In 2021, USAID asked USAID Advancing Nutrition to provide technical assistance to the Government of Nigeria to achieve the overall goal of improving nutrition for a healthy, productive, and resilient Nigeria. The work will include support at the national level and in Bauchi, Kebbi, and Sokoto States. To inform the project’s activities, USAID Advancing Nutrition gathered approximately 40 stakeholders at a workshop in Abuja, Nigeria, on November 29–30, 2021. Adhering to COVID-19 protocols, representatives from the federal and state governments, Office of the Vice president, Nigerian Governors Forum, the Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry of Budget and Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and rural development, States nutrition Officers, Primary healthcare development agency, national seed council, implementing partners, United Nations agencies, and USAID Nigeria participated in the workshop, which helped identify programming gaps, facilitate connections and collaboration, and gather inputs.
To inform the workshop agenda, USAID Advancing Nutrition visited the three states and conducted more than 80 interviews and desk reviews, with government officials and local nutrition and food systems experts. Discussions took place in breakout sessions, through gallery walks, and in panel discussions that centered on programming, stakeholder coordination, and state-specific activities. Thematic discussions included wasting prevention and treatment, adolescent nutrition programming, addressing food systems challenges such as access to quality seeds, and multi-sectoral nutrition data systems.
The inclusion of state- and national-level officials during the project planning stage is essential to the success and sustainability of USAID Advancing Nutrition’s work in Nigeria. Many state representatives expressed appreciation for being included in this workshop and pledged continuous support and engagement to the project. The discussions were valuable, and the workshop's success led to important refinements of the project’s activities at the national and state levels. Input gathered from this workshop was instrumental in guiding the USAID Advancing Nutrition's first work plan, and ongoing dialogue with local officials and experts will continue to inform and guide our implementation.