, e ec i e policy
implemen a ion in E hiopia also depends
on clea communica ion, leade ship
s abili y and e icien public expendi u e
managemen . Addi ional ba ie s iden i ied
ac oss ood sys ems policies include
sec o al manda e compe i ion, agmen ed
ini ia i es, and weak incen i es o echnical
capaci y de elopmen . Add essing hese
s uc u al challenges will be c ucial o
ansla ing well-designed policies in o
meaning ul and sus ained impac .
4.1.5 E alua ion and e o m
Policies a e equen ly e ined o
comple ely o e hauled in esponse
o he e ol ing belie s o e o playe s,
shi ing inancial landscapes, and lessons
om p io implemen a ion. Inc eased
unding – whe he om na ional esou ce
e enues o o eign in es men – can
sus ain policies, while dono commi men s
o echnical and inancial suppo o en
accele a e e isions. In E hiopia, bo h he
FNP and he NNAFSS ha e unde gone
e isions based on lessons lea ned,
ex e nal expe iences, and dono -backed
ini ia i es. The FNP’s e isions d ew
om pas s a egic sho comings and
in e na ional bes p ac ices, while dono
and NGO suppo p o ided he necessa y
inancial and echnical backing o mo e
o wa d wi h hese changes.
An e alua ion o he i s phase o he
NNAFSS was conduc ed and p esen ed
o key s akeholde s, gene a ing eedback
ha shaped he nex phase. Unlike in o he
coun ies, whe e ins i u ional es uc u ing
accoun s o abou one- hi d o policy
e o ms, E hiopia’s policy changes we e
la gely d i en by new in o ma ion, e ol ing
belie s, and changing ma e ial condi ions,
a he han shi s in ins i u ional
s uc u es.
In e na ional de elopmen pa ne s
play a pi o al ole in policy e olu ion. In
coun ies such as Ghana, Malawi, Sou h
A ica, Tanzania, and Zambia, dono s ha e
inanced scien i ic esea ch, acili a ed
high-le el discussions, and p o ided di ec
budge a y and echnical suppo o policy
implemen a ion. In E hiopia, dono s ha e
simila ly in luenced all majo ood and
nu i ion policies, hough hei le el o
engagemen a ies ac oss cases.
Ve o playe s – whe he go e nmen
o icials, poli ical leade s, o in luen ial
s akeholde s – can shi hei posi ions
based on new e idence, exposu e isi s,
shi s in public opinion, o ad ocacy
e o s. In e nal pa y dynamics,
nego ia ed comp omises, and ex e nal
shocks (such as economic c ises o
na u al disas e s) can also p omp
policy econside a ion. In he case o
he NNAFSS, e isions ollowed a e iew
o he ini ial phase. The new s a egy
inco po a ed eme ging hemes such as
48 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
ood sys ems ans o ma ion, clima e-
sma ag icul u e, and he g owing
challenge o obesi y. Addi ionally, i
emphasised egional a ia ions, de ailed
implemen a ion planning, dedica ed
nu i ion budge s, and enhanced esou ce
mobilisa ion o ensu e mo e e ec i e
execu ion.
E hiopia’s policy e inemen s illus a e
he dynamic in e play be ween e idence,
inancial esou ces, and poli ical decision-
making. Howe e , he absence o
ins i u ional shi s sugges s ha while
policies e ol e, he s uc u al cons ain s
o implemen a ion emain la gely
unchanged.
4.2 S akeholde s’ in luence
As indica ed in he ma ix, s akeholde
engagemen in E hiopia’s ood sys ems
policymaking has been inconsis en ,
a ying ac oss di e en policy cases.
The EFS ision p ocess, d i en la gely
by in e na ional in luence, has seen
b oade mul i-s akeholde pa icipa ion;
in con as , o he policy p ocesses
ha e been mo e es ic ed, o en
limi ed o alida ion wo kshops wi h
selec s akeholde s. Ac oss all cases,
engagemen om he p i a e sec o , local
go e nmen s, ci il socie y and ulne able
communi ies emains minimal, despi e
some imp o emen s in ecen policy
de elopmen s.
Figu e 14 shows ha go e nmen
minis ies exe he s onges in luence
o e policy o mula ion, leading p ocesses
ha align wi h hei co e manda es.
De elopmen pa ne s, including dono s,
UN agencies and NGOs, play a signi ican
ole by ei he p o iding echnical and
inancial suppo o shaping policy
di ec ion based on hei in e es s.
Howe e , opposi ion oices a e la gely
absen , ei he due o a lack o s uc u ed
ep esen a ion o he cen alised na u e o
E hiopia’s go e nance, which consolida es
decision-making powe wi hin a dominan
poli ical en i y. The absence o dissen ing
pe spec i es aises conce ns abou
whe he policies genuinely e lec di e se
s akeholde needs o a e simply s a e-
d i en ini ia i es.
49
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
Figu e 14 Le el o s akeholde in luence in selec ed cases
While some policies gain momen um
du ing d a ing and adop ion,
implemen a ion emains a pe sis en
challenge. Acco ding o KII obse a ions,
e en well-de eloped policies s all due o
weak ins i u ional capaci y, inadequa e
inancial esou ces, and in as uc u e
cons ain s (Geb emichael, 2021). Poo
coo dina ion among s akeholde s and
limi ed access o eliable da a u he
hinde e idence-based decision-making,
unde sco ing he need o s onge
collabo a ion and obus da a sys ems
o ensu e policies ansla e in o angible
ou comes.
S
u
p
p
o
i
e
S
o
n
g
I
n
l
u
e
n
c
e
O
p
p
o
s
i
i
o
n
N
e
u
a
l
UNICEF, WFP, Sa e he Child en
MoH
MoA, MoE,
MoW,
MoMSA
MoTRI, MoI, FDA, EPHI, EIAR,
MoFED, NI, WFP, CONCERN,
GAIN, FAO, GOAL, WV, USAID,
DFID, SUN, Academia,
Associa ions
S
u
p
p
o
i
e
S
o
n
g
I
n
l
u
e
n
c
e
O
p
p
o
s
i
i
o
n
N
e
u
a
l
UNFSS
MoA – MoH
-ATI
MoE, MoMSA
and o he
Fede al MO
Fede al and Sub-na ional Gos,
Academia, PSO, FAO, GAIN,
WFP, EU, AT, CA, CIAT, CIP, WV, WRI, WHO,
WFP, VSO, TS, SDC, Sa e, OXFAM, NI, IADC,
IFAD, NDRMC, FAO, WB, DFN
S
u
p
p
o
i
e
S
o
n
g
I
n
l
u
e
n
c
e
O
p
p
o
s
i
i
o
n
N
e
u
a
l
Sa e he Child en, FAO, AT
MoA
MoH, MoE,
MoMSA
EIAR, FDA, EPHI, MoFED
S
u
p
p
o
i
e
S
o
n
g
I
n
l
u
e
n
c
e
O
p
p
o
s
i
i
o
n
N
e
u
a
l
ECCSSA
MoTRI
MoI, MoF
E hiopian, Public En e p ises, PSO,
UNDP, ECA
56 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
6 Policy ecommenda ions
The ollowing ecommenda ions poin
o ways o s eng hen mul i-le el ood
sys ems go e nance and enhance access
o heal hy die s in E hiopia.
Enhancing mul i-sec o al coo dina ion
is essen ial o e ec i e ood sys ems
go e nance. Es ablishing a o mal mul i-
sec o al coo dina ion body, such as a
Na ional Food Sys ems Council, should
be manda ed by law o ins i u ionalise i s
ole in aligning policies and add essing
sys emic challenges. This council
mus include ep esen a i es om key
go e nmen minis ies, p i a e sec o
ac o s, CSOs and de elopmen pa ne s,
ensu ing hei decisions in luence policy
and implemen a ion. Coo dina ion e o s
should ex end beyond he na ional le el
by manda ing egional and municipal
ood sys ems councils, including in ci ies
like Adama, o localise policy objec i es.
To add ess esou ce cons ain s, he
go e nmen should c ea e a dedica ed
unding mechanism o suppo mul i-
sec o al engagemen , ensu ing inancial
sus ainabili y o coo dina ion e o s a
all le els. High-le el poli ical commi men ,
inancial and human esou ces and clea
accoun abili y mechanism a e he p e-
equisi es o success o a coo dina ion
body.
Empowe ing non-s a e and
municipali y ac o s in he policy
o mula ion p ocess equi es a
s uc u ed mechanism o hei
engagemen . The go e nmen should
es ablish legally binding consul a ion
amewo ks ha equi e he inclusion
o p i a e sec o en i ies, a me
coope a i es, consume g oups and ci il
socie y in policy discussions. Regula
s akeholde o ums should be o malised
as pa o policy cycles, wi h clea
manda es o e iewing and in luencing
policy design and implemen a ion.
S eng hening he capaci y o local
au ho i ies h ough knowledge sha ing
and aining p og ammes on ood policy
analysis, ad ocacy and nego ia ion skills
will enable hem o engage e ec i ely.
Addi ionally, a public-p i a e dialogue
pla o m should be ins i u ionalised a
local and na ional le els o ensu e ha
businesses and ci il socie y con ibu e
o shaping ood sys ems policies in a
sus ained manne .
Imp o ing policy implemen a ion
capaci y necessi a es a ge ed
in es men in go e nmen ins i u ions
and human capi al de elopmen . A
na ional capaci y-building p og amme
should be designed o ain go e nmen
o icials, pa icula ly hose a he egional
and municipal le els, on c i ical a eas such
as nu i ion-sensi i e ag icul u e, budge
managemen and in e go e nmen al
coo dina ion. This p og amme should
combine in-pe son wo kshops wi h digi al
lea ning pla o ms o ensu e scalabili y.
Addi ionally, implemen a ion uni s should
be embedded wi hin local go e nmen s,
ensu ing ha policy di ec i es ansla e
in o conc e e ac ions a he g ass oo s
le el. Es ablishing pe o mance-based
incen i e mechanisms o implemen ing

57
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
agencies, ied o clea a ge s on ood
secu i y and nu i ion ou comes, will
u he enhance policy implemen a ion.
S eng hening accoun abili y
mechanisms is c i ical o ensu ing
e ec i e ood sys ems policies. The
in oduc ion o pe o mance con ac s
o key go e nmen ins i u ions wi h clea
deli e ables on ood and nu i ion secu i y,
coupled wi h pe iodic pe o mance
e alua ions, will enhance ins i u ional
accoun abili y. Ci izen engagemen
should be o malised h ough he use
o ci izen sco eca ds and social audi s
ha allow communi ies o p o ide di ec
eedback on se ice deli e y. Es ablishing
an independen body esponsible o
moni o ing, e alua ion and adap i e
lea ning, manda ed o e iew, assess
and adjus ood sys ems policies and
epo di ec ly o pa liamen , will help
ins i u ionalise anspa ency and o e sigh .
P omo ing local go e nance au onomy
is necessa y o c ea e con ex -speci ic
ood sys ems solu ions. Regional and
municipal go e nmen s should be g an ed
g ea e decision-making powe o design
and implemen ood secu i y p og ammes
ha align wi h hei speci ic needs.
This equi es a s uc u ed de olu ion
o inancial and echnical esou ces,
ensu ing ha local go e nmen s ha e
he capaci y o lead policy execu ion.
Es ablishing a esul s-based inancing
model, whe e unds a e alloca ed based
on demons a ed p og ess in imp o ing
nu i ion and ood secu i y ou comes,
will s eng hen local owne ship. Adama
Ci y, as a g owing u ban cen e, could
be conside ed o pilo his model by
in eg a ing ood sys ems planning in o i s
municipal de elopmen s a egy, ensu ing
a coo dina ed app oach o u ban ood
secu i y.
Fos e ing inno a ion and de eloping
long- e m s a egies is necessa y o
build a esilien ood sys em. U ban
ag icul u e ini ia i es such as oo op
a ming, hyd oponics and communi y
ga dens should be in eg a ed in o
municipal planning amewo ks o inc ease
local ood p oduc ion. Go e nmen s a all
le els should launch la ge-scale beha iou
change campaigns p omo ing heal hy
die s, le e aging schools, wo kplaces
and digi al pla o ms o shi consume
p e e ences owa ds ege able- ich
die s. Building on exis ing ini ia i es like
Adama’s Sunday ma ke s, municipal
au ho i ies should expand in as uc u e
ha suppo s a o dable, esh p oduce
ma ke s, educing eliance on long supply
chains ha d i e up ood cos s.
To enhance ood sys ems policy
cohesion and minimise ade-o s, he
go e nmen mus p io i ise access
o nu i ious oods by c ea ing di ec
incen i es o ege able p oduc ion,
including subsidies o smallholde
a me s and s eamlined access o
ma ke s. Ma ke in as uc u e mus
be upg aded o educe pos -ha es
losses and imp o e cold s o age acili ies,
ensu ing yea - ound ege able a ailabili y.
Nu i ion-sensi i e ade policies should
be in eg a ed in o b oade ag icul u al
s a egies o ensu e ood sys ems policies
do no unin en ionally a ou s aple c ops
a he expense o mo e di e se, nu ien -
ich oods. Educa ional p og ammes and
58 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
communi y-based in e en ions should
be expanded o shi die a y pa e ns,
ensu ing ha inc eased a ailabili y
o ege ables ansla es in o highe
consump ion. S eng hening egula o y
amewo ks on ood quali y and p icing
will u he ensu e ha nu i ious oods
emain a o dable and accessible.
In summa y, o policies o enable access
o a o dable heal hy die in E hiopia,
he e is a need o shi om agmen ed
in e en ions o a sys emic app oach ha
in eg a es mul i-sec o al go e nance,
empowe s di e se s akeholde s,
s eng hens implemen a ion capaci y,
enhances accoun abili y, p omo es local
go e nance au onomy, and os e s long-
e m inno a ion. Ensu ing ha ood
sys ems policies a e e idence-based,
inancially sus ainable and inclusi e o
all ac o s – especially local go e nmen s
and p i a e sec o en i ies – will be
c i ical in achie ing las ing imp o emen s
in ood secu i y and nu i ion. By
add essing hese a eas in a s uc u ed
and ac ionable manne , E hiopia can
build a mo e e ec i e, inclusi e and
esilien ood sys em, wi h Adama Ci y
se ing as a model o u ban ood sys ems
ans o ma ion.
59
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
Re e ences
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ans o ming E hiopian ood sys ems. A comp ehensi e syn hesis: game-changing
solu ions, go e nance and implemen a ion a angemen s o ans o m E hiopia’s
ood sys ems. Re ised and expanded, May. Addis Ababa (www.dpge hiopia.o g/wp-
con en /uploads/2024/07/E hiopian-Food-Sys em-and-Nu i ion-Syn hesis-Repo .
pd ).
Belew, T.F.D. (2015) ‘A e iew on p oduc ion s a us and consump ion pa e n o
ege able in E hiopia’ Jou nal o Biology, Ag icul u e and Heal hca e 5(21)
(www.iis e.o g/Jou nals/index.php/JBAH/a icle/ iew/27074).
ENA – E hiopian News Agency (2023) ‘O e 21 million USD school eeding p ojec
launched’. 27 Janua y (www.ena.e /web/eng/w/en_20889).
EPHI – E hiopian Public Heal h Ins i u e (2022) E hiopia: ood-based die a y
guidelines bookle –2022. Addis Ababa (h ps://ephi.go .e /wp-con en /
uploads/2021/02/Bookle _web.pd ).
FDRE – Fede al Democ a ic Republic o E hiopia (2018) Food and Nu i ion Policy
(h ps:// aolex. ao.o g/docs/pd /e h209251.pd ).
FDRE (2021a) Na ional Food and Nu i ion S a egy (h ps:// aolex. ao.o g/docs/pd /
e h211936.pd ).
FDRE (2021b) Seqo a Decla a ion: Roadmap o Expansion and Scaleup Phases
2021–2030 (h ps://asse s. sn o um. ao.o g/public/con ibu ions/2024/Seqo a%20
Decla a ion%20Roadmap%20 o %20Expansion%20and%20Scaleup%20
Phases%20-%20Comp essed_0.pd ).
Geb emichael, B. (2021) Ancho ing ood sys em policy in E hiopia: Lessons om he
p epa a ion o he UN Food Sys em Summi (UNFSS) dialogues and he ela ed
p ocesses. Repo commissioned by Wageningen Uni e si y and Resea ch (www.
wu .nl/en/show/Ancho ing-Food-Sys em-Policy-E hiopia.h m? o m=MG0AV3).
Ge ahun, M.S., Deybasso, H.A., Komicha, M.A. and Gu a a, A.M. (2023)
‘Co ec ion o: Magni ude o Cen al Obesi y and Associa ed Fac o s Among
Adul Pa ien s A ending Public Heal h Facili ies in Adama Town, O omia Region,
E hiopia, 2022’ Jou nal o Heal h Popula ion and Nu i ion 42(1): 112
(h ps://doi.o g/10.1186/s41043-023-00457-4).
Global Food Resea ch P og am (2021) ‘Ul a-p ocessed oods: A global h ea o
public heal h’. Fac shee (h ps://global ood esea chp og am.o g/wp-con en /
uploads/2021/04/UPF_ul a-p ocessed_ ood_ ac _shee .pd ).
Hawkes, C., Smi h, T.G., Jewell, J., e al. (2015) ‘Sma ood policies o obesi y
p e en ion’ The Lance 385(9985), 2410–2421 (h ps://doi.o g/10.1016/S0140-
6736(14)61745-1).
60 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
HLPE – High Le el Panel o Expe s on Food Secu i y and Nu i ion (2017)
Nu i ion and ood sys ems. A epo by he High Le el Panel o Expe s on Food
Secu i y and Nu i ion o he Commi ee on Wo ld Food Secu i y, Rome
(h ps://openknowledge. ao.o g/se e /api/co e/bi s eams/4ac1286e-ee 3-4 1d-
b5bd-d92 5d1ce738/con en ).
K aak, V.I., and Niewolny, K.L. (2024) ‘A scoping e iew o ood sys ems go e nance
amewo ks and models o de elop a ypology o social change mo emen s o
ans o m ood sys ems o people and plane a y heal h’ Sus ainabili y 16(4): 1469.
Minis y o Heal h, E hiopian Public Heal h Ins i u e and UNICEF (2023)
Na ional Food and Nu i ion S a egy Baseline Su ey: key indings p elimina y
epo (h ps://ephi.go .e /wp-con en /uploads/2023/03/FNS_baseline_su ey_
p elimina y_ indings.pd ).
Min en, B., De eje, M., Bachewe, F. and Tam u, S. (2018) E ol ing ood sys ems in
E hiopia: pas , p esen and u u e. IFPRI S a egy Suppo P og am Wo king pape
117 (h ps://cgspace.cgia .o g/se e /api/co e/bi s eams/ 97da3cb-e826-4c8e-
8 4a-3 b1b754e7e8/con en ).
Resnick, D. Babu, S.C. and Haggblade, S. e al. (2015) Concep ualizing d i e s o
policy change in ag icul u e, nu i ion, and ood secu i y: The kaleidoscope model.
IFPRI discussion pape s 1414, In e na ional Food Policy Resea ch Ins i u e
(h ps://ideas. epec.o g/p/ p /i p id/1414.h ml).
Resnick, D. and Ma he , D. Mason, N. and Ndye abula, D. (2017) Wha d i es
ag icul u al inpu subsidy e o m in A ica? Applying he Kaleidoscope Model o
Food Secu i y Policy Change. Feed he Fu u e Inno a ion Lab o Food Secu i y,
Policy Resea ch B ie 27. Michigan S a e Uni e si y (h ps://ageconsea ch.umn.edu/
eco d/260419/? =pd ).
Semagn, B.E. and Abubaka i, A. (2023) ‘Ze o ui s/ ege ables consump ion and
associa ed ac o s among child en aged 6–23 mon hs in E hiopia: mixed e ec
logis ic eg ession analysis’ PLoS One 18(7): e0288732.
T übswasse , U., Candel, J., Genye, T. e al. (2022) ‘Benchma king policy goals and
ac ions o heal hy ood en i onmen s in E hiopia o p e en malnu i ion in all i s
o ms using documen analysis’ BMJ Open 12(8): e058480 (h ps://doi.o g/10.1136/
bmjopen-2021-058480).
UN Food Sys ems Summi (2021) Policy b ie : Go e nance o ood sys ems
ans o ma ion. Uni ed Na ions (www.un oodsys emshub.o g/docs/
un oodsys emslib a ies/ ss-communi y/chap e -2/policyb ie _go e nanceun ss.
pd ?s sn=edae3a c_1).
on B aun, J., A sana, K., F esco, L.O. and Hassan, M.H.A. (2023) Science and
inno a ions o ood sys ems ans o ma ion. Sp inge Na u e (h ps://link.
sp inge .com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-15703-5).
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Wool ey, S., Bizzo o Molina, P. and Ronce ay, M. (2021) Poli ical economy analysis
o he E hiopian ood sys em. Key poli ical economy ac o s and p omising alue
chains o imp o e ood sys em sus ainabili y. Ag In es -Food Sys ems P ojec .
Rome: FAO.
Wo kicho, J., Alemu, B A. and She e, M. (2023) ‘Household die a y di e si y ac oss
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One 18(4): e0283496 (h ps://doi.o g/10.1371/jou nal.pone.0283496).

62 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
Appendix 1 Ranking ma ix
used o selec ood sys ems
policy
Policy segmen ep esen a ion: Ensu ing co e age ac oss key policy domains
ela ed o ood sys ems:
• Segmen 1: ood and nu i ion – consump ion – social p o ec ion.
• Segmen 2: ag icul u al and ood p oduc ion.
• Segmen 3: ading, in es men , and inance.
Policy s a us: Only ac i e policies we e conside ed. Policies we e ca ego ised as:
• Ac i e (1) – Included in he selec ion p ocess
• Non-ac i e (2) – Excluded
E alua ion c i e ia and sco ing: each policy documen was assessed and
a ed based on he ollowing dimensions: co e age, comp ehensi eness and
ep esen a i eness:
• Co e age en i e ood sys ems – a ed 5.
• Co e age o p oduc ion, consump ion, and ading – a ed 4.
• Co e age o only wo segmen s – a ed 3.
• Co e age o one segmen – a ed 2.
• Ve y limi ed co e age – a ed 1.
Policy design and planning le el:
• Na ional policy – a ed 5.
• Na ional s a egy – a ed 4.
• Na ional p oclama ion – a ed 3.
• Na ional minis y di ec i e – a ed 2.
• Na ional p og amme – a ed 1.
Range o s akeholde s’ engagemen :
63
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
• Ve y wide s akeholde s including p i a e sec o , ulne able g oups,
de elopmen pa ne s, and academia – a ed 5.
• Missing ulne able g oups o p i a e sec o – a ed 4.
• Limi ed engagemen om key s akeholde s – a ed 3.
• Go e nmen en i y and a ilia ed academia only – a ed 2.
• Go e nmen only – a ed 1.
Policy cohe ence and alignmen wi h o he ele an policies):
• S ongly aligned wi h a leas 3 ele an policies – a ed 5.
• Well-aligned wi h a leas 2 ele an policies – a ed 4.
• Somehow aligned and e e ences a leas one ele an policy – a ed 3.
• No di ec link o o he policies – a ed 2.
• Con adic ion wi h o he ele an policies – a ed 1.
Budge and p og amme-suppo :
• La ge-scale go e nmen and dono unded p og ammes (in hund ed millions)
– a ed 5.
• Medium-scale dono s and go e nmen unded p ojec s and p og amme –
a ed 4.
• Small-scale p ojec s unded by go e nmen and de elopmen pa ne s – a ed 3.
• Regula go e nmen budge alloca ion – a ed 2.
• No explici budge – a ed 1.
Leading o ganisa ion and implemen a ion capaci y:
• Led by Led by he P ime Minis e ’s O ice o a majo mul i-sec o agency –
a ed 5.
• Led by key minis ies wi h dedica ed s a and s uc u e (e.g., MoA, MoH) –
a ed 4.
• Led by an agency wi h limi ed s uc u e and s a – a ed 3.
• Led by a depa men wi hin a la ge o ganisa ion – a ed 2.
• Led by a depa men wi hin a small o ganisa ion – a ed 1.
Rele ance o ege able sec o :
• Di ec ly p io i ises ege able p oduc ion, ma ke ing, o consump ion – a ed 5.
• Explici ly men ions ege ables – a ed 4.
• Indi ec ly men ions ege ables – a ed 3.
• Assumed o include ege ables unde b oade de ini ion – a ed 2.
• No ela ed o ege ables sec o – a ed 1.
64 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
Policy
documen
Segmen Ac i e
o No
Co e age/
Comp ehen-
si eness and
Rep esen-
a i eness
(Double
weigh )
Policy Le el
(5-1)
Range o
s akeholde s
engagemen
(5-1)
Policy
Cohe ence
Budge /
p og am
suppo ed
(5-1)
Leading
o ganiza ion
- s uc u e,
leade ship
and s aff
(5-1)
Rele ance o
Vege able
(5-1)
To al
Sco e
Ranking
Summa y
P oposed/
Selec ed
Na ional Food and
Nu i ion S a egy
2021
Food & Nu i ion
Policy o E hiopia,
2018
Na ional Nu i ion
p og am-II (NNP-II)
2016
Na ional Nu i ion
S a egy 2008
Seqo a decla a ion
2015
Na ional Nu i ion
p og am-I (NNP-I)
2008/9
EFS T ans o ma ion
Vision 2030
Na ional Policy and
S a egy on Disas e
Risk Managemen ,
2013
Na ional Social
P o ec ion Policy o
E hiopia, 2012
Na ional Food
Sa e y and Quali y
S a egy-Fo
P ima y Ag icul u al
P oduce, 2024
(2024-2030)
1s candida e
o Seg. 1
2nd
candida e
o Seg. 1
Case selec ed as an example
o in eg a ed app oach o
FSN (Food Secu i y and
Nu i ion) policies
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
10
10
8
8
8
8
4
4
4
6
4 4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
1
1
1
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
5 5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
38
37
31
31
30
30
30
28
28
27
65
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
Appendix 2 Food sys em
policy ch onology
Yea O e all ood
and nu i ion
Ag icul u e
(ho icul u e
and o he s)
Disas e isk
and social
p o ec ion
T ade and
in es men
and inancials
Food sa e y
and heal h
En i onmen
2008 Na ional
Nu i ion
S a egy
Na ional
Nu i ion
P og am-I
(NNP-I)
2010 Ag icul u al
g ow h
p og am
I (AGP I)
(2010–2015)
2011 Clima e-
Resilien
G een
Economy
(CRGE)
S a egy, 2011
2012 Na ional Social
P o ec ion
Policy
2013 Na ional
Policy and
S a egy on
Disas e Risk
Managemen
2015 Seqo a
Decla a ion
AGP II – 2015-
2020
2016 Na ional
Nu i ion
p og am-II
(NNP-II)
Nu i ion-
sensi i e
Ag icul u al
S a egic Plan,
2016
2017 Ag icul u al
Ex ension
S a egy, 2017
2018 Food and
Nu i ion
Policy, 2018
Policy
documen
Focus on ood sys em and o e all Vege able- ela ed ac ions
mi iga ion: educing g eenhouse gas emissions
h ough sus ainable p ac ices in a ious sec o s
such as ag icul u e, o es y, ene gy, and
anspo ; (ii) adap a ion: building esilience o
clima e impac s, especially o ulne able
communi ies; (iii) sus ainable de elopmen :
in eg a ing clima e ac ion wi h b oade
de elopmen goals. The s a egy in ol es
collabo a ion wi h a ious s akeholde s, including
go e nmen agencies, ci il socie y, p i a e sec o ,
and de elopmen pa ne s.
The GLI is among he p og ams implemen ed in
he coun y and is oo ed in a ision o building a
g een and clima e- esilien E hiopia. The Ini ia i e
was launched in June 2019, which is ‘a na ional
go g een campaign, endea ou ing o aise he
public’s awa eness abou E hiopia’s igh ening
en i onmen al deg ada ion and, educa e socie y
on he impo ance o adop ing g een beha iou ’.
A a ge o plan ing 20 billion seedlings wi hin
ou yea s was se . By he ou h yea , as pe he
go e nmen epo , E hiopia has succeeded in
plan ing 25 billion seedlings by mobilising mo e
han 20 million ci izens h oughou he na ion.
The Ini ia i e indi ec ly con ibu es o ood
secu i y by plan ing aluable seedlings such as
a ocadoes, mangoes, apples, and papayas.
The Na ional Policy and S a egy on Disas e Risk
Managemen in E hiopia (2013) is a
comp ehensi e amewo k designed o add ess
disas e isk educ ion, building on he upda ed
Na ional Policy on Disas e P e en ion and
Managemen om 1993. The Policy aims o
enhance disas e p e en ion, and p epa edness
capaci ies by educing ulne abili ies and building
esilience. The ul ima e goal is o c ea e a
disas e - esilien E hiopia.
Policy di ec ions and s a egies co e :
-Es ablishing a comp ehensi e disas e isk
managemen sys em o manage disas e isks.
-Ea ly wa ning and disas e assessmen by
p o iding imely in o ma ion o in o med
esponses.
-C ea ing an o icial disas e decla a ion sys em
o ensu e e icien disas e decla a ions.
-Se ing up a decen alised disas e isk
managemen sys em hough empowe men o
local au ho i ies.
-Mains eaming disas e isk managemen by
in eg a ing i in o sec o al ins i u ions.
-Enhancing esou ce mobilisa ion p ocedu e by
iden i ying po en ial sou ces.
-Imp o ing he in o ma ion managemen and
ac ions men ion enhancing ag icul u al
p oduc i i y, p omo ing clima e-sma p ac ices,
and imp o ing soil heal h, which e en ually
con ibu e o ood sys em esilience.
No di ec ly ela ed o ege ables.
The policy’s holis ic app oach o disas e isk
managemen indi ec ly impac s nu i ion and
ag icul u al p oduc ion.
G een Legacy
Ini ia i e (GLI),
2019
Na ional
Policy and
S a egy on
Disas e Risk
Managemen ,
2013

Policy
documen
Focus on ood sys em and o e all Vege able- ela ed ac ions
Na ional Social
P o ec ion
Policy o
E hiopia, 2012
E hiopian
T ade Policy,
2024 (d a )
F ui and
Vege able
Ma ke ing
Di ec i e, 2024
(d a )
In es men
P oclama ion,
2020
In es men
Di ec i e, 2022
Na ional
Financial
Inclusion
S a egy (NFIS)
II, 2021-2025
communica ion sys em o e ec i e da a
sha ing.
-Ad ancing in e na ional coope a ion h ough
global collabo a ion.
-S eng hening implemen a ion capaci y.
-Add essing c oss-cu ing issues by esponding
o challenges.
The Policy se es as a comp ehensi e amewo k
o coo dina ed ac ions o sa egua d ci izens
om economic and social dep i a ion. I
ecognises ha social p o ec ion enhances he
e ec i eness and e iciency o in es men s in
a ious sec o s, including ag icul u e, heal h,
educa ion, and wa e . I ocuses on ou main
a eas: (i) social sa e y ne , (ii) li elihood and
employmen schemes, (iii) social insu ance, and
(i ) add essing inequali ies o basic se ices.
The Policy de ined coun y’s di ec ion in he
ollowing en a eas:
-Domes ic ade and dis ibu ion.
-Fa ou able mac oeconomic en i onmen o
he business sys em.
-In es men and ade.
-Reducing business cos s and inc easing
in e na ional compe i i eness.
-Expansion o ma ke access.
-Di e si ica ion o expo s.
-Pa icipa ion in he global alue chains.
-Digi al business.
-Consume p o ec ion and ai ade.
-C oss-cu ing issues.
The d a di ec i e de e mines ansac ion
loca ions and le els, p oposes ma ke cen es,
anspo mechanisms, and compe ency
equi emen s o ma ke playe s, de ines
esponsibili y o ma ke playe s and s akeholde s’
oles.
Lis s incen i es in a ious sec o s, such as ax
exemp ions om one o six yea s, depending on
he in es men ype, as well as capi al goods
impo ax exemp ions o p io i y in es men
a eas.
P o ides de ails o in es men incen i es.
Nei he ood sys ems no ege ables a e
explici ly men ioned in he S a egy. The
documen p ima ily ocuses on b oade inancial
access and se ices, speci ically i aims o
enhance inancial inclusion ac oss he coun y
and en isions a inancially inclusi e E hiopia,
whe e all ci izens ha e access o and ac i ely use
a ange o quali y inancial se ices. The ul ima e
goal is o c ea e an enabling en i onmen ha
Nu i ion is conside ed pa o he basic se ices.
No speci ic men ions o ege ables.
The di ec i e is speci ic o ho icul u e and
includes ui , ege ables, and oo c ops.
Ho icul u e is among he sec o s o bene i om
he P oclama ion.
Ho icul u e is among he quali ying sec o s.
While he S a egy doesn’ explici ly dedica e a
sec ion speci ically o ood sys ems and
ag icul u e, i ecognises he impo ance o
eaching u al popula ions. The e is, howe e , a
speci ic a ge o scale na ional ag icul u al
insu ance. Ini ia i es co e ag icul u al inance,
including loans, sa ings, and insu ance p oduc s.
The S a egy aims o enhance access o inancial
se ices o smallholde a me s, ag ibusinesses,
Policy
documen
Focus on ood sys em and o e all Vege able- ela ed ac ions
Food and
Medicine
Adminis a ion
P oclama ion
No. 1112/2019
Na ional
S a egic
Ac ion Plan o
he P e en ion
and Con ol o
Non-Communi
cable Diseases
(NCDs), 2020
mains eams inancial inclusion, os e s
inno a ion, and ensu es he pa icipa ion o
unde se ed segmen s. The S a egy p io i ises
ou key a eas: (i) digi al inancial inclusion, (ii)
inancial inclusion o unde se ed a eas, (iii)
inancial inclusion o women, and (i ) p omo ion
o Sha ia-complian inancial p oduc s. The
s a egy ou lines a obus go e nance amewo k
needed o implemen a ion.
The P oclama ion es ablishes egula ions, among
o he s, o sa egua d public heal h om unsa e
ood and medicine, aims o con ol heal h
haza ds, and ensu e ood sa e y. The e a e poin s
ha highligh he impo ance o ood sa e y
egula ion and compliance wi h s anda ds in he
E hiopian ood sys ems policy. As indica ed in
he P oclama ion, he execu i e o gan o
egional heal h egula o may eques hi d-pa y
con o mi y assessmen o ensu e ood sa e y.
Locally p oduced ood mus bea he applicable
ma k and ha e a ce i ica e indica ing
compliance wi h manda o y s anda ds.
Indi iduals mus egis e wi h he execu i e
o gan o egional heal h egula o p io o
engaging in ood ade ac i i ies. I manda es he
es ablishmen o a lis o pe missible ood
addi i es by an au ho ised body o ensu e
compliance wi h E hiopian s anda ds. I also
s ipula es ha in an o mula mus adhe e o
E hiopian quali y and sa e y s anda ds, be
non-GMO, no exposed o adia ion du ing
p oduc ion, and packaged in non-plas ic
ma e ials wi h clea p o ein sou ce labelling.
Highligh s he equi emen o egis a ion and
ma ke placemen o ood supplemen s, wi h
sa e y assessmen s a ying based on he ype o
po en ial heal h isks, and heal h claims. De ails
he obliga ion o o i ied oods o mee
E hiopian s anda ds, wi h speci ic i amins,
mine als, o essen ial nu ien s allowed o
o i ica ion pu poses and p ope labelling.
The S a egic Plan co e s he pe iod om 2020
o 2025 and aims o add ess majo heal h
challenges ela ed o ca dio ascula diseases,
diabe es melli us, ch onic kidney diseases, and
ch onic espi a o y diseases. The main di ec ions
and ini ia i es include: (i) s eng hening he
na ional esponse h ough policy, go e nance,
leade ship, and coo dina ion; (ii) in ensi ying
heal h p omo ion and disease p e en ion ha
encompass heal hy die s p omo ion and
encou age physical ac i i y; (iii) comp ehensi e
and in eg a ed clinical in e en ions o NCDs
and hei isk ac o s; and (i ) esea ch,
su eillance, moni o ing, and e alua ion.
and u al coope a i es. I also emphasises he ole
o digi al inancial se ices in imp o ing
ag icul u al p oduc i i y and esilience. I
encou ages he adop ion o digi al paymen
sys ems, mobile banking, and o he
echnology-d i en solu ions o acili a e
ansac ions in he ag icul u al sec o ecognising
he need o enhance inancial li e acy among
u al communi ies, including a me s.
Capaci y-building p og ammes seek o empowe
a me s o make in o med inancial decisions,
manage isks, and access app op ia e inancial
se ices.
Vege ables a e speci ically men ioned in he
de ini ion o a ollow-up o mula (‘a ood p oduc
o animal o plan o igin and indus ially
o mula ed in acco dance wi h an app op ia e
s anda d o eeding in an s and young child en
om six mon hs up o h ee yea s o age’) as one
o he ood p oduc s.
Low ege able and ui consump ion is
conside ed one o he isk ac o s and e o s a e
a ge ed a educing insu icien ui and
ege able consump ion in pe sons aged 15 yea s
and olde . P omo ing Heal hy Die s a egic
ini ia i e p oposes egula ui and ege able
consump ion in e en ions.
75
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
Appendix 4 Re iew o
lessons lea ned om o he
coun ies
In ecen yea s, se e al coun ies ha e made signi ican p og ess in de eloping
mo e inclusi e and sys emic ood sys ems policy p ocesses. Cambodia, he
Paci ic Island coun ies, Gua emala, and Cô e d’I oi e ha e each adop ed unique
s a egies ha emphasise mul i-sec o al collabo a ion, pa icipa o y app oaches,
sha ed na a i es, and da a-d i en policymaking, esul ing in mo e e ec i e and
sus ainable ood sys ems. These coun ies ha e demons a ed ha in ol ing
di e se s akeholde s and sec o s is essen ial o e ec i e ood sys ems policy
p ocesses. By os e ing mul i-sec o al collabo a ion, adop ing pa icipa o y
app oaches, building sha ed na a i es, and u ilising da a-d i en policymaking,
hey ha e made signi ican s eps owa ds achie ing sus ainable and inclusi e ood
sys ems.
The expe iences o hese coun ies p o ide aluable lessons o E hiopia, whe e
s akeholde engagemen has al eady begun. E hiopia can bene i by ensu ing ha
i s ood sys ems policies a e inclusi e and sys emic, by in ol ing a wide ange o
s akeholde s, u ilising da a e ec i ely, and os e ing collabo a ion ac oss sec o s
o achie e Sus ainable De elopmen Goals (SDGs). Key lessons o E hiopia’s
ood sys ems policy p ocess include in eg a ing di e se s akeholde inpu s,
emphasising mul i-sec o al collabo a ion o holis ic solu ions, adop ing da a-
d i en app oaches o in o m policy decisions, and building sha ed na a i es o
uni y e o s owa ds common goals.
Lessons om Cambodia
Cambodia’s Council o Ag icul u al and Ru al De elopmen (CARD) shi ed om
a sec o al o a mul i-sec o al pe spec i e in 2019, in ol ing a ious s akeholde s
such as go e nmen minis ies, academia, consume s, you h, and he p i a e
sec o . D Sok Silo, Sec e a y-Gene al o CARD, s a ed ‘we needed o unde s and
he p oblem co ec ly and iden i y wha was p e en ing policy e o s om
achie ing g ea e impac .’ This shi was suppo ed by he FIRST ini ia i e, which
acili a ed 30 dialogue e en s wi h almos 2,000 pa icipan s in 2021. The win-
ack app oach unde he 2019–2023 Na ional S a egy o Food Secu i y and
Nu i ion (NSFSN) sepa a ed sec o -led con ibu ions om join p io i ies,
emphasising good go e nance and e ec i e coo dina ion.
76 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
P e iously, policy de elopmen in ol ed di e en minis ies p oposing ac i i ies
wi hou clea esponsibili ies o sha ed p io i ies. The win- ack app oach
sepa a ed sec o -led con ibu ions om join p io i ies, such as heal hy die s, ood
alue chains, and ood sa e y. CARD o med a mul i-s akeholde and mul i-sec o al
ask o ce o ope a ionalise hese p io i ies and p o ided o e all coo dina ion.
This app oach emphasised good go e nance, e ec i e coo dina ion, and
collabo a ion among a ious s akeholde s, including he p i a e sec o and ci il
socie y. By building ela ionships ac oss agencies and minis ies, CARD aimed o
achie e collec i e p og ess owa ds he SDG a ge s o 2030.
The pa adigm shi om silos o sys ems hinking was suppo ed by a sha ed
na a i e on b oad sys ems change. FIRST played a c ucial ole in os e ing his
unde s anding by b inging oge he di e se pe spec i es and unpacking complex
concep s. Building a sha ed na a i e in Khme , he na ional language, was essen ial
o ensu e ha echnical ja gon did no obscu e he meaning o gene al audiences.
Iden i ying and wo king wi h champions who could con ene decision-make s was
also i al. These champions helped build us and d i e he ood sys ems agenda.
Le e aging oppo uni ies like he 2021 UN Food Sys ems Summi , FIRST acili a ed
inclusi e dialogues ha b ough oge he o e 2,000 pa icipan s om a ious
sec o s. These dialogues helped Cambodia gain ecogni ion as a leade in ood
sys ems ans o ma ion and s eng hened he coun y’s commi men o inclusi e
and sus ainable ood secu i y.
Lessons om he Paci ic Island coun ies
In he Paci ic Island coun ies, he FIRST P og amme played a c ucial ole in
helping hese na ions o unde s and and add ess he connec ions be ween
ag i ood sys ems, clima e change, consume choices, ood p ices, and non-
communicable diseases (NCDs). I zia Gonzalez, a o me FIRST Policy O ice ,
no ed, ‘FIRST p o ided con inui y and sys ema isa ion o ongoing p ocesses,
o e ing conc e e ools o decision-make s’. The P og amme engaged
go e nmen agencies and ci il socie y in Fiji and Samoa, suppo ing he design,
implemen a ion, and moni o ing o in e en ions. Pa ne ships wi h en i ies
like he Consume Council o Fiji and he Paci ic Island Food Re olu ion (PIFR)
p omo ed sus ainable ood p ac ices and empowe ed indi iduals o make posi i e
changes. The Fiji Ag icul u e Census o 2020 inco po a ed age and gende -
disagg ega ed da a, inc easing he isibili y o women and you h in ag i ood
sys ems.
By challenging p e ailing pa adigms and in oducing new opics and e idence,
FIRST acili a ed inclusi e dialogues among a ious s akeholde s. The p og amme
emphasised he need o di e en sec o s o inco po a e nu i ion in o hei
objec i es and wo k collabo a i ely o ensu e ood secu i y, en i onmen al
77
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
sus ainabili y, and equi able li elihoods. This app oach equi ed da a-d i en
policymaking, inclusi e dialogues, adequa e unding, and coo dina ed
implemen a ion ac oss mul iple go e nmen minis ies and agencies.
FIRST expanded he dialogue on ag i ood sys ems ans o ma ion by including
di e se oices om ci il socie y and academia, pa icula ly h ough na ional
dialogues leading up o he 2021 UN Food Sys ems Summi . Fo ins ance, FIRST
collabo a ed wi h he Consume Council o Fiji o o ganise a panel discussion on
engaging uni e si ies, consume g oups, and he media in he dialogue. Ano he
no able pa ne ship was wi h he Paci ic Island Food Re olu ion (PIFR), a eali y TV
show p omo ing adi ional dishes made om local p oduc s. PIFR, which ea u ed
an inclusi e cas and ga ne ed signi ican public a en ion, helped econnec
people wi h hei cul u al he i age and p omo ed sus ainable ood p ac ices. The
show also used social media o dissemina e in o ma ion abou ood’s impac on
heal h and he en i onmen , empowe ing indi iduals o make posi i e changes.
The COVID-19 pandemic unde sco ed he ulne abili y o local ood sys ems in
he Paci ic Island coun ies and highligh ed he need o a b oade unde s anding
o ood sys ems’ ole in malnu i ion. This shi in na a i e was suppo ed by
he collec ion and analysis o ele an da a, which in o med policy dialogues.
FIRST wo ked wi h he Fiji Ag icul u e Census 2020 o inco po a e age and
gende -disagg ega ed da a, inc easing he isibili y o women and you h in
ag i ood sys ems. Addi ionally, FIRST pa ne ed wi h academia o conduc ood
sys ems assessmen s and suppo ed he moni o ing and e alua ion e o s o
Fiji’s Minis y o Ag icul u e. By ocusing on managing ade-o s and p omo ing
a balance be ween ag o-indus ial and ag o-ecological app oaches, FIRST helped
policymake s make in o med decisions ha conside economic, social, and
en i onmen al ou comes.
Lessons om Gua emala
Gua emala has used a comp ehensi e legal and ins i u ional amewo k o acili a e
mul i-sec o al coo dina ion, in ol ing bodies like CONASAN and SESAN. O e
50 mul i-s akeholde mee ings we e held o upda e he Na ional Food Secu i y
and Nu i ion Policy (POLSAN). The FIRST P og amme conduc ed go e nance
and poli ical economy assessmen s o unde s and and add ess policy design and
implemen a ion gaps. The upda ed POLSAN (2022–2037) p omo es sus ainable
ood sys ems and includes c oss-cu ing ac ions on clima e change, wages, and
ood ad e ising. FIRST also s eng hened ci il socie y’s pa icipa ion in decision-
making, suppo ing he de elopmen o managemen and ad ocacy ins umen s
and acili a ing dialogues o o mula e he S a egic Plan o 2023–2027.

78 Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
S ee ing he ans o ma ion o ag i ood sys ems owa ds sus ainabili y in
Gua emala equi es collec i e ac ion om a di e se ange o s akeholde s,
including go e nmen , ci il socie y, p oduce s, consume s, he p i a e sec o ,
and academia. Each g oup has dis inc in e es s and a ying deg ees o powe ,
in luencing whose iews a e p io i ised. Poli ical agendas o en shape in es men
p io i ies in ag i ood sys ems, making i c ucial o unde s and he go e nance and
poli ical economy con ex s o d i e change e ec i ely.
Gua emala’s ood secu i y and nu i ion challenges a e add essed h ough a
comp ehensi e legal, egula o y, and p og amma ic amewo k. This includes he
2005 Law on he Na ional Food Secu i y and Nu i ion Sys em (SINASAN) and
he 2006 Na ional Food Secu i y and Nu i ion Policy (POLSAN). The go e nance
sys em comp ises o ou main bodies: he Na ional Council o Food Secu i y and
Nu i ion (CONASAN), he Sec e a ia o Food Secu i y and Nu i ion (SESAN),
he Consul a ion and Social Pa icipa ion Body (INCOPAS), and he G oup o
Suppo ing Ins i u ions (GIA). These bodies acili a e mul i-sec o al and mul i-
s akeholde coo dina ion a a ious le els.
Despi e a obus ins i u ional s uc u e, Gua emala aces signi ican obs acles
in ansla ing commi men s in o angible ou comes. Challenges include poli ical
ins abili y, high pe sonnel u no e , unequal decision-making powe , weak dialogue
be ween policymake s and implemen e s, and esou ce cons ain s a he local
le el. Add essing hese issues equi es na iga ing powe asymme ies, building
us , and os e ing genuine dialogue among all ac o s.
The FIRST P og amme, ac i e in Gua emala om 2017 o 2022, played a pi o al
ole in add essing ood secu i y and nu i ion challenges. I conduc ed go e nance
and poli ical economy assessmen s o unde s and why p og ess was slow
despi e high-le el commi men s. FIRST helped he go e nmen iden i y gaps in
policy design and implemen a ion, and p o ided echnical inpu s om a ious
pe spec i es, including gende , ins i u ional de elopmen , and nu i ion. The
p og amme emphasised he need o a mul i-sec o al, mul i-s akeholde app oach
o add ess s uc u al po e y- ela ed issues.
Lessons om Cô e d’I oi e
In Cô e d’I oi e, he FIRST P og amme suppo ed he ans o ma ion o he cocoa
sec o by add essing in e connec ed issues like po e y, child labou , income
dis ibu ion, clima e change, ood insecu i y, and en i onmen al deg ada ion
h ough mul i-s akeholde discussions and policy o mula ion. The Na ional
Sus ainable Cocoa S a egy (SNCD) was de eloped o imp o e p oduce e enue,
comba child labou , and p e en de o es a ion, in ol ing o e 100 s akeholde
79
Unde s anding ood sys ems policies o heal hy die s in E hiopia: Oppo uni ies o u ban inclusion
consul a ions. This s a egy ma ked a shi om a op-down app oach o a
mo e inclusi e me hod, ocusing on empowe ing amily a me s and ensu ing
en i onmen al sus ainabili y.
Re e ences
1. Cambodia ag i ood sys ems policy implemen a ion (2021),
summi dialogues.o g
2. Paci ic Island Coun ies ag i ood sys ems ans o ma ion (2020), acia .go .au
3. Fiji Ag icul u e Census 2020, iji.go . j
4. Gua emala ood secu i y and nu i ion go e nance sys em. (2022),
openknowledge. ao.o g
5. POLSAN 2022–2037, sesan.gob.g
6. S a egic Plan o 2023–2027, sesan.gob.g
7. Cô e d’I oi e sys ems app oach cocoa sec o , magazines. ijkso e heid.nl
8. E hiopia Food Sys ems Pa hway Commi men and Posi ion S a emen (2021),
summi dialogues.o g
9. E hiopia’s Pa h o Food Sys ems T ans o ma ion (2022), gainheal h.o g
10. T ans o ming E hiopian Food Sys ems: Be e die quali y, p ospe i y, and
sus ainabili y in a changing clima e (2021), moa.go .e
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