Strengthening Nutrition Governance: Lessons Learned from

REACH

Jessica Fanzo, PhD, Shauna Downs, PhD and

the UN REACH Secretariat

… facilitates the multi-sectoral,

multi-stakeholder

process …

REACH: Renewed Efforts Against Child Hunger & Undernutrition

Monitor and evaluate

Tracks targets, identifies gaps, and promotes accountability

Capacity development

Human, institutional and organizational capacity

Improved governance, coverage and nutritional impact

National nutrition policy1 &

National nutrition action plan

Comprehensive, multi-sectoral, government owned, funded and operational

Awareness, leadership and commitment

Enabling environment and agenda setting for advocacy

Facilitator

1

2

3 4

REACH 2013

In 2008, the heads of FAO, UNICEF, WFP and WHO formed an inter-agency partnership seeking to strengthen nutrition governance

Study Aim & Data Sources

Study Aim:

To examine progress towards strengthening nutrition

governance in eight REACH countries throughout the three

year in-country facilitation process and identify lessons learned

Data Sources:

• REACH baseline (2010/11) and follow-up (2015) governance

survey data in 8 countries

• Quarterly REACH facilitator logs

• REACH annual reports and annual workshop

Outcome 1: Increased awareness & consensus

Outcome 2: Strengthened nutrition policies, plans & programs

Outcome 3: Increased human & institutional capacity

Outcome 4: Increased effectiveness & accountability

A comparison of REACH outcomes before and after the in-country facilitation

Key barriers and enablers to strengthening nutrition governance

• Barriers

– Political instability

– Staff turnover

– Lack of human and technical capacity

• Enabling Factors

– Political Will

– Nutrition Champions

– Establishing TORs for stakeholder activities

– Coordinated advocacy efforts and messaging

Lessons Learned

• A longer in-country facilitation period (~5 yrs) is likely needed

• Obtaining and sustaining support from high-level nutrition champions is important

• The need for stakeholders (including the UN) to be aligned and speak with one voice

• Alongside improvements in coordination, investment in human capacity is needed

– Having a nutrition policy is not enough!

Thank You, Gracias!