The Politics of Ending Malnutrition - Challenging Conversations with Decision Makers – Details, episodes & analysis

This podcast features Dr Steve Collins who was key to the development of the globally recognized community base management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) approach.  Everyone in the international nutrition sector will know how Steve’s pioneering work helped to build the evidence for ready to use therapeutic food (RUTF) and the programme approach to empower communities and the parents of malnourished children to be actively involved in the effective and safe recovery of their malnourished child at home. 

Globally, it is reported that there is now 20% coverage of treatment for children with severe acute malnutrition which is a substantial improvement compared to the pre-CMAM era. However, this is still a frustratingly low level of coverage and as Steve argues could be significantly higher if cheaper RUTFs were employed. Furthermore, Steve believes the real percentage coverage is probably much less than the globally cited 20% and that agencies which proclaim this coverage are not following the science.  In response to the slow pace of progress, Steve and colleagues have built the evidence base for a cheaper plant based (rather than milk based) RUTF to overcome one of the key obstacles to scale up which is affordability.  Steve shares his experience of how the evidence around plant based RUTF efficacy hasn’t penetrated the normative UN agency guidance for acute malnutrition treatment postulating why robust study findings have met with such resistance from several agencies. Part’s of his analysis of the RUTF story are critical and challenging and as the discussion unfolds, Steve discusses the role of international agencies and the aid system in perpetuating obstacles to transformation of aid including support for  the localization of capacity and response. 

N4D hope to have follow up pod casts with WHO, UNICEF and country actors concerned with scaling up CMAM.

Please join the debate! 

Credits: Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co

Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz

© N4D Group 2024

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In this episode (13), the N4D Directors reflect on the pod cast mini-series “Country-led… Rhetoric or Reality” during which N4D had conversations with nutrition leaders in three countries: Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Kenya and with two global leaders from the Scaling up Nutrition Movement. While our national nutrition leaders spoke positively about the SUN Movement and other global nutrition initiatives, there was also consensus around the pressing need for better longer-term aligned financing and tailored technical support. The N4D Directors also discuss emerging developments at the global level which might address these needs but don’t shy away from asking whether these developments are really enough to shift the dial to ensure that countries needs and priorities really are at the centre of global actions.

Please join the debate! 

Credits: Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co

Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz

© N4D Group 2024

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 6, part 1,

Our guests: Christoph Langenkamp and Rebecca Heidkamp

N4D interview two global actors (Christoph Langenkamp and Rebecca Heidkamp) about the National Information Platform for Nutrition (NIPN).

N4D have been working closely with global and country actors over the past year as part of an evaluation of NIPN commissioned by GIZ-C4N. This innovative and highly successful programme which is currently implemented in 9 countries, is gathering momentum with the prospect of being adapted and adopted in other country contexts.

In the podcast Christoph describes how the original vision and focus for NIPN moved from a programme largely about harnessing existing nutrition data in country to a programme focussing on multi-sector nutrition data and it’s role in informing policy development and multisector nutrition planning. Rebecca Heidkamp provides a context for NIPN in relation to other global nutrition data initiatives describing what is unique about the NIPN approach but also cautioning how governments need to prioritise budgets for national nutrition information platforms within their nutrition action plans.

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In Episode 5, the N4D team reflects on what we have heard so far during our first three conversations and identifies key lessons learnt and emerging issues. We know what needs to be done to end malnutrition, but we do not have the political will. In the words of Shawn Baker, nutrition must become a political non-negotiable. We heard how we already have very good internationally agreed principles to guide the way that aid is provided but the aid system urgently needs reforming to ensure that those principles are translated into reality. More sustainable progress is possible even in countries affected by protracted fragility and conflict if there is a more nuanced understanding of local political and economic contexts, longer term, more integrated approaches and greater trust in local actors and systems.

However, reform requires engagement with politicians in donor countries to raise awareness that the political risks of maintaining the status quo are greater than doing things differently.

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Malnutrition is a political choice 

Our guest: Shawn Baker

In this episode, the N4D team discuss with Shawn Baker. Shawn is the Chief Program Officer with Helen Keller International and was formerly head of nutrition for USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He has also occupied senior leadership roles in international multistakeholder initiatives including the Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) Movement and the Global Nutrition Report. Shawn talks about his life journey from rural northwest Pennsylvania and studying marine biology to a lifelong career in public health nutrition. He highlights success stories from countries that have reduced malnutrition, the ingredients of success as well as challenges that are hindering progress around the world. He highlights the qualities needed by nutrition leaders at national and international levels. For background information on issues discussed, please see the episode notes below. Please visit the Podcast page on the N4D website and share your comments, ideas and experiences.

Please join the debate!

Credits:

Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co

Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz

© N4D Group 2023

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sustainable solutions to malnutrition in Yemen 

Our guest: Karima Al-Hada´a

In this episode, Carmel, Chris and Jeremy discuss the politics of adopting more sustainable solutions to malnutrition in Yemen with Karima Al-Hada´a. Karima is the Planning & Liaison Specialist in the Scaling-Up Nutrition (SUN) Secretariat in Yemen, Assistant National Food Systems Convenor and a member of the global SUN Movement Executive Committee. The SUN Yemen Secretariat, within the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC), is the lead national entity responsible for coordinating all investments and actions for nutrition across sectors, throughout the country. Karima discusses the opportunities and challenges of scaling up development actions to prevent malnutrition and strengthening public systems, alongside humanitarian assistance. For background information on issues discussed, please see the episode notes below. Please visit the Podcast page on the N4D website and share your comments, ideas and experiences. Please join the debate! 

Reading list: 

You can find information and analysis on the political situation in Yemen here: https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/gulf-and-arabian-peninsula/yemen

Find out more about N4D´s work in Yemen: https://www.n4d.group/yemen/ 

You can also find a link to the Yemen Multisectoral Nutrition Action Plan on that page. 

We recommend reading the Chatham House paper, on aid strategies in ´politically estranged´ settings, mentioned by Chris at the end of the podcast: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2023/04/aid-strategies-politically-estranged-settings 

Credits:

Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co

Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz

© N4D Group 2023

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trusting local actors and solutions in conflict affected countries

Our guest: Habib Ur Rehman Mayar,

In this episode, Carmel, Chris and Jeremy discuss the politics of aid in fragile states with Habib Ur Rehman Mayar, Deputy General Secretary of the g7+ Secretariat and Executive Director of g7+ Foundation. The g7+ is an intergovernmental organisation made up of conflict-affected countries, providing a platform to collectively voice the need for national dialogue and reconciliation; advocate for effective development cooperation founded on the principles of country ownership, transparency and mutual accountability; and facilitate sharing of first-hand experience and good development practices.

In this conversation, Habib advocates for reforms to the international aid system to support country led, sustainable development and solutions to conflict. For background information on issues discussed, please see the episode notes below. Please visit the Podcast page on the N4D website and share your comments, ideas and experiences.

Please join the debate! 

Reading list: 

• Read about the G7+ here
• Learn about the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States and the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS): https://www.pbsbdialogue.org/en/ 
• Find out more about N4D´s work in Yemen

Credits:

Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co

Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz

© N4D Group 2023

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paving the way for challenging conversations on driving political change for nutrition and development. 

On this first episode of ¨The Politics of Ending Malnutrition¨, the N4D Directors, Carmel, Chris and Jeremy, discuss the purpose of the Podcast and how it relates to N4D´s country focussed strategy. They explain how the series of exciting and challenging conversations with decision makers will explore the way in which political and economic issues enable and hinder the scale up of evidence-based solutions to end malnutrition around the world. For background information on issues discussed, please see the episode notes below. Please visit the Podcast page on the N4D website https://www.n4d.group and share your comments, ideas and experiences. Please join the debate! 

Reading list: 

For the definition of political economy quoted by Chris and a guide to understanding political economy analysis and thinking and working politically: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-political-economy-analysis-and-thinking-and-working-politically/understanding-political-economy-analysis-and-thinking-and-working-politically

For information on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus: https://www.oecd.org/dac/the-humanitarian-development-peace-nexus-interim-progress-review-2f620ca5-en.htm

The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement: https://scalingupnutrition.org

To read background on CMAM - the Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition and the barriers to scale up and how they might be overcome: https://www.concern.net/cmam2021

Credits:

Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co

Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz

© N4D Group 2023

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Afshan Khan, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Coordinator of the SUN Movement shares her views on how SUN can provide tailored support countries to scale up their efforts to end malnutrition in all its forms. She responds to issues raised by our country guests and David Nabarro in previous episodes. Questions addressed include: How does the SUN Movement link with other elements of the international nutrition and wider aid ecosystem, including the Global Nutrition Report, Nutrition for Growth and Climate COPs? How is the SUN Movement brokering technical support to countries, facilitating the sharing of learning between them and strengthening capabilities to mobilise financial resources? Should SUN Movement membership be open to high- as well as low- and middle-income countries? What are the opportunities for a global fund for nutrition? Fifteen years on from the first Lancet Series on nutrition, is there a need for a facilitated process to promote greater coherence and effectiveness in how the global nutrition ecosystem supports country-led efforts? 

Please join the debate! 

Credits: Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co

Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz

© N4D Group 2024

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What was the original vision and approach of the Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) Movement when it started in 2010? Has the approach remained consistent over time? How should we judge success of nutrition actions and the SUN Movement? What are the risks to success? How do you implement a systems approach to nutrition in practice when departments and organisations tend to work in siloes? Should SUN Movement be open to higher as well as lower income countries? In this conversation with the N4D team David Nabarro addresses these questions and more. 

Please join the debate! 

Credits: Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co

Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz

© N4D Group 2024

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.