HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION MONITORING - THE MALAWI APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT-PLANNING AND POLICY INTERVENTIONS

This paper documents implementation of Food Security and Nutrition Mon itoring (FSNM) at the household level as a process of information gene ration for food and nutrition planning and policy making. A case study of Malawi is presented to describe various stages involved in generat ing data and converting them into policy decisions. The institutional arrangement for food security and nutrition monitoring in Malawi is pr esented along with a conceptual framework for identifying factors that influence food security and nutritional status of the population. The process of implementing Food Security and Nutrition Monitoring in Mal awi is presented in two parts; the process of information generation a nd the use of results in policy implementation. The costs and benefits of Food Security and Nutrition Monitoring in Malawi are also document ed. Presenting the lessons from the Malawi approach, the paper conclud es that a decentralized system of data collection, processing and anal ysis is more likely to be successful in planning and policy making for food security and nutritional improvements.