Training to Build Nutrition Capacity in the Nigerian Agricultural Sector: Initial Assessment and Future Directions

Abstract

Background: In response to calls to increase nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development developed the Nigeria Agricultural Sector Food Security and Nutrition Strategy 2016-2025 (AFSNS). Capacity development activities to facilitate the AFSNS implementation subsequently commenced. Objective: This study analyzed the processes and outputs of initial capacity development efforts, examined findings from the analysis using existing literature, and identified critical next steps for nutrition capacity development in the Nigerian agriculture sector. Methods: The study reviewed documents including a proposal for nutrition training of agriculture sector actors, reports of meetings held among 6 resource persons who designed and/or delivered training, training reports, participants’ pre- and posttraining assessments, and participants’ training evaluation. Interviews were conducted with 2 resource persons involved in training design and delivery. Documents and interviews were coded and analyzed to identify emergent themes. Participants’ pre- and posttests results were compared using paired t test in Stata 12.0. Results: Knowledge and practice gaps were more extensive than had been anticipated. Training had some but limited effects on knowledge scores at the federal level. Modules addressing implementation practices had to be scaled down for participants to keep up with the learning pace. Existing literature indicates that such training would have been better planned as part of a broader sectoral nutrition workforce strategy, to facilitate greater tailoring of training to participants’ job roles. Conclusion: Effective AFSNS implementation requires developing and operationalizing a comprehensive short-, medium- and long-term Agriculture Sector Nutrition Capacity Development Strategy for Nigeria.

Government Budget for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture in Nigeria Increased Following Development of Related Strategy

“…48 Still, the decrease in budgetary allocations to the Nutrition Division from 2018 to 2020 is of particular concern because it might be due to inadequate spending by the Nutrition Division in 2017. Several authors have highlighted that implementation of the AFSNS has been inadequate, [49][50][51] not just because of inadequate funding, but because of insufficient capacities to implement. 49 Nigeria used incremental budgeting in preparing budgets up until 2016.…”

Fostering an Enabling Environment for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and Food Systems in Nigeria

“…Capacity development efforts at federal and state levels were, therefore, conducted in 2017. However, as is described in the study by Adeyemi et al 36 in the Special Issue, and summarized in the capacity section below, the capacity development efforts did not have the immediate outcomes anticipated and discussions commenced around the preparation of an Agricultural Sector Nutrition Workforce Capacity Development Strategy. Initial steps in such a Strategy include an understanding of the nutrition capacity needs of each cadre of workers expected to have a role in implementing NSA and food systems.…”

“…The budget analysis reported in this Special Issue 33 13 into livelihoods projects to transform rural economies; and piloting the field collection of diet quality data using the DQQ. As highlighted by authors in the Special Issue, 36 inadequate capacity has been a major limiting factor for implementing and scaling up interventions.…”

“…Staff at FMARD had not had any nutrition training prior to their involvement in NSA activities, and few days of nutrition training on many topics did not sufficiently build their capacity to execute required tasks. 36 Agriculture extension agents reported receiving some nutrition training and delivering nutrition-related services, but there were too few agents which limited their delivery capacity. Moreover, job aids, necessary logistics, and other organizational support required to deliver services were inadequate.…”

Nutrition Capacity Assessment of Agriculture Extension Services in Nigeria

“…Although the trainings significantly increased their knowledge, large knowledge gaps remained and the ability of participants to implement nutrition-sensitive agriculture appeared inadequate. 9 Previous authors 10 reported that training is inefficient when contextually defined competencies required of participants have not been articulated apriori. Mucha and Tharaney 11 highlight the need for a systematic approach to nutrition capacity building, including the development of a Nutrition Workforce Strategy and Implementation Plan.…”