Integrating nutrition-sensitive agricultural systems (NSAF) into national policy frameworks has become a key strategy in addressing hunger and improving food security in Vietnam, particularly in the Mekong Delta region. The Department of Cooperatives and Rural Development (DCRD) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), in collaboration with researchers from various organizations, has spearheaded efforts to design guidelines and training materials to promote NSAF. This initiative aligns with Vietnam’s Zero Hunger National Action Program and the Poverty Reduction National Target Program, with the aim of transforming the food system to ensure adequate nutrition for all.
The process of developing these resources involved a collaborative approach, engaging experts from a variety of fields. These included representatives from DCRD, the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), and other institutions. The team worked together to create guidelines that would be applicable to local contexts in the Mekong Delta, ensuring that the materials were relevant to both agricultural and health sectors.
The guidelines and training materials were designed to support the integration of NSAF into Vietnam’s national policies, focusing on sustainable and nutrition-sensitive food systems. This effort built on the legacy of the Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH) program, which had already laid the groundwork for integrating nutrition into agricultural policies. Additionally, insights from a policy and literature review on NSAF in the Mekong Delta were incorporated into the new materials.
In 2023, the co-designed guidelines and training materials were reviewed through consultations with stakeholders from both the agriculture and health sectors at provincial and district levels across 12 provinces in the Mekong Delta. These consultations were aimed at tailoring the content to meet local needs, ensuring that the guidelines would be practical and effective in the specific contexts of the region. After receiving approval from MARD, the guidelines were officially published in 2024 and distributed to agriculture and health staff across various provinces.
To support the application of these guidelines, training courses were organized in September 2024. These courses were held at both provincial and district/commune levels, with participants including agricultural officers, health sector professionals, and representatives from local organizations. The training aimed to build a shared understanding of the food system and guide the development of nutrition-sensitive agri-food systems. The training also focused on the steps involved in designing, implementing, and evaluating projects that contribute to the goal of ensuring adequate nutrition for all.
At the training sessions, participants discussed the necessity of transforming the agri-food system to align with the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction. They explored strategies for integrating nutrition-sensitive agriculture into the program and examined the current state of food and nutrition security in the Mekong Delta. The sessions provided participants with practical tools to develop NSAF projects and encouraged collaboration between the agriculture and health sectors.
Following the success of the pilot training in Can Tho City, additional training was conducted in Hau Giang Province, where participants were introduced to the manual for building projects that develop food systems ensuring adequate nutrition. During these sessions, participants worked in groups to develop project concepts, using the manual as a framework to guide their discussions.
The overall goal of this initiative is to improve both household income and nutritional status in vulnerable areas of the Mekong Delta. By integrating NSAF into the Poverty Reduction National Target Program, the project aims to reduce poverty, eliminate hunger, and ensure that all households in the region have access to nutritious and sustainable food. Through this approach, Vietnam is making significant strides toward achieving food systems transformation and improving the health and well-being of its population.
