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Stakeholders at the national learning event pose for this memorable picture after the key note address.
Photo Credit: William Anim-Dankwa/JSI

On September 21, 2023, USAID Advancing Nutrition hosted a learning event in Bolgatanga, marking the end of three years of project implementation in northern Ghana focused on improving multi-sectoral nutrition planning and coordination. The event, Deepening the Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Agenda: The USAID Advancing Nutrition Story, provided stakeholders an opportunity to share and reflect on lessons learned.

Speaking at the event, Selorme Kofi Azumah, the Ghana Chief of Party for USAID Advancing Nutrition, highlighted the challenges of funding for nutrition in the country and reflected on a way forward. “...to be able to change the narrative around nutrition funding, it is important that as part of the development planning process, we have nutrition and food security integrated into our development planning, and budgeted [for] accordingly,” he explained.

Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister, expressed gratitude for the initiatives led by USAID Advancing Nutrition, and pledged to continue building on the project’s work.

“I want to assure you of the government’s commitment to the sustainability of the gains made by this project,” said Dr.Bin Salih.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, added, “I wish to assure you of the government’s commitment and that of the municipal and district assemblies towards improving the lives of the people through partnership and infrastructure provision, among others.”

The project’s work in Ghana spanned the Upper East, Upper West, North East, and Northern regions. We reached over 250,000 children and 120,000 women, and trained more than 5,000 health workers, including 1,500 in the Upper East region. We also facilitated the formation of multi-sectoral nutrition planning and coordination groups, and supported efforts to integrate malnutrition into district development plans. The closeout event was a recognition of the important role USAID Advancing Nutrition played in addressing malnutrition in Ghana.

Read local news coverage about the closeout event: