Support to the SUN Movement as a Global Nutrition Convenor

The project aims to better support the health of women and girls in developing countries and to advocate for the importance of more gender-responsive nutrition policies. Launched in 2010 the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement is a renewed effort to eliminate malnutrition based on the principle that everyone has a right to food and good nutrition. There are 60 SUN countries and 3 Indian States working towards the elimination of hunger and malnutrition. Project activities contribute to: (1) promoting a comprehensive approach to the empowerment of women and girls; (2) advocating for an increased international investment in key gap areas such as nutrition; and (3) reaching the most vulnerable with effective nutrition interventions. Global Affairs Canada contributes funding to the SUN Movement Secretariat and the SUN Movement Pooled Fund. The SUN Movement Secretariat (SMS) coordinates member action on nutrition including advocating for more gender responsive nutrition policies and strengthening country capacity. The SUN Movement Pooled Fund is a source of small grants (in the range of USD $100 000 to USD $150 000 per year) that supports strengthening civil society associations’ participation in national multi-stakeholder platforms to scale up nutrition plans. The Canadian contribution aims to support up to 10 of these small grants for SUN countries.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased capacity of SUN movement stewardship to fulfill their responsibilities to guide the movement; (2) better coordinated contribution of all SUN Movement stakeholders to the broader development agenda to improve its coherence and relevance for nutrition; (3) increased attention by all SUN Countries to the most vulnerable populations including women and girls in the policy and budget management cycle; and (4) increased use by all SUN Countries of peer-to-peer exchange on issues related to challenges and opportunities.