Assessing food environment to monitor policy implementation

Measuring the implementation of food policies by governments, the nutrition commitments and performance of food companies, and changes in the food environments are critical 'upstream' components of monitoring for accountability for improved nutrition. The International Network for Food and Obesity/NCD Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS) has developed the monitoring protocols that are being implemented in over 30 countries. It is essential for civil society and academia to place themselves within the accountability systems for action on nutrition as one way of overcoming the policy inertia that is stalling better progress on nutrition. In several countries, academic and civil society groups are being supported by philanthropies to increase the demand for food policy action and the INFORMAS tools are a vital component of the evidence base policy justification and evaluation. Upstream indicators of policy action need to be incorporated into the UN/WHO monitoring systems for improved nutrition. (author)