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What drives political commitment for nutrition? A review and framework synthesis to inform the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition

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  • Baker, P.
  • Hawkes, C.
  • Wingrove, K.
  • Demaio, A.
  • Parkhurst, Justin
  • Thow, A.M.
  • Walls, H.

Abstract

Introduction: Generating country-level political commitment will be critical to driving forward action throughout the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025). In this review of the empirical nutrition policy literature we ask: what factors generate, sustain and constrain political commitment for nutrition, how, and under what circumstances? Our aim is to inform strategic ‘commitment-building’ actions. Method: We adopted a framework synthesis method and realist review protocol. An initial framework was derived from relevant theory and then populated with empirical evidence to test and modify it. Five steps were undertaken: initial theoretical framework development; search for relevant empirical literature; study selection and quality appraisal; data extraction, analysis and synthesis; and framework modification. Results: 75 studies were included. We identified 18 factors that drive commitment, organized into five categories: actors; institutions; political and societal contexts; knowledge, evidence and framing; and capacities and resources. Irrespective of country-context, effective nutrition actor networks, strong leadership, civil society mobilization, supportive political administrations, societal change and focusing events, cohesive and resonant framing, and robust data systems and available evidence, were commitment drivers. Low and middle-income country studies also frequently reported international actors, empowered institutions, vertical coordination, and capacities and resources. In upper-middle and high-income country studies private sector interference frequently undermined commitment. Conclusion: Political commitment is not something that simply exists or emerges accidentally; it can be created and strengthened over time through strategic action. Successfully generating commitment will likely require a ‘core set’ of actions with some context-dependent adaptations. Ultimately, it will necessitate strategic actions by cohesive, resourced and strongly-led nutrition actor networks that are responsive to the multi-factorial, multi-level and dynamic political systems in which they operate and attempt to influence. Accelerating the formation and effectiveness of such networks over the Nutrition Decade should be a core task for all actors involved

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  • Baker, P. & Hawkes, C. & Wingrove, K. & Demaio, A. & Parkhurst, Justin & Thow, A.M. & Walls, H., 2018. "What drives political commitment for nutrition? A review and framework synthesis to inform the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 86630, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:86630
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    2. Elyse Iruhiriye & Deanna K. Olney & Edward A. Frongillo & Emmanuel Niyongira & Simeon Nanama & Eugene Rwibasira & Paul Mbonyi & Christine E. Blake, 2022. "Translation of policy for reducing undernutrition from national to sub-national levels in Rwanda," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(4), pages 977-993, August.
    3. Namugumya, Brenda Shenute & Candel, Jeroen J.L. & Talsma, Elise F. & Termeer, Catrien J.A.M., 2020. "A mechanisms-based explanation of nutrition policy (dis)integration processes in Uganda," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
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    5. Barlow, P. & Thow, A.M., 2021. "Neoliberal discourse, actor power, and the politics of nutrition policy: A qualitative analysis of informal challenges to nutrition labelling regulations at the World Trade Organization, 2007–2019," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    6. Ariadne Beatrice Kapetanaki & Nektarios Tzempelikos & Sue Vaux Halliday, 2021. "Building relationships: Is this the answer to effective nutrition policy formulation?," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(3), pages 1090-1110, September.
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    8. Tanita Northcott & Mark Lawrence & Christine Parker & Phillip Baker, 2023. "Ecological regulation for healthy and sustainable food systems: responding to the global rise of ultra-processed foods," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(3), pages 1333-1358, September.
    9. Lacy-Nichols, Jennifer & Scrinis, Gyorgy & Carey, Rachel, 2020. "The evolution of Coca-Cola Australia’s soft drink reformulation strategy 2003–2017: A thematic analysis of corporate documents," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    10. Nicholas Nisbett & Jody Harris & Derek Headey & Mara den Bold & Stuart Gillespie & Noora-Lisa Aberman & Olutayo Adeyemi & Richmond Aryeetey & Rasmi Avula & Elodie Becquey & Scott Drimie & Elyse Iruhir, 2023. "Stories of change in nutrition: lessons from a new generation of studies from Africa, Asia and Europe," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(1), pages 133-149, February.
    11. Brydie Clarke & Boyd Swinburn & Gary Sacks, 2018. "Understanding Health Promotion Policy Processes: A Study of the Government Adoption of the Achievement Program in Victoria, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-19, October.
    12. Brydie Clarke & Janelle Kwon & Boyd Swinburn & Gary Sacks, 2021. "Understanding the dynamics of obesity prevention policy decision-making using a systems perspective: A case study of Healthy Together Victoria," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(1), pages 1-23, January.
    13. Sandra Boatemaa Kushitor & Scott Drimie & Rashieda Davids & Casey Delport & Corinna Hawkes & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi & Mjabuliseni Ngidi & Rob Slotow & Laura M. Pereira, 2022. "The complex challenge of governing food systems: The case of South African food policy," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(4), pages 883-896, August.
    14. Clarke, Brydie & Swinburn, Boyd & Sacks, Gary, 2019. "Investigating menu kilojoule labelling policy adoption from a political science perspective," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    15. Ngqangashe, Y. & Cullerton, K. & Phulkerd, S. & Huckel Schneider, C. & Thow, A.M. & Friel, S., 2022. "Discursive framing in policies for restricting the marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    16. Leah Salm & Nicholas Nisbett & Katie Cuming & Tabitha Hrynick & Alexandra Lulache & Hayley MacGregor, 2023. "A whole system approach to childhood obesity: how a supportive environment was created in the city of Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(4), pages 919-935, August.
    17. Heenan, Maddie & Jan, Stephen & Ralph, Martyn & Sacks, Gary & Swinburn, Boyd & Shanthosh, Janani, 2023. "Priority setting for non-communicable disease prevention – Co-producing a regulatory agenda informing novel codes of practice in Australia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    18. Helen Walls & Deborah Johnston & Elisa Vecchione & Abdulfatah Adam & Justin Parkhurst, 2019. "The role of evidence in nutrition policy‐making in Ethiopia: Institutional structures and issue framing," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 37(2), pages 293-310, March.
    19. Fracassi, Patrizia & Siekmans, Kendra & Baker, Phillip, 2020. "Galvanizing political commitment in the UN Decade of Action for Nutrition: Assessing commitment in member-countries of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    20. Olutayo Adeyemi & Mara Bold & Nicholas Nisbett & Namukolo Covic, 2023. "Changes in Nigeria’s enabling environment for nutrition from 2008 to 2019 and challenges for reducing malnutrition," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(2), pages 343-361, April.
    21. Clarke, Brydie & Swinburn, Boyd & Sacks, Gary, 2020. "Understanding the LiveLighter® obesity prevention policy processes: An investigation using political science and systems thinking," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    nutrition; undernutrition; micronutrient deficiencies; obesity; noncommunicable diseases; politics; policy; priority; commitment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N0 - Economic History - - General

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