Comoros
Joined Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement:
December 2013National multi-stakeholder platform for nutrition:
The mechanism for multisectoral coordination is currently unofficialCountry nutrition status
- Yes
- In process
- No
- Costed
- M&E framework
National multi-stakeholder platform (MSP)
National nutrition plan
Advocacy and communications framework/plan
Subnational nutrition coordination mechanism
SUN networks in-country presence
Finance for nutrition
Country priorities 2022
- Establishing and launching the Multisectoral Committee for Food and Nutrition by the start of 2022.
- Organizing a National Nutrition Day.
- Evaluating and updating the National Nutrition Policy Multisectoral Action Plan 2019–2021.
- Mapping nutrition stakeholders.
Progress towards SUN 3.0 Strategic Objectives (SO)
Comoros is on track to achieve its goals. Some technical documents have been prepared and initial training has been carried out. Policy and strategy documents, such as the National Food and Nutrition Policy and the Community Communication Strategy for Nutrition, are in development. The National Nutrition Policy Multisectoral Action Plan 2019–2021 has been budgeted and has 60 per cent of required funding in place. The plan will be evaluated and updated in 2022. Comoros has also committed to improving the nutrition environment through advocacy documents (Comoros Emergency Plan) and technical documents (Protocol for the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition and dietary guidelines).
There were four major developments in 2021: the creation of a national protocol for treating malnutrition; the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit; the United Nations Food Systems Summit; and the translation of the dietary guidelines. High-level commitments for 2022 were also made at the N4G Summit, and agricultural activities that contribute to nutrition were strengthened through the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Some activities in the multisectoral action plan do not have secured funding. In 2022, the mapping of nutrition stakeholders will be prioritized to address the lack of coordination among key stakeholders.
Support from the SUN Movement through the Technical Assistance to Strengthen Capabilities (TASC) project helped improve the evaluation of the multisectoral action plan. Emphasis was also placed on capacity-building for providers in maternal nutrition and on supplying facilities with iron and folic acid, which pregnant women received at antenatal consultations. Anthropometric measuring equipment and supplies have been purchased and are ready to be distributed at the local level. A media event on breastfeeding (Breastfeeding Week) was also organized with support from the United Nations and the African Union Development Agency New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD).
Although a coordination mechanism exists that enables key nutrition stakeholders to be brought together as required, it is unofficial and operates at the request of the nutrition team. Efforts must be made to strengthen the institutional framework for nutrition. The Government covers staff salaries and is helping to establish a nutrition unit within the Department of Family Health. Annual meetings are held with stakeholders and provide an opportunity to review the progress achieved. As the multisectoral platform is unofficial, expenditure is tracked through financial and activity reports that are shared with the Government and partners.
2021 shared country good practice
Monitoring global acute malnutrition during a crisis
COVID-19 and nutrition
In response to COVID-19, a novel approach was introduced in 2020 to monitor children with acute malnutrition at home, using mobile phones and the KoBoToolbox toolkit. Mothers and caregivers were trained to measure children’s mid-upper arm circumference.