(P05-03-26) Assessing Public Investments in Nutrition-Sensitive Agrifood Systems to Promote Healthy Diets in Ghana

Objectives: Nutrition-sensitive agriculture has been widely recognized as a key pathway for improving diet quality and food security, but limited evidence exists on the extent to which NSA investments promote healthy diets. The aim of this study was to assess the composition and effectiveness of public expenditure of food and agriculture (PEFA) in promoting healthy diets in Ghana.

Methods: We extracted the Government of Ghana (GOG) expenditure data (2016—2023) from the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System. Using the Food and Agriculture Organization Monitoring and Analyzing Food and Agricultural Policies program indicators, we perused the budget in its entirety to identify PEFA and classified these expenditure lines as either nutrition-sensitive (NS) or non-nutrition (NN) based on the Scaling-Up Nutrition budget methodology. Analysis was summarized by comparing PEFA over the years.

Results: Ghana’s PEFA accounted for 2.6% of total GoG expenditure with about two-thirds of this proportion geared towards NS interventions aimed at improving access to healthy diets.

GoG funding was 3.5 times higher than donor funding. Nutrient-dense foods (e.g. legumes, fruits and vegetables) were relatively more donor funded. There was no significant difference in GoG funding for NS programs compared to NN programs A significant share of the PEFA remains directed toward staple crop production and input subsidies, with relatively limited allocation to programs promoting fruits, vegetables, legumes, and other nutrient-dense foods. About 57% of the PEFA for nutrition-sensitive interventions were implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Expenditure on NS interventions were fragmented, with limited coordination between ministries. PEFA often lacked explicit food and nutrition objectives or monitoring indicators, making it difficult to track their contribution to healthier diets.

Conclusions: By strategically aligning PEFA with nutrition goals, Ghana can accelerate progress toward healthier diets, reduce the burden of malnutrition, and build a more resilient agrifood system.

Funding Sources: Food and Agriculture Organization