Strategic Workshop on UN Contributions to Nutrition

UN Network for SUN (country XX)Date/location/venue

2

Workshop Objectives

1. Review and take stock of current UN nutrition contributions, UN comparative advantage in nutrition and gaps in supporting nutrition programming, in line with the national nutrition plan (add name).

2. Define a UN vision for nutrition and key priorities.

3. Define clearly the roles of UN agencies in supporting government nutrition agenda, including nutrition governance.

4. Determine how the UN Network for SUN will track its performance and ensure accountability for its work on nutrition moving forward.

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Desired Results

Shared understanding of the UN’s current contributions to nutrition, national policy/plan on nutrition and nutrition results in the UNDAF (or equivalent)

Validation by participants of UN Nutrition Inventory results; used to support workshop discussions

Agreement on key elements of a UN Nutrition Strategy/Agenda and key issues/questions for further elaboration

Agreement on forward roles and responsibilities across UN agencies for supporting government nutrition agenda, including nutrition governance

Agreement on the key indicators and process, by which the UN Network for SUN will measure its success

Agreement on next steps to move forward on deliverables

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Agenda

Wrap-up

UN Priorities

Articulating Nutrition in next

UNDAF

Opening & Strategic Context

UN Contributions: Inventory Results

UN Comparative Advantage

8.30 START 17.00 FINISH

LUNCH (13.30-14.30)

DAY 1

5

Agenda

Next steps/closure

Key Messages for Debrief

Roles & Responsibilities

Day one recap

Articulating Nutrition in Next UNDAF (cont.)

Accountability: Measuring Success

8.30 START 17.00 FINISH

LUNCH (13.00-14.00)

DAY 2

6

Review of Strategic Context

• Key insights of Mid-term Review/Evaluation of National Nutrition Plan (edit as appropriate and add names as applicable)

• Key insights from UNDAF Review/Evaluation & UNDAF Process Moving Forward (UNDAF or equivalent; edit as appropriate)

• Institutional arrangements for Nutrition Coordination in country• UN Network for SUN at country level• UN Global Nutrition Agenda

7

Key Insights of Mid-term Review/Evaluation of National Nutrition Plan

• Edit name of policy/plan as applicable; specify whether mid-term review, final evaluation or other and date conducted

• Add key insights and main recommendations as applicable

8

Key insights from UNDAF (or equivalent) Review/Evaluation

• Specify whether mid-term review, final evaluation or other and date conducted• Add key insights and main recommendations as applicable

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2017-2020 UNDAF Process (illustrative)

MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 2015

Country Analysis Strategic Planning Monitoring & Evaluation

Final UNDAF

2017 - 2020

Formulation of Country Programmes(UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP, UN Women)

SEPT 2016

• Gap Analysis• Comparative

Advantages Paper

• Prioritization Workshop

• Consultations• Validation

Meeting

UNDAF Evaluation

• Results Matrix• M&E Plan,

Annual Review, Evaluation

Transition from MDGs to SDGs

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Institutional arrangements for nutrition coordination

• Insert information on current institutional arrangements for nutrition coordination as appropriate

• Consider strengths, challenges, any recent or upcoming changes with regard to roles, mandates, leadership…

• Articulate UN support to nutrition coordination/institutions with mandates to coordinate nutrition as applicable

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UN Network for SUN Role

• Setting a collective vision, strategy and targets for nutrition (globally and at country level)

• Coherently, collaboratively and transparently contributing to national nutrition strategies and programmes, alongside global and regional initiatives

• Thinking through how we are going to manage our resources in a coordinated manner and not dilute our efforts

• Managing attribution as we work towards responding as one

• Working with non traditional partners and moving beyond traditional development modes

The UN is asking the question:

Are we “Fit for Purpose”?

For the UN Network for SUN, this involves tough challenges and decisions, if we are to

respond as one UN system, rather than as

individual UN agencies.

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National Government Requests

Programme Planning &

Delivery

Policy / Technical

Advice

Coordination Monitoring & Evaluation

Joint Advocacy & Resource Mobilization

Countries want a coordinated UN support on nutrition, which transcends agency mandates, and that speaks as one and moves in tandem with government.

Source: UN Network Face-to-Face Meeting

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UN needs to change how it works together (review by SUN Secretariat & SUN ICE)

1. The UN system in each country has clear and agreed objectives on nutrition that align behind national strategies and plans.

2. UN system coordination mechanisms function in all countries: these include all UN entities and aim to deliver efficient, effective and responsive support.

3. Individual agencies’ nutrition planning, programming and resource mobilisation are not pursued: instead agencies adopt joint approaches in support of national priorities.

4. The UN system network for nutrition should behave as a single reflection of the UN system that brings together all UN agencies, funds and programmes with an interest in nutrition.

5. Staff of UN system agencies should at all times reflect the commitments of their Heads of agencies in providing clear and consistent guidance to all levels of their organisations in support of a more coordinated approach.

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Key Questions – Strategic Context

TBD

What does the current strategic context suggest in terms of:

• Where UN contributions are needed most?

• The biggest opportunities for the UN to accelerate progress on nutrition?

15

Additional Questions - Strategic Context (illustrative)

National Nutrition Plan Review

• Which of the recommendations is the UN best positioned to support and will drive maximum forward progress on nutrition?

UNDAFReview

• What needs to change if the UN is to respond to the UNDAF review insights related to nutrition?

• What nutrition outcomes should be embedded in the next UNDAF?

GovernmentInstitutional

Arrangements

• How can the UN priorities for nutrition best respond to nutrition coordination institutional arrangements?

• What are the implications for UN advocacy efforts?

• What is the role of UN-nutrition agencies, in supporting nutrition coordination efforts in country?

• How can the UN ensure the government maintains sufficient focus on nutrition coordination?

UN Network for SUN

• How can the UN network on nutrition become more inclusive, relevant, efficient and effective in accelerating progress on nutrition?

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UN Contributions to Nutrition: Presentation of Results of Inventory

Exercise

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Comparative Advantage of UN in NutritionCountry XX

What is Comparative Advantage?

Economic concept by origin - specialize in what you can produce more efficiently*- there are gains in trading with others who have different comparative advantages to you

Two types of comparative advantage: STATIC – characteristics that are historical and/or structural &DYNAMIC – characteristics that have been developed or adopted through policy, action, competency acquisition, innovation, etc.

The Concept In This Context

Activities/areas of work, in which a particular organization (or system of organizations) can perform better than others OR has a special capacity to act

Must be relative to the goal / end objectives under pursuit – in this case, improving nutrition

Each individual UN agency’s comparative advantage, vis-à-vis nutrition, is likely complementary to the others

Collectively, the UN system comparative advantage vis-à-vis nutrition should be more than the sum of the parts – it should equate to a more holistic value-added

*That is, at a lower relative opportunity cost.

Exercise – UN Comparative Advantage in Nutrition

15 minsPart 1: Rapid Brainstorm & Exchange

• Take a five minutes to write down your initial ideas on:(a) what you believe your UN agency’s greatest comparative advantage is in relation to nutrition(b) what you perceive to be the greatest comparative advantage of one other UN agency in the room in relation to nutrition(c) The top three capacities/characteristics, of the UN system as a whole, that define the UN’s comparative advantage to contribute to addressing nutrition issues in country XX

• Share your ideas with the person sitting next to you and discuss

15 mins

Part 2: Describing the UN’s collective Comparative Advantage

Review the draft description of the UN’s comparative advantage in contributing to nutrition in country XX with your partner:

• Does this capture, at a generic level, the strongest comparative advantages vis-à-vis nutrition that your UN agencies offer? If not, what’s missing / needs to change?

• Does this accurately reflect the combined value-add that is currently offered (or could be offered) by UN system actors present in country, working on nutrition? If not, what is missing / needs to change?

• Be prepared to share your insights in open plenary

Exercise – UN Comparative Advantage in Nutrition

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Comparative Advantage in Nutrition – UN as a Whole

Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Expertise

Highly specialized expertise in nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive areas that can respond to country nutrition situation / needs.

UN is by nature multi-sectoral and has working relations with all line ministries

Policy, Strategy and Programme

Design Capacities

Ability to take emerging evidence from science and apply it to policy and strategy development and concrete actions on the ground (programme design)

Ability to document experiences and share knowledge in a short time frame.

Implementation Capacity & Reach

In country reach / field presence and flexibility to adjust response, as country nutrition situation and priorities change.

UN has a proven track record of taking collective action for impact (HIV/AIDS, Guinea worm eradication, emergency response, others…)

Advocacy & Fundraising Credibility

Strong capacity to advocate for nutrition – UN has the confidence of governments and credibility with other key stakeholders

UN can mobilize resources and raise awareness of nutrition programming and funding gaps – UN has confidence of investors

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Articulating nutrition results in the next UNDAF (or equivalent):

Immediate and Strategic Priorities

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Vision vs. Strategy vs. Tactical Planning

Vision

Strategy

Tactical Planning (Immediate Priorities)

• Aspirational vision of the future state we want to achieve• Articulates the impact the UN aims to have on nutrition in

country XX by 2025

• What we are going to do to achieve the vision (medium term, i.e. next UNDAF / 4 years)

• Major courses of action, areas of focus, or changes we are best positioned to stimulate

• Communicates the collective UN role and value-add – where the UN wants to focus its efforts on nutrition

• The how and when of strategy implementation• Identification of specific outputs, activities and

target timelines required to realize the strategy

• To accelerate the reduction of chronic malnutrition in children under 5 years of age from XX% in 2008 to XX% in 2015 and XX% in 2020, contributing to the reduction of infant morbidity- mortality and ensuring the development of a healthy and active society.

• A society free from hunger, with a human capital that is healthy and active

Vision of the National Nutrition Plan*

Vision of the National FSN Policy*

* for illustrative purposes only; adapt as appropriate

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UN Vision on Nutrition for Country XX (for discussion)

• Prior to workshop develop and include here a draft UN vision on nutrition for discussion based on outcomes of one on one interviews conducted with UN nutrition focal points and senior UN agency representatives and taking into consideration government vision/national goals for nutrition

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Key Questions – UN Vision for Country XX

TBD

• Is the draft UN vision on nutrition compelling and appropriate, based on:

• the nutrition situation in country; and

• how the UN – collectively - is best positioned to contribute?

• If not, what needs to change?

20 mins

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UN Nutrition Outcomes for Country XX (for discussion)

• Prior to workshop develop and include here 4-5 draft nutrition outcomes for discussion based on outcomes of one on one interviews conducted with UN nutrition focal points and senior UN agency representatives and taking into consideration national nutrition priorities

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Key Questions – Nutrition in UNDAF Country XX

TBD

• What are the most important nutrition outcomes that the UN should be targeting in each pillar of the next UNDAF? And why?

• Which of the pillars of the UNDAF should these outcomes be embedded under - Social? Economic? Governance?

40 mins

Exercise – Immediate Priorities

45 mins

15 mins

Reflecting on the insights gained from the inventory analysis and any discussions/work planning to date on UN priorities :

1. Brainstorm up to 8 outputs/results the UN could collaboratively deliver on, in the next 12-18 months, that would accelerate progress towards the UN vision and target outcomes on nutrition. (NOTE: Write one output/result per post-it note)

2. Plot your outputs on the matrix provided according to their relative (a) impact on nutrition outcomes; and (b) ease of implementation

Ensure one group member is prepared to share your results in open plenary.

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Relative Assessment of Priority Outputs/Results

Expected Impact on Nutrition if Output/Result Is Fully Achieved

Ease of Implementing Output/Result

Easier Harder

Less

More

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Outputs

• Following group work, there should still be 30 – 40 minutes remaining for the discussion in plenary to hear from each group and try to build to consensus on the top 5 or 6 outputs/results the group want to commit to

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Tips When Developing Proposed Outputs / Results

Articulate UN system outputs/results – outputs / results that require the collaborative action of more than one UN agency to achieve

Consider not just WHAT needs to improve but also HOW the UN can work more efficiently and effectively to deliver the outputs/results

Ensure your outputs/results are in the most relevant areas, where the UN can have the most impact on nutrition - given the strategic context, UN comparative advantages and in-country nutrition situation

Ensure the outputs/results you articulate can be sustainable, post UN contribution

Groups

Group A Group B

• names • names

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Accountability: Measuring Success

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What could success look like? (illustrative; develop based on interview results)

Common vision and strategy guiding UN contributions to nutrition

UN working as a system - joint resource mobilization; coordinated programming actions; optimal delivery platforms, harmonized communication & advocacy efforts

Collective ownership and accountability with continuous improvement processes in place

Improvement in UN nutrition process and outcome indicators

UN System (Direct) Government (Indirect)

Decision makers aware of impact of malnutrition on human capital

Self coordination in government, without technical assistance

Appropriate allocation of resources to address malnutrition

Planning and implementation capacity at sub-national level strong

• UNDAF includes nutrition at outcome level, in each pillar, with nutrition sub-group in social pillar• Donors engaged and committed to partnering to improve nutrition• Non-governmental stakeholders actively involved • Stunting prevalence and absolute numbers of stunted children declining

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Stimulating Learning & Accountability

• Include key recommendations/results from the one on one interviews on how the UN network can improve learning, M&E, reporting and overall accountability

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Roles and Responsibilities on supporting government nutrition

agenda, including nutrition governance

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Key messages for debrief RC and UN Agency Representatives

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Next Steps