Recent estimates recognise the gravely inadequate levels of financing for nutrition and the urgent need to mobilise more, and more effective, resources. SUN Countries together with SUN Supporters are working towards “global solidarity” to accelerate progress to do this. They are working together to make existing money work harder and to mobilise new money for nutrition. Beyond public expenditure, this includes donors, innovative financing mechanisms, businesses and consumers.
The SUN Movement Strategy and Roadmap (2016-2020) calls for improved access and use of financial resources for nutrition. As a step towards the SUN Movement’s pursuit of this objective, a mapping was undertaken in 2016 of multilateral external (i.e. non-domestic) investments to improve awareness and understanding of nutrition funding sources and how to access them. The work was overseen by the SUN Donor Network, with the assistance of an independent consultant and the financial support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Key findings of the mapping
- Three new mechanisms have the potential to unlock significant nutrition-specific financing: The Power of Nutrition, UNITLIFE and the Global Financing Facility.
- Funding mechanisms often lack predictability of opportunities with no fixed schedules.
- The inherent fragmentation and complexity of nutrition makes planning a challenge across sectors and with different partners.
- Opportunities exist to build links across complementary initiatives like the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria, the Global Partnership for Education and Every Woman, Every Child.
- OCHA-managed humanitarian trust funds (CERF and CBPFs) represent useful entry points to support nutrition efforts in humanitarian situations.
- The Global Fund for Women was profiled as a mechanism for financing gender issues, in addition to Mama Cash, the African Women’s Development Fund and the Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights.
To learn more about Donor agencies investing in nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive investments, visit the SUN Donor Network page.
