Windhoek: Namibia will review progress on its 18 Nutrition for Growth commitments at an exhibition and dialogue in Windhoek from 22 to 24 September, the Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia (NAFSAN) said in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the event is organized by NAFSAN in collaboration with the government and other stakeholders. It will take place at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre under the theme 'Nutrition in Namibia: Key for Growth and Development.' The exhibition will be officially opened by the Office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday, 22 September, and will be accessible to the public on 23 and 24 September 2026.
NAFSAN stated that the event will assess collective progress towards nutrition commitments made approximately five years ago, while identifying persistent gaps and opportunities for stronger collaboration. Namibia made 18 commitments during the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit held in Japan in 2021, with these commitments made by the Government of Namibia and NAFSAN on behalf of civil society. A total of over 1,500 commitments were made by countries worldwide, and these are monitored through the Nutrition Accountability Framework Commitment Tracker.
The exhibition will showcase displays for each of Namibia's commitments, outlining their importance, progress made, existing challenges, and the collective action required moving forward. Afternoon Nutrition Dialogues will focus on addressing malnutrition in communities more effectively and collaboratively, early childhood development, and moving towards food self-sufficiency through environmentally sustainable approaches.
Representatives from government, civil society, development partners, academia, and the youth are expected to participate in the discussions. NAFSAN mentioned that the role of the local private sector in addressing nutrition and food security challenges will also be explored.
The event comes amid ongoing malnutrition challenges, particularly among vulnerable populations, according to findings from the Standardised Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions (SMART) Survey released late last year. NAFSAN also highlighted rising overweight and obesity rates, stating that these increase health risks and public health costs. The alliance emphasized that the combination of undernutrition, overweight, and obesity presents a triple burden of malnutrition requiring a coordinated, multi-sectoral response.
The alliance said the event aims to strengthen accountability and renew collective efforts to improve nutrition and food security.