Nepal Signs Declaration of Commitment for Accelerated Improvement in Maternal and Child Nutrition

As part of the their ongoing commitment to scaling up nutrition, on 17 September 2012, the Government of Nepal met with representatives from UN agencies, development partners, civil society and the private sector to sign a Declaration of Commitment For An Accelerated Improvement in Maternal and Child Nutrition to solidify national consensus on scaling up efforts to achieve the Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Plan (MSNP) established in February 2012.

In signing the Declaration, cross-sector leaders have ratified their commitment to contribute to implementation of actions to improve maternal and child nutrition; develop advocacy and social mobilisation actions to build awareness and access to information; strengthen inter-sectoral alignment and coordination; enhance monitoring and evaluation of progress; and mobilise support at the national and international level.

The Multi-Sectoral Plan, prepared by five key government sectors, presents a comprehensive strategic approach and plan of action for accelerating the reduction of maternal and child under nutrition. Implementation of the Plan comes under the National Planning Commission (NPC), in collaboration with development partners and presents a package of interventions and priority strategic objectives to reach the goal of reducing the prevalence of chronic malnutrition in the country by one third over a five year period. The Plan focuses on interventions during the critical 1,000 day window from conception through age two, during which critical growth faltering occurs and will compliment with other relevant sectoral policies and strategies, including in health, agriculture and food security.

Upon endorsement of the plan, the Right Honourable Prime Minister of Nepal, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai said, “The Government of Nepal recognises that chronic malnutrition is a major problem in the country.” He added, “a strong commitment is urgently needed from various sectors to allocate adequate resources to accelerate progress, building on successes already achieved in this area.”