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Ghana

Cross-Sectoral Planning Group on Food Systems and Nutrition

Ghana coordinates food systems and nutrition policy through a single cross-sectoral group convened by its national planning body. It brings ministries, development partners, civil society, business and academia to one table to align plans rather than to take decisions.

Institutional set-up and structure

The Cross-Sectoral Planning Group is convened by the National Development Planning Commission, which sits outside any line ministry and holds the national development planning mandate. It builds on the cross-sectoral group established under the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement, whose remit was widened from nutrition to food systems in 2025, reflected in revised terms of reference. Parallel groups operate at district level.

Mandate and decision-making power

Its mandate is to integrate food systems transformation into national and local development plans, prepare Ghana's Nutrition for Growth and food systems commitments, and develop planning toolkits spanning nutrition, food systems and climate. It does not take binding decisions. Its purpose is alignment, with agreements carried forward through members' own institutions.

The Planning Group is tasked with the following roles (building blocks):

  • Agenda setting: advocacy and dialogue

  • Policy formulation and decision making: providing technical advice; coordinating policy development; developing policies for consideration by the relevant authorities

  • Implementation: coordinating policy and programme delivery

  • Monitoring and evaluation: tracking progress, evaluating and reporting

Who is involved

  • Government: ministries, departments and agencies covering health, agriculture, education, social protection, water and sanitation, youth, gender, trade, industry, economy, and local government

  • Development partners

  • Civil society: international and local non-governmental organisations working on health and nutrition

  • Private sector: through the Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network

  • Academia: the University of Ghana and other national universities

How it works in practice

  • Meets several times a year; six meetings in the most recent year

  • Priorities set through discussion and alignment, not by vote

  • Implementation runs through members' own annual plans agreed with government

  • The Commission coordinates monitoring and reporting, with members contributing

  • Conflict-of-interest procedures are not formalised

Opportunities for improvement

  • Establishing a dedicated government budget line for meetings would support continuity and reduce reliance on partner funding

  • Extending the Group's role from planning into oversight of implementation, monitoring and reporting could strengthen follow-through and accountability

  • Strengthening planning and budgeting capacity at district level may help the sub-national groups operate as intended

Evidence base: key informant interviews and policy documents, 2026. Last updated: September 2026.

Strengths

  • Convened by the national planning body rather than a development partner, keeping government at the centre

  • Improves connectivity across sectors and reduces duplication of multisectoral investment

  • Builds trust and shared accountability between government, partners and civil society

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