SUN Civil Society Network

Civil Society efforts and policy change

 

Examples of Civil Society activities that have resulted in a direct impact on nutrition policies and practices

 

El Salvador

The SUN Civil Society Alliance in El Salvador - Civil Society Alliance for food and nutrition sovereignty and security has conducted several advocacy efforts to ensure public policies are nutrition focused. 

 

Kenya

In Kenya, the SUN CSA advocated for strong nutrition component in the health policy with recommendations and received a letter from the Ministry of health thanking them for their contributions and confirming these had been integrated in revised policy. More information here.

 

Peru

In Peru the SUN CSA (IDI) is having a huge influence on policies and plans. More on this here. 

 

Uganda

The Uganda SUN Movement Civil Society group (UCCO-SUN) has been particularly active in the development of the NAC strategy, and will continue to contribute through activities at national and decentralized levels. The UCCO-SUN has a funded advocacy project aimed at high-level policy makers and decision-makers. More information here.

 

 

Zambia

In Zambia CSO SUN Alliance has contributed to a number of policy efforts:

 

•  Contribution to a second technical committee meeting on review of the National Food and Nutrition (NFNC) Act of 1967. Civil society recommendations were adopted in this meeting and the draft act is to be submitted to the Cabinet office.

•  Contribution to taking Nutrition higher on the political agenda, including involving the Vice president in the Civil Society Activities. Politicians and Government leaders respond with providing a way forward to issues raised in the media as well as parliament by the Members of Parliament championing nutrition in Parliament – this included the Need to review the NFNC Act and the need to expedite the formation of the high level Cabinet Committee on Nutrition. 

•  Continued contribution to increasing understanding and creating demand for nutrition through the work with the media; TV, Print, Social Media hub, Online and Radio.

•  Contribution to a social protection policy in the country by successfully participating in National decision making by influencing policy, legal and budgetary frameworks that seek to address the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable e.g. through policy recommendations that have since been incorporated in Government policies and development tools such as the Social Protection Policy draft and the Revised Sixth National Development Plan.

•  Successfully secured funding for contributing to shaping the agriculture policy. CSO SUN Alliance engaged with Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to make Agriculture Policy more nutrition sensitive. Recommendations have been adopted.

 

Madagascar

In Madagascar, the SUN CSA – Hina obtained a private audience with the prime minister on National Nutrition Day in June 2014 which resulted in a commitment to hold a meeting with all ministries to start discussing increased investment in nutrition. During the closing plenary of the SUN GG, the Minister of Agriculture of Madagascar announced that the workshop with all ministers and donors was planned before the end of December 2014. More soon !

 

Malawi

In Malawi, the SUN CSA – CSONA was part of team that reviewed the National Nutrition Policy & Strategy. CSONA participated and gave input that ensured that there was an enabling environment for CSOs to advocate and lobby for nutrition. Following a review process CSONA was part of the team to typeset the Micronutrient Strategy and is a member of all major Technical Working Groups to co-ordinate CSOs efforts.

 

Mali

In Mali SUN CSA is represented in various technical groups that influence the shaping of policies related to nutrition in the country.

 

Pakistan

In Pakistan, SUN-CSA Pak supports the dissemination of enactment of the Protection of Breastfeeding Child Nutrition Act 2015 – read more here.