The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement welcomes Mali’s launch of its Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Action Plan 2021-2025 and SUN 3.0 Strategy

Bamako, 26 April 2022 – Today, Mali’s National Nutrition Council (CNN) launched its new Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Action Plan (PAMN) 2021-2025 and the SUN 3.0 Strategy. The event, hosted under the leadership of H.E. Ms. Dieminatou Sangaré, Minister of Health and Social Development, and with Ms. Gerda Verburg, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, aimed to strengthen collaboration among partners in the fight against malnutrition. 

This was a timely opportunity to raise awareness and showcase the nutrition efforts of the CNN, the Government of Mali and all in-country nutrition partners.

The theme chosen for this year’s meeting was “An opportunity to make nutrition a priority for political and financial engagements in Mali”. This theme fits well with the approach of the SUN Movement and its 3.0 Strategy, focusing on scaling up action on nutrition, while mainstreaming nutrition into national development plans, policies and country institutions.

In her opening remarks, H.E. Ms. Dieminatou Sangaré said: “Malnutrition costs Mali 265 billion CFA annually, which amounts to 4% of the country’s GDP, and it causes chronic stunting to 1 in 5 children. The underlying causes are diverse and multisectoral, but the government of Mali is committed to the targets of the 2030 development agenda and I can assure you that the transitional government is following its implementation with great interest.”

Currently in Mali there are more than 1.2 million cases of acute malnutrition, including more than 300,000 cases of severe malnutrition. Population displacements due to the social and economic insecurity in certain regions aggravate this worrying situation. The new PAMN was launched to address this crisis and to provide an adequate response.

“Nutrition is not only a health-related issue, but it is also an issue related to social protection and sanitation for all, especially for women and girls, who are often the first victims of crises and conflicts. Mali is a country with a rich history and deserves a rich and prosperous future, that’s why we are motivated to invest in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life,” highlighted Ms. Verburg.

A wide range of CNN partners supporting the efforts of the SUN Movement took part in the launch of the PAMN 2021- 2025, including government agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, UN agencies, donors and others. This was also an opportunity to launch the SUN 3.0 Strategy in Mali and a platform for bilateral meetings between Ms. Verburg and the SUN Networks and country actors.

Ms. Verburg also had the opportunity to have bilateral discussions with H.E. Ms. Dieminatou Sangaré; H.E. Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; as well as H.E. Redouwane Ag. Mohamed Ali, Minister Commissioner for Food Security and; H.E. Choguel Kokalla Maïga, Prime Minister of Mali. The discussions focused on the importance of maintaining nutrition at the forefront of the national development agenda, particularly during this political transition phase, and the necessity to strengthen the multisectoral coordination efforts around nutrition.