COMCEC

Malnutrition in the OIC Member

Countries: A Trap for Poverty

The SUN experience has shown that these bodies are more effective when placed above

the line ministries. The benefits of doing this are twofold in that they obtain executive

powers across the line ministries and it reduces potential policy bias emanating from a

given ministry. To be effective the coordinating body needs to represent all relevant

ministries. In practice it has been shown that these bodies tend to display a bias toward

whichever ministry houses them (Scaling Up Nutrition, 2015).

Political and social mobilisation around nutrition

Global advocacy from the SUNMovement has played an important role in bringing awareness

to nutrition and gaining high-level political commitment to move processes forward. Studies

on the cost of hunger and economic effects of malnutrition have also proven effective in some

countries. However, the role of nutrition champions in high-level positions at national level

cannot be underestimated. These include advocates high up in government bodies, such as the

Ministry of Planning or a Presidential Office, who have driven nutrition forward as a multi

sectoral issue and positioned it high on the national agenda (Walters, Dohan and Shoham

2015).

Enshrining a common goal for nutrition in legal statutes or in a national development strategy

can help increasing the level of engagement of actors. However, the more inclusive the process

of discussion and planning in the early stages and the broader the advocacy, creating

recognition of nutrition as a priority development issue for the country, the more effective and

efficient the implementation.

Engagement ofsectors to establish multi-stakeholder platforms

The process of bringing stakeholders together from across Ministries, donors, United Nations

(UN) agencies, civil society, academia, the private sector and the broader population requires a

high level convenor. Where these convenors are based in a sectoral ministry, such as the

Ministry of Health, their ability to convene across sectors is often compromised and plans may

be skewed towards activities of their sector. Alignment of different actors requires multiple

stakeholders to have a common understanding and a willingness to adapt their traditional

ways of working to achieve new collective objectives. It can be a big step for sectors to start

thinking about nutrition and how their work might contribute towards nutrition outcomes;

and a further step to integrate relevant indicators into their strategies and programming

(Walters, Dohan and Shoham 2015).

Madagascar, Niger and Peru are examples of countries where there has been recognition of the

need for early consultation with the subnational level stakeholders to inform improved

planning. The private sector is not always aligned with the national interest. However, it can

contribute beyond the restricted focus of its value chain and business interests if there is a

clear strategic approach to its participation from the start; for example, in Guatemala, the

private sector's involvement in social auditing (through corporate social responsibility)

contributed to identify ways health services could be improved (Walters, Dohan and Shoham

2015).

Implementing plans at the regional and district level

At the implementation stage, the commitment of government sectors and development

partners is tested as all actors need to align firmly with what has been agreed upon at the

national level. Budgets, plans and monitoring frameworks are often disconnected between