Pathways to Better Nutrition Country Case Studies

Study Overview

A multi-sectoral approach is often thought to be the most effective way to address undernutrition.

Recent evidence has demonstrated the importance of good nutrition to both human and economic development, as well as the role good governance and policy have in creating momentum for nutrition. However, questions remain about the best ways to move from good nutrition policy to improved nutrition outcomes.

SPRING’s Pathways to Better Nutrition (PBN) Case Studies provide new evidence in this area. They explore how nutrition-related activities are prioritized and funded, focusing on the effect that national nutrition action plans (NNAPs) have on these processes in two different contexts: Uganda and Nepal. Having a NNAP is an important first step; however, it is not enough for achieving nutrition goals at scale. To translate the high level commitment signaled in a NNAP to new activities and increased funding, nutrition needs to be prioritized by the relevant ministries, local governments, and external partners. The hypothesis we set out to test was that the NNAP will improve the prioritization of nutrition during work planning, which will in turn increase funding for nutrition over the course of the study’s tenure. The goal is to identify some concrete drivers of change in the prioritization and funding for nutrition.

A 360 Degree View

The PBN Case Studies take an innovative approach to documenting the influence of multi-sectoral NNAPs, as shown in figure (right), at the national level and in a few case districts. Qualitative data were collected primarily through periodic in-depth interviews and from news content analysis conducted on a weekly basis. Publicly available budget data were also analyzed on an annual basis. Data were collected from stakeholders representing the government, donors, UN groups, the private sector, academia, and civil society. This provided a 360 degree view of the changes in perceptions, events, and funding related to nutrition and the NNAP in each context.

Country-driven Research

Our research was done in partnership with the nutrition secretariats in Uganda and Nepal. Both countries have developed truly multi-sectoral NNAPs and are actively implementing these plans. Because our country-driven research takes place over multiple years, we provide a rare time-series view of changes in planning processes and funding mechanisms for nutrition. Evidence from these studies can be used by each country to determine best practices, identify barriers, and enhance monitoring and evaluation.

Although every country context is different, countries with nutritional, demographic, political and economic characteristics similar to those of Nepal and Uganda can apply these lessons in their own efforts to build a successful national multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder nutrition effort.

Looking Ahead

All active data collection in both countries has just concluded, and full results will be available in early 2016.

This collaborative research should help to support more effective advocacy efforts, more funding transparency, and clearer negotiation for funding within various ministries, donor and UN agencies, and by the private sector in each country.

Want to better-understand the organization of these studies? Click on this (pops out).