81306940 - Framework agreement C4N NIPN Support to Nutrition Information Systems Consultancy Pool

Background: Despite global strides in food availability and nutrition, progress towards eradicating malnutrition remains slow and uneven. The 2021 Global Nutrition Report indicates high worldwide malnutrition rates, with nearly a quarter of children under five being stunted and a rising trend in obesity across all countries. Malnutrition is a significant cause of child and maternal mortality and is linked to poor infant feeding practices, inadequate healthcare, and micronutrient deficiencies.

The economic cost of malnutrition is substantial, with losses up to 11% of GDP in Africa and Asia, affecting learning, productivity, and increasing healthcare costs. Climate change and COVID-19 have further compromised food security and nutrition, underscoring the need for evidence-based, multi-sectoral approaches to combat malnutrition effectively. Project Description: The "Knowledge for Nutrition" (K4N) and "Capacity for Nutrition" (C4N) initiatives are central to German Development Cooperation's efforts against malnutrition, supported by the BMZ's "ONE WORLD - No Hunger" initiative and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

With an annual funding of around EUR 1.5 billion, these programs aim to build on evidence-based strategies for improving nutrition. K4N, backed by a EUR 49.8 million investment, offers technical support to enhance nutrition-related programs and policies. In partnership with the EC, C4N seeks to improve maternal and child nutrition in line with SDG 2.2, focusing on evidence-based program development and multi-sectoral approaches.

The "Nutrition Information Platform for Nutrition" (NIPN) initiative complements these efforts by providing timely, reliable data to inform policy and intervention decisions. Coordinated by C4N-NIPN, it supports the global Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement's goal to reduce chronic malnutrition. By leveraging existing information and enhancing nutrition data analysis, NIPN aims to improve decision-making on nutrition investments and policies, demonstrating the importance of country-specific, data-driven approaches to address malnutrition effectively.

Objective: The primary goal is to strengthen multisectoral nutrition information systems, offering tailored solutions to EU partner and SUN member countries. This involves guidance, technical assistance, and sharing of best practices and experiences to inform better decision-making and policy formulation, ultimately contributing to the global fight against malnutrition. For countries in need of assistance, the C4N-NIPN offers specific diagnostic scoping of a countries needs and suggests solutions based on NIPN country experience.

This resource includes practical guidance, mapping exercises, case studies, terms of reference, and insights gleaned from past experiences, all aimed at facilitating either direct application or tailored adaptation. Additionally, the C4N-NIPN Global Coordination team provides technical support, available both in-person and online, subject to resource availability. The areas and scope of support provided will continue to evolve according to requests received.

The following are examples of areas where support will be provided:

1. Multisectoral coordination body
2. Data
3. Strategic planning for nutrition using evidence
4. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) for multisectoral nutrition plan
5. Communication and
6. Policy question formulation.

The support of the NIS involves a step-by-step approach starting from the country raising a request, followed by diagnostic exercise and technical assistance steps (TA) and post assistance monitoring.