[Nutritional policy and its framework in Colombia]

Assessing the nutritional policy formulated in the 1996-2005 Colombian Food and Nutrition National Plan (FNNP) using key informants (KI), policy-makers and civil servants.

A descriptive cross-sectional structured survey of 77 KI: 17 policy-makers and 60 civil-servants from PNAN.

determinant food factors, the existence of a nutritional policy, assessing policies involved with food security and organisational variables implicit in the policies. A Position Index (PI) was constructed for quantifying KI assessment (0-0.33 = positive evaluation, 0.34-0.67 = partial/readjusted, 1 = 0.68-1= negative evaluation).

79% of KI coincided in stating that there was a Nutritional Policy but that it should be readjusted (IP = 0.50 policy-makers, IP = 0.54 civil servants). KI did not agree about institutional coordination whilst policy-makers said that there was coordination between a reduced group of institutions, including themselves (IP = 0.33); civil servants said that there was no coordination between any of the institutions (IP = 0.75). They also said that the research strategy had been unsuccessful (IP = 0.73).

Ten years after the Nutritional Policy was introduced into Colombia KI say that it should be readjusted. Strategies such as coordination and research could be optimised so that their objectives can be reached.