ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- African leaders for nutrition launched a continental accountability scorecard as an instrument for better advocacy and accountability to achieve nutrition security in Africa.
The Continental Nutrition Accountability Score Card was developed to measure progress made by the African Union (AU) member states to achieve nutrition security, the AU revealed on Wednesday.
King Letsie III of Lesotho, who was awarded as Africa's champion for nutrition by the AU, said that the endorsement of the African Leaders for Nutrition by the assembly of AU "marks an important landmark that holds promise of great growth and renewal for nutrition in Africa."
Welcoming the launch of the nutrition scorecard, King Letsie III also emphasized full cognizance of the centrality of nutrition to unlock the full potential and future of African economies.
AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Amira Elfadil, also noted that the continental nutrition scorecard will provide data and information towards facilitating dialogue with African leaders for new financial and policy commitments on nutrition.
According to Elfadil, the continental nutrition scorecard will help "to deliver the socioeconomic returns that are most needed by our people."
The AU commissioner also highlighted the effects of conflict, hunger and malnutrition on the continent, with particular emphasis attached to the need to silence the guns by 2020 as well as to make progress with establishment of a continental free trade area.
President of the African Development bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, also commended the AU, the AfDB and partners for their efforts in developing the Continental Nutrition Accountability Score Card.
Adesina also stressed the need to shift the debate from nutrition as a social development issue to one that shapes economic growth and development of African countries.
