National nutrition information systems are essential for assessing the current status and measuring changes in nutritional status of populations, tracking the progress of actions and prioritising efforts toward improving nutrition. An accurate assessment of the nutrition situation allows governments and their development partners to make evidence-based decisions with regards to nutrition policy and program development. Nutrition information is useful for advocacy, planning, budgeting, program design, and monitoring and evaluation.

In 2016, mapping research was undertaken by consultants for the SUN Movement to define a standard framework that systematically assesses the state of information systems for nutrition across SUN Countries. Under the guidance of representatives from the SUN Movement Secretariat and with the technical support from Nutrition International (formally known as Micronutrient Initiative) under the DFID-funded Technical Assistance for Nutrition (TAN) project, the report was published in March 2017.