Programming towards Improved Nutrition: Welthungerhilfe's Approach to the Prevention of Malnutrition - In All Its Forms.

Social injustice and poor policy frameworks contribute to hunger and all forms of malnutrition in a variety of ways. With its work in 38 partner countries, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) aims to make a significant contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal target of eradicating hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030. In order to achieve this, WHH has strengthened its strategic approach: "Programming towards Improved Nutrition (PtIN)" is WHH's initiative to improve nutrition among children, women, and men of vulnerable households. PtIN is an integrated, intersectoral system approach which considers the multiple causes of malnutrition and identifies the enabling factors that contribute to reaching food and nutrition security. PtIN consists of four pillars: First, the rights-based approach, which puts the most vulnerable population groups as rights holders into the center of all efforts. Second, a multisectoral approach and thinking in systems supports the better alignment of relevant sectors to work in a more nutrition-sensitive way. A special emphasis is set on the link between humanitarian and development interventions to fight malnutrition and strengthen resilience in a comprehensive approach. Third, a multi-stakeholder approach refers to the fact that only joint measures by all relevant actors concerned can bring about a lasting end to all forms of malnutrition, including overweight and obesity. Fourth, by recognizing malnutrition as a complex problem that needs a complex answer and to understand the bigger picture, context-specific nutrition programming approaches help to capture holistically the magnitude, severity, and the causes of food and nutrition insecurity within a specific community or region of a country. PtIN calls on governments to ensure the appropriate legal framework and supports the empowerment of citizens and civil society organizations in partner countries to participate in the design, implementation, and monitoring of policies and programs. PtIN also especially addresses small and medium private sector actors as important stakeholders in shaping healthy food systems.

The Second International Conference on Nutrition, as Seen by a Member State.

For years now, providing people with food and balanced diets has been a problem unsolved by the world community. Despite numerous initiatives, the great breakthrough has still not happened, not least because the issue is so complex. Hunger and undernourishment must be fought as much as hidden hunger, overweight and obesity. Increasingly, several forms of malnutrition have been occurring simultaneously. The so-called double burden of malnutrition has become the new normal. The follow-up process of the Second International Conference on Nutrition assumes a vital role in that context. The Rome Declaration and the Framework for Action commit the international community, international organizations and civil society to undertake joint efforts across and beyond sectorial policies. Both documents also indicate numerous starting points for actions that consider individual national examples. Germany has been actively engaged at both the national and the international levels. Since its inception in 2008, the National Action Plan 'IN FORM' has taken up a number of suggestions made by the Second International Conference on Nutrition. While IN FORM is further developed, the ideas given in the Framework for Action shall provide a fresh impetus. Within its development cooperation, Germany is increasingly focusing on improving the nutritional situation, such as through its One World, No Hunger initiative. In the follow-up process, all stakeholders, including the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization, will have to offer platforms to promote exchange among all parties involved and to initiate coherent actions that also reach beyond national borders. Only then can the improvement of the nutritional situation really be seen as a truly global challenge. Given the issue's complexity, it is equally important to establish priorities in each case in order for progress not to be thwarted by lengthy decision-making processes. Improving the situation of particularly vulnerable groups, such as young women and small children, shall be as prominent as the support and promotion of diversified agriculture. Building networks among partners is of equal importance for joint action and exchange between stakeholders at the national and international levels to generate added value on the way toward solving the nutrition problem. Science will also have to be more closely involved for that matter and purpose. Research is required to supply scientific evidence for certain measures to be taken, and it assumes a prominent role where political consultation, knowledge management and the implementation of measures are concerned.