A HISTORY OF THE POLITICS OF FOOD AND NUTRITION IN MALAWI - THE CONTEXT FOR FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL SURVEILLANCE

This case study on Malawi illustrates the importance of understanding the context within which food security and nutrition planning is to ta ke place in order to maximize the possibilities that effective action is taken. In Malawi over the past 25 years the topics of hunger and ma lnutrition have been transformed from politically taboo issues to bein g the central tenets on which the country's development strategies are now based. Lessons have been learned from Malawi's political history of food and nutrition planning which have provided the foundation for developing the planning strategy being undertaken today. This includes a coordinated approach to national level policy and planning on these issues which is supported by a good information base. Priority has al so been placed on developing an ongoing advocacy campaign to promote a common understanding of food security and nutrition issues as well as keeping them at the forefront of the policy dialogue.