A mechanisms-based explanation of nutrition policy (dis)integration processes in Uganda

Many African governments have recently invested in strengthened nutrition policy integration to address malnutrition; as a step towards realising the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 2. Previous studies have identified various factors that enable or constrain how nutrition integration occ...

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Autores principales: Namugumya, Brenda Shenute, Candel, Jeroen J. L., Talsma, Elise F., Termeer, Catrien J. A. M.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171370
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author Namugumya, Brenda Shenute
Candel, Jeroen J. L.
Talsma, Elise F.
Termeer, Catrien J. A. M.
author_browse Candel, Jeroen J. L.
Namugumya, Brenda Shenute
Talsma, Elise F.
Termeer, Catrien J. A. M.
author_facet Namugumya, Brenda Shenute
Candel, Jeroen J. L.
Talsma, Elise F.
Termeer, Catrien J. A. M.
author_sort Namugumya, Brenda Shenute
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Many African governments have recently invested in strengthened nutrition policy integration to address malnutrition; as a step towards realising the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 2. Previous studies have identified various factors that enable or constrain how nutrition integration occurs across policy sectors. However, the explanatory value of these studies has remained relatively limited, as the causal processes through which independent variables affect policy outcomes remain unelucidated. This paper addresses this gap by applying a causal mechanisms approach to investigate the processes that explain observed patterns of nutrition policy (dis)integration in different ministries in Uganda. We employed a process-tracing research design to reconstruct the context-mechanism configurations that explain the observed patterns of nutrition integration in Uganda between 2000 and 2017. Data was collected from interviews with 34 respondents, various policy and programming documents, and a focus group discussion. Our analysis reveals that increased nutrition policy integration is explained by four causal mechanisms: (1) international policy promotion; (2) issue promotion by international actors; (3) issue promotion by domestic policy entrepreneurs; and (4) instrumental policy learning. Conversely, two mechanisms led to policy disintegration: (1) leadership contestation; and (2) turf wars. All mechanisms proved activated by configurations of contextual conditions that were time- and organisation-specific. This study showed how a mechanisms approach can provide a more refined understanding of policy successes and failures in nutrition governance. Whereas integration-fostering mechanisms cannot be automated, both government and international actors working to scale up investments in nutrition need to consider and invest in the contextual conditions that allow for sustained nutrition policy integration and, ultimately, a more effective delivery of nutrition services. These include developing leadership for nutrition at different governance levels, domestic ownership and integration-fostering capacity, and supporting policy-oriented learning.
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spelling CGSpace1713702025-02-19T14:31:40Z A mechanisms-based explanation of nutrition policy (dis)integration processes in Uganda Namugumya, Brenda Shenute Candel, Jeroen J. L. Talsma, Elise F. Termeer, Catrien J. A. M. malnutrition nutrition governance policies Many African governments have recently invested in strengthened nutrition policy integration to address malnutrition; as a step towards realising the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 2. Previous studies have identified various factors that enable or constrain how nutrition integration occurs across policy sectors. However, the explanatory value of these studies has remained relatively limited, as the causal processes through which independent variables affect policy outcomes remain unelucidated. This paper addresses this gap by applying a causal mechanisms approach to investigate the processes that explain observed patterns of nutrition policy (dis)integration in different ministries in Uganda. We employed a process-tracing research design to reconstruct the context-mechanism configurations that explain the observed patterns of nutrition integration in Uganda between 2000 and 2017. Data was collected from interviews with 34 respondents, various policy and programming documents, and a focus group discussion. Our analysis reveals that increased nutrition policy integration is explained by four causal mechanisms: (1) international policy promotion; (2) issue promotion by international actors; (3) issue promotion by domestic policy entrepreneurs; and (4) instrumental policy learning. Conversely, two mechanisms led to policy disintegration: (1) leadership contestation; and (2) turf wars. All mechanisms proved activated by configurations of contextual conditions that were time- and organisation-specific. This study showed how a mechanisms approach can provide a more refined understanding of policy successes and failures in nutrition governance. Whereas integration-fostering mechanisms cannot be automated, both government and international actors working to scale up investments in nutrition need to consider and invest in the contextual conditions that allow for sustained nutrition policy integration and, ultimately, a more effective delivery of nutrition services. These include developing leadership for nutrition at different governance levels, domestic ownership and integration-fostering capacity, and supporting policy-oriented learning. 2020-04 2025-01-29T12:58:05Z 2025-01-29T12:58:05Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171370 en Open Access Elsevier Namugumya, Brenda Shenute; Candel, Jeroen J. L.; Talsma, Elise F.; and Termeer, Catrien J. A. M. 2020. A mechanisms-based explanation of nutrition policy (dis)integration processes in Uganda. Food Policy 92(April 2020): 101878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101878
spellingShingle malnutrition
nutrition
governance
policies
Namugumya, Brenda Shenute
Candel, Jeroen J. L.
Talsma, Elise F.
Termeer, Catrien J. A. M.
A mechanisms-based explanation of nutrition policy (dis)integration processes in Uganda
title A mechanisms-based explanation of nutrition policy (dis)integration processes in Uganda
title_full A mechanisms-based explanation of nutrition policy (dis)integration processes in Uganda
title_fullStr A mechanisms-based explanation of nutrition policy (dis)integration processes in Uganda
title_full_unstemmed A mechanisms-based explanation of nutrition policy (dis)integration processes in Uganda
title_short A mechanisms-based explanation of nutrition policy (dis)integration processes in Uganda
title_sort mechanisms based explanation of nutrition policy dis integration processes in uganda
topic malnutrition
nutrition
governance
policies
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171370
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