Challenges and opportunities

to strengthen UN Agencies’

collaboration in nutrition

Francesco Branca

UNSCN Executive Secretary

UN Network meeting

Nairobi, 26 August 2013

UNSCN set up by ECOSOC in 1977

• Statement of the 63rd session of the

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC,

1977)

• Its role:

• To serve as a focal point for

promoting harmonized nutrition

policies and strategies throughout

the UN System

• To strengthen collaboration with

other partners for accelerated and

more effective action against

malnutrition

The UNSCN is mandated to be a point of convergence in harmonizing nutrition policies and activities and providinginitiatives in the development and harmonization of concepts, policies, strategies and programmes in responseto nutritional needs of countries.

UNGA, ECOSOC, 1977

Food

Security

(FAO)

Health(WHO)

Food Aid

(WFP)

Care

(UNICEF) UNSCN

"Food and nutrition security are the foundations of a decent life, a sound education and the achievement of the

Millennium Development Goals"

"Assistance must be strategically coordinated, multilateral agencies must have a strong role, and national efforts must be supported by a sustained commitment of financial resources."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (26 September 2009)

The UNSCN today

• Chair: Ramiro Lopez da Silva, WFP

• UNSCN Executive Committee, 2011– Senior Executives of FAO, WHO,

UNICEF and WFP

– The UN S.G. SpecialRepresentative for Food Security and Nutrition

• Secretariat hosted by WHO in Geneva

• Executive Secretary and Supporting staff

www.unscn.org

UNSCN Core Functions

1. Harmonize concepts, policies and strategiesacross the UN agencies

2. Enhance dialogues, linkages and partnershipsbetween constituencies

3. Support knowledgeexchange (including good practices) and networking

4. Monitor and trackprogress

5. Provide strategic leadership in nutrition

UN System Network for Scaling Up

Nutrition (SUN)

What should a network do ?

As UN, are we effectively

working together for nutrition?

What are the needs expressed by the

SUN countries ?

• Political space

• Policy and legal environment

• Common results framework

• Mobilizing resources

Challenges

• Different at global/regional/country level

• Competition for visibility and funding

• Joint action is happening in the field, but it is

not yet done in a systemic way and largely

depends on UN leadership in country

• We have not been adequately documenting

this joint action

Division of labour …

…or leveraging engagement ?

Possible responses : country level

• Joint programming

– Aligning to country planning

– Based on Agencies’ strengths and broad

engagement

– Good examples : UN MDG funds

• Monitor outcomes

Possible responses : global level• Joint initiatives

– Reduction of anemia

– Food environment

– Breastfeeding : maternity laws, Code

• Harmonize intervention policies– Management of malnutrition

– Management of anemia

• Convene global policy discussions– Health

– Agriculture

– Social protection

– Integrated nutrition policy

• Global advocacy

• Acting as think tank for current and emerging issues

Questions• What are the most important contributions/actions your agency can make

and support in the struggle to reduce chronic undernutrition/stunting within the ‘1000 days’ window for change.

– What are the strengths and weaknesses of your own and the other Agencies ?

• What do you see as the major obstacles for your agency to effectively provide support in these areas in different countries and situations?

– How to engage the different levels and particularly the heads of Agencies?

• Where do you see any critical synergies with other UN agencies and actors that are important for effective implementation of your key contributions/actions?

– Can we approach governments and donors jointly ?