Barriers and Facilitators to the Development and Implementation of Public Policies Addressing Food Systems in Five Sub-Saharan African Countries and Five of Their Cities

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium

2 Department of geosciences, environment and society, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium

3 Laboratoire de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation Humaine (LARNAH), Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal

4 Université Alassane Ouattara (UAO), Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire

5 Laboratoire de Biochimie des Aliments et Nutrition, University of Kara, Kara, Togo

6 Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), Kampala, Uganda

7 Department of Nutrition, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada

8 Regional Institute of Public Health, Université of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Ouidah, Benin

9 Laboratoire des Sciences Biologiques, Agronomiques, Alimentaires et de Modélisation des Systèmes Complexes (LABAAM), Université Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis, Saint-Louis, Senegal

Abstract

Background 
There is increasing recognition of the role governments play in addressing the health and environmental sustainability challenges within current food systems. This study seeks to understand food system policies designed and/or implemented by selected national and local governments in Africa, and the barriers and facilitators faced when designing or implementing policies to create healthy and environmentally sustainable food systems.
 
Methods 
From an evidence-based list of proposed policies with double- or triple-duty potential to achieve healthy and environmentally sustainable food systems, a policy mapping was performed in five African countries (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Togo, and Uganda) and one city in each of these countries (Ouidah, Bouaké, Saint-Louis, Sokodé, and Mbale). Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with policy stakeholders. The interview data were analysed in NVivo 14 using the thematic framework analysis approach, informed by the Health Policy Triangle (HPT).
 
Results 
The mapping showed that African countries have designed and implemented policies that simultaneously address food insecurity and climate change, mainly through food production policies. Within food environments, countries are focussing on interventions to prevent obesity, mainly food provision or food pricing policies. However, many policy gaps remain. Several technical and political barriers were commonly experienced when designing and implementing food system policies, regardless of the jurisdiction, context or region, such as insufficient financial resources, lack of political will, limited data, and inadequate monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. The major facilitators perceived were supportive public opinion and awareness, international agreements, sound agenda-setting, multi-sector and multistakeholder consultations and partnerships, availability of both financial resources and data, and solid political will.
 
Conclusion 
This article gives an overview of policies designed and implemented to achieve sustainable food systems, highlighting a strong focus through agriculture on undernutrition and climate change objectives. It also identifies their potential legislative, financial, and practical barriers and facilitators. 

Keywords

References

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International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 22 February 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 16 May 2024
  • Revise Date: 19 October 2024
  • Accept Date: 19 February 2025
  • First Publish Date: 22 February 2025

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