SUN Global Gathering closes with declaration recognising the need to intensify the response to malnutrition, by and for everyone

Nourishing people and planet together

Over 1200 participants from more than 100 countries gathered for the 2019 SUN Movement Global Gathering, the flagship event of the SUN Movement, at the Hotel Yak & Yeti in Kathmandu, Nepal from 4 to 7 November 2019. The Government of Nepal welcomed members of the SUN Movement, creating a space for SUN countries to share their experiences and insights on how nutrition, and multi-stakeholder partnerships, can accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The theme of the 2019 SUN Movement Global Gathering was “Nourishing People and Planet Together”, acknowledging that globalisation, urbanisation, inequities, humanitarian crises and climate shocks are driving unprecedented negative changes in people’s nutrition around the world. Stemming this requires food systems to deliver nutritious, safe, affordable and sustainable diets for all, within sustainable planetary boundaries. The theme was used to develop a country focused programme which included 4 plenary and 25 workshop sessions. Each of these sessions were developed through country and stakeholder input. The full agenda can be viewed here.

The event brought together SUN Government Focal Points and representatives of their partners from civil society, donor, United Nations agencies, private sector partners, academia, media, parliamentarians and others.

The Kathmandu Declaration

The SUN Global Gathering culminated in the Kathmandu Declaration which was presented on stage during the closing ceremony. The non-binding declaration is an expression of the SUN Movement’s commitment to ending malnutrition in all its forms.

The declaration draws on the key messages and takeaways which were shared by SUN members during the 25 workshops and 4 plenary sessions held across the 4-day event. Recognising that the triple burden of malnutrition – under-nutrition, hidden hunger, overweight and obesity – threatens the survival, growth and development of children, young people, women, economies and nations, the declaration is rally cry for action as SUN Movement members look ahead to the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit.

Framed around the action areas outlined in the SUN Movement Strategy and Roadmap 2016-2020, it is a tool to encourage all member countries and stakeholders to take the energy and inspiration from Kathmandu forward to the Tokyo Summit and beyond into the third phase of the SUN Movement.

In a symbolic gesture, the declaration was handed from the Government of Nepal to Masamichi Saigo, Ambassador of Japan to the Government of Nepal during the closing ceremony.

The Kathmandu Declaration is available in English | French | Spanish | Russian

Visit our SUN Flickr account for more photos of the SUN Global Gathering, including the closing ceremony.