Reducing Chronic Malnutrition in Peru: A Proposed National Strategy

This paper proposes a national strategy to reduce the prevalence of chronic malnutrition in Peru. It is intended for senior decision-makers in the government, and researchers on food and nutrition policy, in order to, a) emphasize the importance of the problem and the feasibility of its solution, and b) suggest how resources should be allocated, and services organized, with a view to achieving the goal of reduced chronic malnutrition. It is also intended as a guide to senior program managers, to identify the essential elements of an integrated program to meet that goal. All the elements of the proposed strategy have been suggested before, and some have even been incorporated into national planning documents. However, an integrated strategy has not until now been implemented on a national scale, whether due to lack of technical capacity, administrative constraints, or lack of political will. Compared with many other countries financial resources are not the major constraint in Peru. The government devotes significant resources to food and nutrition assistance. Yet, much of it goes to programs that are poorly designed and targeted. If redirected such resources would be sufficient to fund the proposed strategy.