Strengthening Complementary Feeding Practices thorugh Local Food Systems for Improved Nutrition Outcomes in Africa

In West Africa, insufficient complementary feeding practices for children aged 6-23 months contribute to nutritional health consequences, including stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiency.  However, local food systems, nutrient-rich complementary foods (CF), and engaged stakeholders offer unrealized opportunities to advance infant nutrition and complementary feeding outcomes. Partnering with the Regional Centre of Excellence against Hunger and Malnutrition (CERFAM), the SIPA workshop team identified practical, scalable pathways to leverage local food systems in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Senegal to strengthen locally produced CF and expand access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food for young children.  The team’s qualitative research design combined key informant interviews, desk-based policy review, and analysis of existing secondary sources by applying an Availability, Affordability, Accessibility, and Uptake framework. Conducted in the context of looming climate change, rapid population growth, and persistent inequalities, the study provided six recommendations for governments, development partners, and regional actors to inform nutrition-sensitive interventions: 1) embed complementary feeding into multisectoral governance; 2) develop and enforce complementary food nutritional standards; 3) support small and medium-sized enterprises through technical assistance and blended finance; 4) leverage the health system as a structured demand creation channel; 5) strengthen gender-responsive approaches; and 6) document and disseminate transferable good practices.