USAID Comments on Decade of Action for Nutrition Work Program

The work program, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), seeks to build on existing structures and resources to implement the decade's objectives. Key action areas identified in the work program include improving nutrition in emergencies, enhancing health systems, promoting education and social behavior change, and ensuring access to safe and nutritious food. The program also emphasizes the importance of social protection activities, community outreach, and school-based programs in promoting sustainable nutrition. The work program proposes the establishment of a Nutrition Decade Secretariat to coordinate efforts and facilitate broad consultation among stakeholders. However, USAID comments suggest that the secretariat's roles and responsibilities should be clearly defined and distinguished from existing entities, such as the SCN and SUN communities of practice. USAID also recommends that the work program advocate for mobilizing policy and financial commitments, and that the global accountability framework and mechanism be managed and funded in a way that is distinct from existing structures. The program should also describe how it will build on and engage with existing efforts, such as the SUN initiative, to avoid duplication of efforts and reduce costs. In terms of implementation, the work program proposes the development of a map to track progress in addressing nutrition challenges. USAID suggests that SUN, which has already mapped progress in 58 countries, could help complete this task. The program also emphasizes the importance of pre- and post-service in clinical and public health nutrition for creating and sustaining local nutrition expertise. The work program proposes the establishment of action networks to address specific topic areas, such as nutrition in emergencies, health systems, education, and social behavior change. However, USAID comments suggest that some of these topic areas duplicate existing communities of practice led by SUN or other entities, and that the proposed action networks should utilize existing platforms to avoid duplication of efforts and reduce costs. In terms of funding, the work program emphasizes the importance of advocating for new financing to countries for their multi-sectoral nutrition plans. USAID suggests that existing entities supporting the Decade for Action should continue to encourage and build upon the expertise gained through on-going efforts, such as the costing of policies and programs in countries through SUN. Overall, the work program aims to address global nutrition challenges through a collaborative effort among governments, international organizations, and stakeholders. However, USAID comments suggest that the program should be refined to ensure that it builds on existing structures and resources, avoids duplication of efforts, and is implemented in a cost-effective manner.