Review of policy action for healthy environmentally sustainable food systems in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Many sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries are experiencing multiple burdens of malnutrition. Rising overweight/obesity coexist alongside persistent burdens of under-nutrition and multiple micronutrient deficiencies. Poverty and social inequity remain key drivers of unhealthy diets and malnutrition. Diets in SSA are increasingly transitioning towards unhealthy (energy dense, nutrient-poor and unsafe) and environmentally unsustainable diets. Healthy, sustainable food systems are required to deal with these considerable challenges equitably, so policy action needs to balance the health, environmental and economic dimensions of diets and food systems. We review evidence in recent literature for which policy actions have the best chance of success in SSA by appraising their likely impact, relevance, cost/affordability and feasibility to help guide policymakers and researchers in their development and evaluation.