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The politics of food in the Pacific: coherence and tension in regional policies on nutrition, the food environment and non-communicable diseases

Equity Focus

This study targets the analysis of emerging regional nutrition policy commitments in the Pacific, looking at regional priorities (nutrition, food environment and non-communicable diseases) and the context of policy development to identify opportunities for progress.

Case Summary

This project analysed documentation from a decade of regional meetings in order to map regional policy commitments relevant to healthy diets. We focused on agriculture, education, finance, health, and trade sectors, and Heads of State forums. Drawing on relevant political science methodologies, the project looked at how these sectors 'frame' the drivers of and solutions to non-communicable diseases (NCD), their policy priorities, and identified areas of coherence and tension. It identified challenges in sustaining food environment priorities as political attention fluctuated. We found examples of inconsistencies and tension in sectoral responses to the NCD epidemic that may restrict implementation of the multi-sectoral action.

Lessons Learned

• The project found examples of inconsistencies and tension in sectoral responses to the NCD epidemic that may restrict implementation of the multi-sectoral action.

LINK TO CASE STUDY