New advocacy framework responds to challenges of nutrition in emergencies identified by the Global Nutrition Cluster

On 9 February 2016, the Global Nutrition Cluster released the Nutrition Cluster Advocacy Strategic Framework (2016-2020) which aims to provide high level overall strategic direction and focus for Nutrition Cluster advocacy efforts. The framework will ensure linkages across global and country levels and cluster partners and support the development of common messages and activities to leverage impact.  The Framework was developed following a series of consultations within the context of the Nutrition Cluster Strategic Plan (2014-2016). the Strategic Plan includes Advocacy as a cluster core function to support the achievement of its strategic priorities.

The Advocacy Strategy Framework intends to assist Nutrition Cluster Coordinators, Information Management Officers, and Nutrition Cluster partners at country and global levels to develop, implement and monitor the parts of the Global Nutrition Advocacy Strategic Framework 2016-2019 that relate to them. Three Goal areas have been defined for advocacy, their broad outcome statements describe what the Nutrition Cluster is seeking to achieve and the change it wants to see. Aligned with the Nutrition Cluster mandate and vision, the Advocacy Goals respond to challenges identified by the Nutrition Cluster to respond to the nutritional needs of emergency affected populations and seek to address problems that programs alone cannot solve.

• Goal 1 focuses on effectiveness of the humanitarian response
• Goal 2 is about resource mobilisation for nutrition in emergencies
• Goal 3 seeks to foster the accountability of humanitarian and development actors towards emergency preparedness, response and transition to development ensuring that expertise and technical capacity on Nutrition in Emergencies (NiE) contributes to inform and shape nutrition policies

Download the Nutrition Cluster Advocacy Strategic Framework (2016-2020) English

About the Global Nutrition Cluster (GNC)

The GNC was established to improve the effectiveness of humanitarian response programmes by ensuring greater predictability, accountability and partnership. GNC aims to safeguard and improve the nutritional status of emergency affected populations by ensuring an appropriate response that is predictable, timely and effective and at scale. The 40 agencies which form GNC include international NGOs, UN organisations and donors. They are guided by its Strategic Plan which includes four pillars:

1. Partnership, communication, advocacy, and resource mobilization
2. Capacity development in humanitarian coordination
3. Operational and surge support to country clusters
4. Information and Knowledge Management

The GNC operates in both sudden onset disasters, whether natural or human causes, and protracted crises. The nature of support provided by the GNC when a country cluster approach is activated depends on the expressed needs of individual country clusters, global priorities and the availability of resources. The GNC provides ongoing technical support and coordination and information management capacity to country-level clusters and nutrition authorities.

When existing coordination mechanisms are already active in the affected country, the GNC support is focused on ensuring sufficient capacity of these institutions and structures are built and that the coordination of the emergency response is built upon existing mechanisms.

Learn more > Global Nutrition Cluster