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Unlocking the Potential of Civil Society
Chronic malnutrition still remains a fundamental threat to the sustainable economic development of Zambia. The government recognizes the importance of investing in nutrition as an integral part of national economic development and thus was among the first countries to participate in the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement in early 2011. This has given Zambia a solid foundation to advance the nutrition agenda throughout the country.
February 1, 2014 - Last update: February 10, 2023
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Civil society in Zambia is well-organised and actively involved in multi-stakeholder activities.
William Chilufya, Country Coordinator, SUN Civil Society Network and Marjolein Mwanamwenge, Nutrition coordinator, Concern Worldwide provide insight about what has happened and the challenges faced… [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_separator type=”transparent”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column]
[vc_column_text custom_options=””]“Civil society has a vital role in tackling under-nutrition. Local and international organizations can mobilize additional resources, develop and share innovative models and effective approaches to be scaled up by others, and influence policy makers, parliamentarians or the media in ways that government nutrition champions do not always have the freedom to do”
Jay Goulden,
Assistant Country Director, CARE Zambia
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_separator type=”transparent”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text custom_options=””]Chronic malnutrition still remains a fundamental threat to the sustainable economic development of Zambia. The government recognizes the importance of investing in nutrition as an integral part of national economic development and thus was among the first countries to participate in the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement in early 2011. This has given Zambia a solid foundation to advance the nutrition agenda throughout the country. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_separator type=”transparent”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text custom_options=””]The Government of Zambia has encouraged a multisectoral response to the problem of malnutrition by establishing a governance framework coordinated by the National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC). As a result a National Food and Nutrition MultiStakeholder Committee or platform (MSP) has been in existence since 2011. This platform comprises senior officials from implementing agencies from various institutions including the key line ministries (health; agriculture & livestock; education, technology & science vocational training, early education; community development, mother & child health; and local government & housing), bilateral agencies, United Nations system agencies and civil society organisations.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_separator type=”transparent”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text custom_options=””]The private sector, academia and research institutions and parliamentarians, however, have not actively been involved in the MSP.
The MSP has defined terms of reference and meets bi-annually. The permanent secretaries from the five key line ministries chair the meetings on a rotational basis whilst the NFNC is the secretariat.
The main tasks of the MSP are to:
- analyze resource utilization by the respective sectors
- build consensus on priority actions for annual work plans from various stakeholders
- review and recommend actions for capacity building for the implementing agencies
- provide guidance to the national steering committee and provide feedback to the provincial MSPs.
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Reaching the districts
At provincial and district levels, MSPs, called Nutrition Coordinating Committees, have been established. These support implementation of the First 1000 Most Critical Days Programme, which was launched by the Vice President of Zambia in April 2013. Provincial and district-level MSPs have not yet been formally endorsed by the government though their terms of references have been clearly defined. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_separator type=”transparent”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text custom_options=””]
Collaborative efforts with civil society
Civil society is playing an important role in bringing different stakeholders to work together to improve nutrition in Zambia. The SUN civil society alliance for Zambia (CSO-SUN-Zambia) has been very active over the last six months organizing joint events to heighten awareness about nutrition.
In May 2013, CSO-SUN-Zambia held a nutrition champions meeting with Members of Parliament to increase political commitment to address malnutrition. In June 2013, a ‘Nutrition for Development Concert’ was organized by CSO-SUN-Zambia involving as many as 1,000 people from the community. In August 2013, together with the government (NFNC), CSO-SUN-Zambia took part in a radio panel to highlight the importance of breastfeeding and ensuring that the environment is right to be able to support breastfeeding.
In December 2013, the CSO-SUN-Zambia held an awards event for nutrition champions to recognize the Vice President, the First Lady, five parliamentarians, and the media for their contribution to nutrition progress in Zambia. The Minister of Health was invited to participate as the event’s guest of honour.
Members of the business community including banks and food manufacturers (with the hope to further engage them on nutrition issues) were invited to attend the event as well as civil society organisations, media houses and donors. Following the event, the Vice President has agreed to meet with CSO-SUN-Zambia to discuss ways in which he can champion nutrition as a central goal for the post-2015 development agenda.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_separator type=”transparent”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column]
Building stronger district level collaboration
The RAIN (Re-aligning Agriculture to Improve Nutrition) project is a collaborative effort between civil society (Concern Worldwide) and academia (IFPRI) together with the Mumbwa Child Development Agency (a local community-based organisation), and Zambian government (Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and Ministry of Health). The project aims to reduce the prevalence of stunting in children through integrated agriculture, health and nutrition interventions during the critical period from pregnancy up to two years of age. As part of the project, Concern Worldwide facilitated the formation of the District Nutrition Coordinating Committee in Mumbwa District, Central Province. The purpose was to bridge the inter-sectoral gap and engage different partners at district level to support implementation across sectors. Early lessons demonstrate that it is crucial for the success of the MSP to rely on formalized sector commitments. Furthermore, the different roles of partners in creating sector synergies require the involvement of the district leadership to provide direction.
Source: Concern Worldwide (2013) District Nutrition Coordination Committee - establishment challenges and recommendations paper
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Achievements and challenges
The MSP has been instrumental in bringing together partners across sectors to support Zambia’s First 1000 Most Critical Days Programme. It has provided a common platform for harmonization, resource mobilization and multi-sector synergies for effective nutrition response. There is still a long way to go, however, in ensuring effective stakeholder coordination in the sector.
The main challenges are:
- weak private sector engagement in driving the nutrition agenda forward
- poor linkages between platforms in coordination and leveraging resources for nutrition response
- unclear mechanisms on how the various platforms can feed into the MSP to influence government thinking, renewed commitments and resource mobilization for nutrition response
- the limited role of parliamentarians in enhancing nutrition actions with a view to promoting legislation conducive to improved nutrition
- although traditional leaders play a critical role as gate keepers to the uptake and support of nutrition interventions by the community, no deliberate strategies exist to ensure active participation in community
mobilisation.
An MSP that is participatory, inclusive, transparent, mutually responsible and accountable, and builds ownership from all stakeholders both state and non-state actors will be core to addressing key challenges at the country-level in Zambia like ensuring nutrition becomes a priority for everyone and effective rolling out of the 1000 Most Critical Days Programme to district level reaching every household.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_separator type=”transparent”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column]
Key Lessons
- Setting up de-centralized MSPs for nutrition in the form at departmental, municipal and community levels,
positions the issue of food and nutrition security at all levels of decision-making (political, technical and operational). - When there are clear objectives and thematic actions agreed between government institutions and other stakeholders, there is greater commitment to accompany and support planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
- When MSPs are enshrined within a legal frameworkx they are institutionalized and can establish processes which have greater consistency and sustainability.
- When local government and communities are actively involved in MSPs, it leads to greater participation in planning. This involvement means that actions are more easily monitored and and sustained.
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