Malnutrition in the OIC Member
Countries: A Trap for Poverty
SUN countries have identified the CRF in different ways. For example, in Ethiopia the CRF
equates to the National Nutrition Programme, in Nepal the Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Plan
includes a CRF and in El Salvador sectors are aligning around the Strategic Plan for Food
Security and Nutrition. Other countries, such as Pakistan, institutionalised nutrition as a multi­
sectoral development issue in their national planning process back in the mid-1970s (Walters,
Dohan and Shoham 2015).
Multi-sector Planning
Coherent multi-sectoral action can be challenging but there are three fundamental issues that
once fully considered can smooth the path:
1. Political will and commitment from all levels of government and external actors is
required to enable and apply a shared policy framework and action planning.
Experience in SUN countries has shown that in many countries there are 1 or 2 key people
who are fully engaged and understand the SUN processes, and who generally attend SUN
global meetings and gatherings. As such there remains a need for strong high-level
advocacy efforts to explain the nutrition challenges of the country to actors from various
sectors (especially those outside health); to clarify why it malnutrition should matter to
them; and to discuss and identify what the roles of specific stakeholders should or could
be. Aclear set of advocacy arguments for the country need to be established and economic
cost-benefit analyses can play a dual role. First in providing top line, typically highly
impressive cost-benefit ratios but also, and arguably more importantly, in bringing the
Ministry of Finance to the table.
The position of the SUN Focal Point and commitment at the highest levels of government
are critical factors in ensuring convening of the different sectors, that responsibilities are
allocated, and that sectors are accountable.
External actors, particularly development partners need to be well coordinated and
consistent in their technical support to countries, conveying the same messages through
their respective points of influence and programmes.
2. Multi-sector policies and action are highly context specific and any guidance needs
to be considered within the local political, cultural and nutritional environment. As
nutritional needs vary widely across and between nations appropriate targeting of
actions is advisable.
The concept of SUN can be quite hard to grasp and the relationships between nutrition
and other sectors need to be explained to some stakeholders. A contextual analysis which
reviews both the nutrition situation and its enabling environment has proved to be a
useful tool. Links between nutrition and other sectors can be made, and resultant multi­
sector workshops to disseminate findings can also be used as a platform for dispelling
myths, raising awareness of the problem, identifying roles and prioritizing actions within
the local context. Experience shows that the process of contextualizing the nutrition
problems promotes and develops individual and organizational understanding.
3. Accountability mechanisms need to be in place to support co-ordination, M&E as
well as accountability. The designated secretariat or coordination unit needs to be
appropriately staffed and equipped for the assignment.
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