Session on Video with Dr Charulatha Banerjee Regional Knowledge Management Specialist Asia ENN

ENN produces 2 publications to reach out to the Nutrition world – these are practitioners voices compiled:

1. Nutrition Exchange

2. Field Exchange

Dr Banerjee agreed to participate at short notice to speak on  
Achievements of the SUN Civil Society Networks in some countries in Asia
There are no real evaluations of the impact of SUN CSAs but a few successful efforts were mentioned.

 

 Asia:

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• Nepal – Has a well-defined Multi Sectoral Nutrition Plan. This is one of the countries which has been active in SUN movement from the beginning- an active civil society network – they have rolled out many advocacy programmes and also at the level of the districts – 5-6 district chapters have been opened. Activities have included media training and interaction with parliamentarians.

• Pakistan- CSN was formed in Dec 2014 with 110 members. Work has been done on media training and also on promotion of breast feeding and advocating for proper implementation of regulations to promote breast feeding.

• Myanmar- A newer SUN CSA network with the coordinator being designated as one of the Transform Nutrition champions. Very active in promotion of breastfeeding and taking the first steps towards enacting laws to protect breast feeding civil society actors in the ground. Through SUN CSA, involved civil society actors in monitoring and now has national body to monitor violations.

• India- is not signed up to the SUN. But there is the Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security, a citizen’s alliance for malnutrition members are not limited to civil society networks includes various stakeholders including the media, academicians and even parliamentarians to leverage influence.
   

African SUN CSA:

• Kenya – a country with high levels of wasting with a widespread reach of the CMAM programme – the country had very few nutritionists – the SUN CSA was able to advocate successfully with the Government to increase the number of nutritionists in position especially for those areas with high prevalence.
   

In summary –   These examples emphasise the power of networks to raise the profile of nutrition and bring attention to this issue. The importance of identifying nutrition issues and successes not just at the national level but also within the local areas needs to be remembered.

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Observations from working in Asia

• Importance of creating an independent nutrition mission under the highest authority of the country – the example of Maharashtra state in India which was able to bring down successfully stunting through the work of the Nutrition Mission.

• Engagement with the Business network is challenging – only formal business network is in Bangladesh- newly established. Nepal plans to have one in place by the end of the year.

• An interesting document which came out of Regional trainings on Managing Conflict of Interest will be shared.

• SUN CSAs should not be person-dependent. Keep everyone on board; chance for everyone to participate, speak.

• Some sectors are marginalized. Find actors who can be involved from the ground to the national level, include national NGOs and not to forget grassroots organisations.

• Be guided by Evidence in raising issues with the government.

• Important to involve actors across all sectors not just nutritionists.

Recommend all members to look at  www.ennonline.net  and subscribe to Field Exchange and Nutrition Exchange and also en-net.

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