80nd <strong>Life</strong> Special Research Grant 2010 Awarded01l For <strong>2011</strong> GrantThe theme for the 2010 <strong>Sight</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Life</strong> Special Research Grantwas “Assessing vitamin A dietary intake <strong>and</strong> status in developingcountries where fortified foods are commercially available.”Seventeen applications were received <strong>and</strong> two groupsof researchers were selected. The first grant was awarded tothe South African Medical Research Council (MRC), underthe aegis of lead researcher Dr Mieke Faber. The research willdetermine the vitamin A intake <strong>and</strong> status of a representativesample of r<strong>and</strong>omly selected South African children agedtwo to five years <strong>and</strong> their caregivers in each of five diversegeographical sites. The second grant was awarded to theUniversity of California, Davis, <strong>and</strong> Helen Keller International,Cameroon, with the lead researcher being Dr Kenneth Brown.The theme of the research is “Vitamin A fortification02N Keeps on RisingSpeakers from the 1,000 Days conference join Mr Shah,USAID administratorof refined cooking oil in Cameroon: Optimization of fortificationlevels using dietary intake data <strong>and</strong> use of biologicalindicators of vitamin A status for program impact evaluation.”We look forward to sharing the results from both researchprograms.The <strong>2011</strong> Special Grant theme will be “Examining theoptimal formulation of micronutrient powders <strong>and</strong> the effectof their use on anemia, micronutrient status, <strong>and</strong> physicalgrowth in malaria endemic settings.”For details on the theme <strong>and</strong> how to apply, visitwww.sight<strong>and</strong>life.orgThe nutrition world is abuzz with activity as, now that boththe Framework <strong>and</strong> the Road Map have been developed, theScaling Up Nutrition (SUN) process moves from its talk phaseto its action phase. The SUN concept has been reinforcedby political interest in nutrition among leaders of nationalgovernments <strong>and</strong> development partners alike – some 14 countrieshave already been enlisted as “Early Risers”. However,there is still much work to be done. In <strong>2011</strong>, the focuswill be on translating the Road Map into actions with a viewto helping countries affected by malnutrition to achieve longtermreduction in undernutrition, realize the first MillenniumDevelopment Goal, <strong>and</strong> start demonstrating this impactwithin three years.The ongoing development of SUN is being led by a TransitionTeam <strong>and</strong> six inter-linked Task Forces, while the overall
SIGHT AND LIFE | VOL. 25 (1) | <strong>2011</strong>WHAT'S NEW81process is chaired by Dr David Nabarro the Special Representativeof the UN Secretary General for Food Security <strong>and</strong> Nutrition.The three principlesguiding the SUN movement are:1. Efforts are led from countries <strong>and</strong> external supportprocesses must add value to this country-led action <strong>and</strong>must be dem<strong>and</strong>-driven;2. Ongoing initiatives to improve nutrition should be linkedtogether for greater coherence, efficiency, <strong>and</strong> impactwherever possible; <strong>and</strong>3. A combination of networks <strong>and</strong> movements are needed toenable a range of stakeholders to work together <strong>and</strong>contribute to lasting results.The Transition Team is made up of <strong>and</strong> working closelywith individuals from the UN’s St<strong>and</strong>ing Committee on Nutrition(SCN) <strong>and</strong> a wide range of organizations that includesthe FAO, UNICEF, WHO, WFP <strong>and</strong> the World Bank, the REACHinitiative, the African <strong>and</strong> European Unions, other regionalbodies, civil society, farmers’ organizations, the research community,private companies, development partners <strong>and</strong> philanthropicfoundations. The Transition Team is focusing onarrangements through which national authorities can request,<strong>and</strong> then access, support for actions to Scale Up Nutrition.The team has begun to consider how best to ensure that supportis responsive to country needs <strong>and</strong> requests, coordinated,of high technical quality <strong>and</strong> effective.Four outcomes are being pursuedby the Transition Team:1. Rapid increase in support for “Early Riser” countries thatseek immediate help with their efforts to Scale Up Nutritionthrough encouraging links between the national authoritiesthat want to get going now <strong>and</strong> those development partnersthat are ready to help them. This support will take stockof existing efforts <strong>and</strong> implementation gaps <strong>and</strong> willfacilitate the development (or strengthening) of nationalmulti-stakeholder nutrition platforms.2. Ensure the development of long-term systems that providesupport to Scaling Up Nutrition in all countries affectedby undernutrition. These systems will enable nationalauthorities to better connect <strong>and</strong> engage with key nutritionstakeholders from both civil society <strong>and</strong> the private sector,in ways that are effective, credible <strong>and</strong> accountable.3. Foster the SUN Movement with effective advocacy <strong>and</strong> leadership.A durable multi-audience advocacy campaign willbe built that encourages the emergence of effective<strong>and</strong> self-sustaining nutrition leadership at community,national, regional <strong>and</strong> global levels. The accomplishmentsof the SUN movement throughout its first three years <strong>and</strong>beyond will be documented <strong>and</strong> communicated, in closecoordination with the 1,000 Days movement.4. Agreement on transparent <strong>and</strong> accountable institutionalarrangements for the SUN effort, once the Transition Teamhas completed its work. This will require analysis of neededfeatures, organizational arrangements, <strong>and</strong> availableoptions. It is intended that countries will be engaged as fullpartners <strong>and</strong> that key stakeholders wishing to contributeto country-led SUN actions will be able to do so. This workis being taken forward in conjunction with efforts toreform the SCN.Each of the six Task Forces is responsiblefor the development of more detailed aspects ofgiving SUN life <strong>and</strong> cover:> Task Force A: Country capability development. Thisfocuses on developing <strong>and</strong> strengthening country capabilitiesfor Scaling Up Nutrition. It includes the provision of supportto multi-stakeholder platforms, the development of managementsystems <strong>and</strong> increased access to knowledge, st<strong>and</strong>ards<strong>and</strong> harmonized policies.> Task Force B: Communication for Scaling Up Nutrition. Thisis responsible for communications <strong>and</strong> advocacy for ScalingUp Nutrition, with the 1,000 Days movement at its core. TheTask Force also encourages the emergence of “Nutrition Leaders”at community, national, regional <strong>and</strong> global levels.> Task Force C: Civil society participation. The focus is on waysto ensure inclusive civil society participation in the SUNprocess, at local, country, regional <strong>and</strong> global levels, ensuringthe rights <strong>and</strong> well-being of those at risk of malnutrition <strong>and</strong>promoting the accountability of decision makers.> Task Force D: Engagement of development partners. Developingways in which development partners, includingbilateral agencies, development banks <strong>and</strong> philanthropic organizations,can be fully engaged in a coordinated response<strong>and</strong> the effort to Scale Up Nutrition <strong>and</strong> can takea leading role in work with national governments.> Task Force E: Engagement of the business community. Workingon ways in which the business community can be betterengaged in the effort to Scale Up Nutrition at all levels inways that have the potential to be sustainable,<strong>and</strong> explore market-based responses at a national level.> Task Force F: Monitoring <strong>and</strong> reporting on in-countryprogress. This focuses on multi-country <strong>and</strong> multi-stakeholderaction to monitor <strong>and</strong> report on progress on Scaling UpNutrition at country level; working with authorities<strong>and</strong> with the other Task Forces identifying the need for moreeffective approaches that could be the subject ofin-depth analysis.
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