Special focus on nutrition-sensitive programming

Field Article
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Member Food Security & Climate Change
Planning Commission, presiding over
meeting for revision of Food Composition
Table and Dietary Guidelines for Pakistan
these new structures has led to Pakistan allocating
funds for identified nutrition-specific and -sensitive
interventions at both national and provincial
levels. Allocation at provincial level is documented
in the provincial ADPs.
2015-16 is the first year that there have been
direct allocations of funds for nutrition-specific
and -sensitive programming. An amount of 100
million PKR has been assigned for nutrition
and SDGs in the PSDP specifically. It is unrestricted
funding (i.e. programmes and activities
are not specified) that is available particularly
for federal areas to implement nutrition and
SDGs-related programming; almost half is specified
for nutrition by the Federal Government.
Provincial allocations are separate from
federal allocations. As outlined earlier, provincial
funding will be used by line ministries to prepare
their PC-1s; indicators and monitoring and
evaluation (M&E) will be part of the project
documents. Provinces are developing their capacities
to implement programmes. e Planning
Commission will have a role in monitoring
progress. Moreover, there are additional nutrition-sensitive
allocations for various relevant
sectors too. We are hopeful that these allocations
will be fully utilised, as there is knowledge and
capacity for implementation both within the
government sector and with support available
through development partners. As the above
data shows, there has been an overall increase
in funding for nutrition-sensitive programming,
with stakeholders endeavouring to coordinate
efforts for its effective utilisation.
developments, with some having an approved
strategy and others in the process of formulating
and finalising these.
Since provincial devolution has taken place
in Pakistan, the National SUN Focal Point has,
with the consensus of stakeholders and partners,
appointed provincial SUN Focal Points for
leading provincial efforts to scale up nutrition.
Since devolution, every province is autonomous
in planning and setting its priorities. e SUN
Secretariat, through its nominated persons in
the provincial SUN Units, has advocated for increased
allocation of funding and tries to harmonise
the work of provinces, yet the provinces
are autonomous and, as such, have their variability.
e plans before the SUN Secretariat
are made available at the national level once
they have been finalised and approved. Moreover,
since the SUN Secretariat was established, there
is regular liaison between the provinces and
federal level. is has ultimately led to increased
provincial spending on nutrition-specific and -
sensitive programming.
Nutrition is a multi-sectoral challenge and
efforts have been made to involve all relevant
sectors in the process of scaling up nutrition.
At national level, the Ministry of Health Services
Regulation and Coordination and the Ministry
of National Food Security and Research have
been regular members of the Core Group meetings.
Other ministries, such as Social Support
and Education, are increasingly involved in coordination
meetings in order to effect a more
multi-sectoral approach to tackling the issue of
malnutrition. Provincial policy guidance notes
and inter-sectoral strategies include relevant
nutrition indicators. e aim is to plan multisectorally
but to implement sectorally and then
evaluate multi-sectorally. It is too early to say if
and how this multisector approach is working.
Conclusion and
recommendations
Pakistan has made significant strides towards
scaling up nutrition, from generating greater
political will to establishing effective coordination
mechanisms with all key stakeholders. However,
there is some distance to go to achieve the
targets set forth in the Pakistan Vision 2025
and international targets for nutrition e.g. World
Health Assembly targets, 2nd International Conference
on Nutrition, etc.
We have come to understand that the process
is slow and requires patience and teamwork
from all stakeholders. Effective programming
and implementation, both at national and provincial
levels, are essential to achieve the targets.
An inclusive approach is key, as is the ability to
think ‘outside the box’. Nutrition-sensitive programming
is a new concept that is being fostered
and early signs are that stakeholders are embracing
it. However, continued advocacy, monitoring
and evaluation are required to ensure
that these efforts are productive.
e following are the priorities for Pakistan’s
efforts to scale up nutrition programming:
• Ensure that all the sectors are involved in
the SUN process;
• Have a National Nutrition Policy and
Action Plan in place;
• Effectively monitor and evaluate the
programmes and interventions that are
implemented under the Action Plan;
• Maintain the current level of political
interest in nutrition at the highest possible
level;
• Continue budgetary allocations analysis
and inclusion of non-public sector financing
in this analysis; and
• Monitor utilisation of budgets as an
overarching indicator of success.
For more information, email Mr. Aslam Shaheen:
aslamshaheen_60@hotmail.com or
Dr. Ali Ahmad Khan: sunsecretariat@gmail.com
Elements of success
Since joining the SUN Movement, the SUN
Focal Point, under the stewardship of a senior
Government official in the Ministry of Planning
Development & Reform, has worked with partners
to develop a clear path for improving nutrition
in the country. UN and donor agencies
were well coordinated in their efforts prior to
Pakistan joining the SUN Movement, but the
Movement has enabled better coordination,
planning and implementation among the civil
society organisations (CSO) and business communities.
e CSO, business, academia and research
networks are structured to have a general
body, executive council, secretariat and advisory Participants in National SUN Self Assessment
committee. ese networks are relatively recent Workshop 2015 on 25th May 2015 in Islamabad
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