Quarterly Update: SUN Civil Society Network Q3 2016

ICAN/SUN CSN Meeting

From 24-25 October, members of the SUN CSN, including representatives from the CSA in Pakistan, Zambia and Malawi, attended a join planning meeting with the International Coalition for Advocacy on Nutrition in Rome. The aim of the meeting was to align our advocacy strategies, scope out our advocacy priorities for the next few years and identify opportunities to collaborate both nationally, regionally and globally. Following the meeting we will be developing a proposal for how we can best work together going forward.

Learning Route in Rwanda

The Learning Route in Rwanda ran from 31st October until the 5th November 2016. As the first Learning exchange for civil society alliances in Africa, this peer-to-peer learning experience aimed to encourage mutual knowledge exchange between alliances, building capacity for sustainable nutrition advocacy and social mobilization in efforts to scale up nutrition actions for better nutrition and food security outcomes, particularly for vulnerable groups. The Learning Route was attended by representatives from 9 Civil Society Alliances across Africa. See #SUNLR on twitter for the latest updates or join the learning route Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/events/1497911303558827/ 

Theory of Change Workshop

The SUN Civil Society Network will be hosting a ‘Theory of Change Workshop’ on Monday 14th November – Tuesday 15th November.
The aim of the workshop is to clearly define the role of the SUN CSN in reaching the wider SUN objectives. The SUN CSN will also identify how to track their progress and measure how successful they have been in reaching our goals. The session will be facilitated by Tamara Pironnet from Dalberg, who has a wealth of expertise in developing advocacy frameworks.  If you are a member of a Civil Society Alliance and would like to join the workshop, please contact m.pennell@savethechildren.org.uk

Country Spotlight

Pakistan

#InvestInNutrition: From 15-17 October 2016, the Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance in Pakistan (SUNCSA-Pak) launched the first phase of their #InvestInNutrition campaign with support from the Micronutrient Initiative. The campaign coincided with World Food Day . The campaign highlighted malnutrition as a multidimensional issue which must be addressed by all sectors. The campaign included mass media coverage including television, radio and newspaper.

Parliamentary Briefing

Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance (SUNCSA-Pak) also recently organised a briefing for 11 Parliamentarians in Punjab. The group of cross-party Parliamentarians pledged their support to address the issue of under-nutrition. During the briefing Parliamentarians highlighted the importance of integrated approach to tackling as well as the importance of female nutrition. Parliamentarians in attendance also committed to further action towards the implementation of breastfeeding laws in the Punjab by developing Rules of Business and nonfiction of infant feeding board.

The initiative highlighted the important role parliamentarians can play in scaling up nutrition programs as they are the key decision-makers of policies, governmental plans and budgets.

Country Updates

Tanzania

The Partnership for Nutrition in Tanzania (PANITA) launched their first newsletter, you can find a copy of it here http://www.panita.or.tz/index.php/news-events/news
The newsletter includes information on PANITA’s 2015-2019 strategic plan, success stories from members of PANITA, the current progress on nutrition in Tanzania as well fantastic updates on their latest events. During the Annual General Meeting of the Partnership for Nutrition in Tanzania, Graça Machel read the joint statement adopted by the civil societies organisations under the
umbrella of PANITA.

PANITA also held a national launch of the Global nutrition report, where they on government to increase accountability on nutrition

Liberia – New Alliance Formed

After a 2 day workshop from 24-25 October , with 45 CSOs (42 nationals and 3 INGO), a SUN CSA steering committee has been formed in Liberia. We look forward to working with you to Scale Up Nutrition in Liberia.

Madagascar – ‘Semaine HINA;

From 16th-18th November, the SUN CSA in Madagascar (HINA ) will we hosting an exciting week of activities during their ‘Semaine HINA’. The events will be celebrate the achievements of HINA in and call for a continued multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder approach to tackling malnutrition.

The event will be sponsored by the Prime Minister and will be attended by membe
rs from across the SUN family in Madagascar, including government, civil society and UN networks. Keep an eye out for activities happening throughout the week and show your support on social media.