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Session Highlights:
- An underlying narrative of this session was that nutrition needs to be part of the COVID-19 response. The pandemic crisis is already discriminating against people living in poverty as well as women and girls because malnutrition is one of the largest contributors to a weakened immune system.
- Cross-sector partnerships were discussed as a key catalyst to improving nutrition. Panelists raised questions around how to better engage with the private sector who have the biggest chance of influencing food systems and consumer behavior change.
- Speakers highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships and advocacy for policy change as governments have a major stake in nutrition. “If you get nutrition right your dollars go further on all other social issues.” – Martin Short
Session Description:
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By the time a child turns three, his or her brain has grown to 80% of its adult size. The lived experience of a child during the first 1,000 days of life, from conception to their second birthday, presents both tremendous potential and immense vulnerability, contributing to lead-on consequences that are felt into adulthood. Worldwide, an estimated USD 3.9 billion is spent annually on supporting solutions to combat malnutrition among women and children, a far cry from what is needed to meet global standards, estimated to require an additional USD 6.9 billion per year until 2025. One thing is certain, now, more than ever, the need for funders who are both responsive and cognisant of the intersectionalities and far-reaching impacts of nutrition in crises is becoming increasingly apparent. In this session, hear from funders who have engaged innovative solutions expressing a commitment to i) taking a novel approach to engaging the communities within which they work; ii) taking advantage of multi-stakeholder partnerships to scale impact, and; iii) ensuring the sustainability of the programme.
Key Takeaways:
- Explore the potential for integrating nutrition outcomes into existing strategies in climate, gender, and WASH
- Lean more about ways to leverage public and private partnerships to scale impact in nutrition
- Understand the importance of developing solutions that are cognisant of both short-term and long-term outcomes and impact
