Partnership to support scaling up of nutrition in Cote d’Ivoire

Partnership to support scaling up of nutrition in Cote d’Ivoire

“Nutrition is not just a health and social development issue; nutrition is an investment that shapes economic growth for all African nations” – President Akinwumi Adesina in Lusaka, Zambia.

he African Development Bank’s Human Development Department (OSHD), hosted a meeting of Technical and Financial Partners (PTFs) supporting nutrition in Côte d’Ivoire. The Bank is the group’s co-chair together with UNICEF. 

The event presented an opportunity to welcome Gerda Verburg, the newly appointed Assistant Secretary General Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) network, of which AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina is a high-level champion. The partners included UNICEF, World Food Programme, Agence Française de Développement, European Union, World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Helen Keller Foundation, Action Contre la Faim (ACF), and MAP International.
 
Sunita Pitamber, AfDB’s Acting Human Development Director, welcomed Verburg in her new role, commending Côte d’Ivoire for providing a high level of leadership and political will in promoting better nutrition.

The country recently approved its national strategy on nutrition, which was developed through an intensive consultation process. The Government invited all partners and stakeholders to a roundtable meeting to discuss financing of the National Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Plan.

Pitamber urged the partners to take advantage of the political leadership, and demonstrate alignment with country’s priorities around nutrition. The partners discussed the need for positive dialogue with the government. This will allow the SUN network to lobby for support in financing the nutrition plan through government’s financial commitments to ensure sustainability.

The importance of engaging the private sector emerged as key, so did strong data collection using an all-inclusive integrated monitoring and evaluation approach. The partners highlighted the need for continued dialogue to ensure benefits of these investments continue to reach communities.