SCALING UP NUTRITION PHASE II NEWSLETTER In this edition SUN II UPDATES Key developments in the last 12 months FIELD VISIT IN FOCUS Highlights of trip to Mongu and Kalabo districts in Western Province ELSEWHERE IN SUN Updates from SUN TA and GIZ FANSER First Edition 2020 Implemented by: Government of the Republic of Zambia 2 SUN II Newsletter • First Edition 2020 Welcome remarks Acting NFNC Executive Director – Mr Musonda J. Mofu elcome to the first edition of the Scaling Up the multisectoral District Nutrition Coordination Nutrition Phase II (SUN II) Newsletter! We Committees, which are a critical part of the Ware happy that we now have this platform coordination structure in the 17 SUN II districts. for sharing what is happening in the UN (UNICEF, Despite the pandemic, SUN II has conducted WHO, WFP, FAO) supported initiative, supporting the mapping and gap analysis at district level, followed 1,000 Most Critical Days programme, and generously by the development of one-year costed district funded by the European Union and the governments plans. All districts have used the same planning tools of the Federal Republic of Germany, Ireland, Sweden to standardize and harmonize planning. and the UK. We are also delighted that this Newsletter provides updates on SUN TA and GIZ Fanser as we There are several differences between SUN phase I work in harmony towards a common goal – reducing and SUN II. These include enhanced implementation stunting in Zambia. NFNC is the national body strategies that promote comprehensive high impact coordinating the Scaling up Nutrition Programme nutrition interventions, converging on the 1,000 Days as part of our mandate of coordination and as Households, supported by a strong social behaviour the advisory wing of the government on matters change communication strategy. The programme pertaining to food and nutrition. has also included support to adolescent girls (10-19 years). In the past few months, I have been able to witness how all the stakeholders are committed to the SUN Phase 1 proved to be a great learning ground programme – this is despite the COVID-19 pandemic for all of us and has made it possible for us to which has engulfed the world. Amid the pandemic, come up with SUN II, which we hope will result NFNC and the ministries have been working to put in further reduction in stunting in the country. I things in place that will facilitate implementation want to commend all the stakeholders and all our of the programme, including the recruitment of cooperating partners for this great initiative. technical staff such as a Nutritionist, Capacity Building We look forward to the improvement in nutrition Officer, M&E Officer, Advocacy and Social Behaviour indicators as we move forward together! Change Communication Officer and District Nutrition Coordinators. The District Nutrition Support Coordinators support the District Commissioner’s office to convene J.MOFU About SUN II Scaling Up Nutrition Phase II (SUN II) is a four-year programme (2019-2023) supported by the United Nations (UNICEF, WHO, WFP, FAO) and funded by the European Union (EU), the Federal Republic of Germany through the KfW Development Bank, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and UK aid from the British people. Lead UN agency UNICEF works in support of the government line ministries and the National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC), as well as with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). SUN II delivers a multi-sectoral package of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, adopting coordinated approaches for service delivery to achieve impact on stunting by focusing on households with adolescent girls, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, children under 2 years of age, and women of reproductive age. SUN II aims to reduce stunting in children under two by 7 per cent by focusing on these ‘1,000 Days Households.’ Zambia joined the SUN movement in 2010 and in 2013 launched the first 1,000 Most Critical Days Programme (MCDP I) as its blueprint for reducing stunting. The first phase of the SUN-supported MCDP I was from 2013-2017, with an interim period 2018-2019. SUN II Newsletter • First Edition 2020 3 UNICEF, USAID, GIZ and SNV A Harmonized Approach in Support of Scaling-Up Nutrition ased on an understanding of the determinants of malnutrition in Zambia and guided by discussions with NFNC and relevant government line ministries, SUN II has targeted 17 districts with a core package of Bhigh-impact nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions. The 17 districts being supported by UNICEF are Chipata, Lundazi, Chiengi, Chinsali, Isoka, Mpika, Chongwe, Lusaka, Mwinilunga, Solwezi, Zambezi, Choma, Monze, Kalabo, Kaoma, Mongu and Shangombo districts. Under MCDP Phase II, the Government of Zambia (GRZ is building on national momentum around stunting reduction in 37 high priority districts, 17 of which will be administered by the United Nations. Of the 37 focus districts, 13 are supported through USAID under the Scaling Up Nutrition Technical Assistance (SUN TA) programme; four by the German government through GIZ’s Food and Nutrition Security, Enhanced Resilience (FANSER) programme; 17 by UNICEF in support of MCDP II with technical assistance from FAO, WHO and WFP; and six (three overlapping) by SNV under the FCDO- supported Scaling Sustainable Nutrition for All (SN4A) programme. Implementation principles are based on equity, impact and value for money; the learning and evaluation components will be supported by the USAID-funded SUN Learning & Evaluation (L&E) programme. UN District Project Area USAID District Project Area GIZ District Project Area SNV District Project Area SUN Phase II will ensure coherence with initiatives supported by other donors and cooperating partners for expanded coverage and stronger outcomes. Specifically, SUN Phase II will coordinate with USAID’s SUN TA and SUN LE, SNV’s Scaling SN4A, and GIZ’s FANSER to harmonize approaches, tools and resources for planning, implementation, management and monitoring of MCDP II activities funded under SUN across the initial 37 districts. A “rooftop” agreement was developed to guide collaboration between UNICEF, USAID, SNV and GIZ SUN activities. Parties to the roof-top agreement will meet regularly to review collective efforts and prioritize actions. 4 SUN II Newsletter • First Edition 2020 SUN II Aims to Achieve Four Key Results by 2023 Sustained practice of optimal nutrition behaviours amongst adolescents, pregnant women, mothers and caregivers of children under two Sustained demand for and use of agriculture, health and WASH interventions for adolescents, pregnant women, mothers and caregivers of children under two and communities Quality nutrition information is used by communities, government and partners for evidence- based decisions, action and advocacy. Sustained commitment by government and partners for accountable nutrition governance Lessons learned from the first phase Promising results were achieved during MCDP I/SUN Phase I in terms of improving the knowledge and practices related to dietary intake, breastfeeding practices and consumption of nutrient-rich food. Reduction in the prevalence of diarrhoea was also evident. However, there were several lessons learned that SUN II will have to address in order to achieve the desired impact in stunting reduction. Drawing from these lessons, the following principles will be applied in the next steps: 1. Stronger vertical coordination for more responsive nutrition interventions: Under SUN II, greater effort will be focused on engaging districts, wards and communities in planning, implementation and monitoring nutrition interventions. 2. Increased exposure of households to multiple nutrition interventions: Though stunting reduction requires improvements across multiple sectors, including agriculture, WASH, health, nutrition and women’s empowerment, only a small percentage of MCDP I households benefitted from interventions across all sectors. SUN II emphasizes greater convergence of multiple nutrition-sensitive and nutrition- specific interventions, which requires more systematic targeting of households with pregnant and lactating women and children under two – and reaching these households with multiple interventions. 3. Build on successful social and behaviour change strategies: By working through community platforms such as Care Groups, health centres, schools and communities, MCDP I achieved positive changes in breastfeeding practices, nutrition and health knowledge, WASH behaviours and agricultural practice to enhance consumption of diversified food. SUN II builds on these successes by employing a coordinated social and behaviour change communication campaign, informed by formative research conducted by UNICEF in 2019 and drawing from relevant formative research conducted by UN agencies and donor- funded programmes. The campaign will expand communication avenues through religious, traditional and community leaders. 4. Strengthen management systems to facilitate service delivery: Weak financial management and inefficient financial flows from national to sub-national levels created bottlenecks around the ability to harmonize service delivery across line ministries under MCDP I. SUN II activities will build the programme and financial management capacity of DNCCs and line ministries to develop accurate budgets aligned to work plans through needs-based on-site coaching and mentorship, with support from NGOs. SUN II Newsletter • First Edition 2020 5 How SUN Phase II