Food Fortification Monitoring and Evaluation Framework: Operationalizing the Uganda National Fortification Guidelines
Abel Muzoora *
JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc, Kampala, Uganda.
Elizabeth Madraa
JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc, Kampala, Uganda.
Margaret Kyenkya
JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc, Kampala, Uganda.
Nancy Adero
JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc, Kampala, Uganda.
Sarah Ngalombi
Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: The Government of Uganda has stepped up efforts in recent years to address malnutrition. As part of these efforts, in July 2013, Uganda shifted from a voluntary project-based model for food fortification to a public-private partnership mandatory program. This was mandated by 2011 Food and Drugs amendment Regulations. To support the implementation of this program, the government recognized the need for a centralized system that tracks this information and provides regular feedback to the various stakeholders.
SPRING, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, facilitated the development a monitoring and evaluation framework that will be the basis of this feedback system.
Methods: A meeting was convened in October 2013 with stakeholders from key government groups as well as representatives from industries, donors and implementing partners, together comprising the M&E technical working group on food fortification. Participants were asked to agree on a standard list of fortification indicators relevant at sector, national and international/regional level and to identify how food fortification indicators can be streamlined into existing health management information systems, censuses and surveys.
Results: The final draft framework incorporated elements from the World Health Organization flow chart for fortification M&E but incorporated some innovative elements to respond to Uganda’s context. For instance, the framework made an effort to incorporate existing data flow from Uganda Bureau of Statistics into the reporting structures.
Conclusions: The final draft framework is going through approval by the National Technical Working group on Food Fortification. If approved, this framework should strengthen the national food fortification systems.