An assessment of the causes of malnutrition in Ethiopia: A ...

3.7.3. Capacity building
3.7.3.1. Promote intervention planning and implementation by community
participation
Effective famine prevention calls for more than rushing food to beneficiaries at the
last minute on the basis of indisputable nutritional proof that under-fives are starving
(Masefield 2000). Masefield also argues that if we wish to understand famines, we should not
concentrate on identifying a sudden shock to food entitlement, but look more to a past history
of entitlement decline for vulnerable communities, after which even a micro-shock can induce
large changes in the survival prospects of the very poor.
It is not only good technical understanding of the cause and effects of malnutrition
that will make a sound NNS, but also political commitment at all levels of society.
Communities have to be mobilized via nutrition-focused food security programs, including
the safety net program. Local community mobilizers can be used. These mobilizers should be
those respected members of the community who voluntarily join the effort to promote
development programs within the community. These programs, in turn, should be integrated
with well-designed nutritional goals. NGOs will be better placed to work with community
mobilizers since any remuneration to the mobilizers can be formulated in a project context
that last until the project fulfills its goal i.e., having a well-mobilized community with selffooted,
sustainable awareness and commitment to be a nutrition secure community.
Facilitators can be part of government’s extension program. They may have received an
integrated health and home economics training, including on the preparation of nutrient-dense
food from sources available within the community. The current education and extension
approach which produces large numbers of TVET graduates annually can use the students in
their practicum sessions to do nutrition focused awareness creation campaigns and teachings
at community level.
3.7.3.2. Promote rural-agricultural entrepreneurship
The promotion of agricultural entrepreneurship is key for the future youth of rural
areas specifically those who may want to stay around their communities through starting a
small business. In this regard, the Farmers Training Centers would be envisaged to serve as
permanent exhibition centers, as well as serving to provide advisory services, information (i.e.
Tele-centre), skill training, demonstrations and entrepreneurship training. Thus, each FTC
shall provide training for farmers in the area of entrepreneurship in a parallel fashion to
training provided on agricultural production and processing, as well as marketing-oriented
courses that ensure the establishment of nutritionally secure communities.
Entrepreneurship development can also enhance the income generating ability of the
poor households who fail to procure a nutritionally balance diet due to low incomes. Capacity
building in this regard requires activities such as skills training; cultivation of an antidependency
entrepreneurial sprit; experience exchanges; familiarization and enhanced use of
mass media; as well as developing working relationships between formal banks and rural
financial institutes to promote small and micro enterprises. The following activities need to be
scaled up.
• Establish and use vocational training centers and FTCs.
• Promote amateur theater clubs.
• Establish rural youth, culture and sport centers.
• Organize farmer-to-farmer visits.
• Organize trade fairs.
• Organize field days.
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