United Nations System
Standing Committee on Nutrition

 

Working Group on Capacity Development in Food and Nutrition

held during the ACC/SCN's 29th Session in Berlin, Germany, March 2002

Summary of Presentations:

Barbara Underwood summarized briefly the implementation of the three African regional action plans presented in Nairobi at the 28th meeting of the SCN. The West African Region has focused on the enhancement of advocacy skills in partnership with the West Africa Health Organization. Workshops are planned for July in the Ivory Coast and for October in Ghana. HIV and underweight/stunting are the main foci for Capacity Development in Eastern and Southern Africa. A request was made for greater involvement by the UN agencies, bilaterals and NGOs in implementing regionally driven, coordinated plans for capacity development in Africa.

Stuart Gillespie reviewed a paper developed with UNICEF sponsorship on capacity development in Africa, Ricardo Uauy summarized an initiative to support advanced training in nutrition and infection undertaken by the International Nutrition and Ellison Medical Foundations in support of the Working Group’s efforts, and Milla McLachlan, Flavio Valente and Arne Oshaug reviewed opportunities for capacity development from the perspectives of each of the Forum’s principal constituencies, i.e. the UN agencies, NGOs and bilaterals, respectively. A repeated theme in each of those presentations was the importance of linking training, especially specialized degree training, with relevant opportunities for retaining human resources in the regions most in need for enhanced capacity in the area of food and nutrition.

A plenary discussion followed these presentations. The action items that emerged from the presentations and the group’s discussion along with a brief rationale and recommendation are listed below:

Item 1: Improved Communication

Much has happened and is planned to enhance capacity in all regions. These efforts would benefit from more effective, coherent coordination and communication. Improved communication should lead to greater synergy and less unnecessary duplication of effort.

Recommendations:

To this end, it is recommended that:

(a) The working group be provided with quarterly updates of efforts to implement the African action plans presented at the 28th SCN meeting in Nairobi and of new efforts in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East,

(b) Regional databases, accessible through the internet or a listserve be developed and maintained, of

  • Activities in priority areas identified in the regional action plans that are in the early stages of planning or scheduled
  • Available individual and institutional expertise in action plan priority areas, and
  • Available material for training in action plan priority areas.

(c) Other mechanisms be explored for assuring greater collaboration among and between UN agencies, bilaterals, and NGOs keeping in mind that these mechanisms should be supportive of regionally derived and driven plans of action.

(d) Greater collaboration be developed among working groups whose focus includes HIV/AIDS and nutrition and nutrition in other emergencies to assure improved capacity in these high priority areas.

Item 2: Sharing Training Materials

Making training materials more easily accessible would enhance the use of resources and benefit the quality of training activities at all levels and in all regions.

Recommendation:

The development of a revolving ‘bank’ to circulate training materials within and between regions should be investigated. Efforts should be focused on priority areas identified by each of the regional action plans.

Item 3: Retaining Capacity

Training of individuals and the development of infrastructure in support of institutional and organizational capacity are core activities of capacity development; thus far these have been the working group’s principal foci. Concern, however, was expressed that insufficient attention has been given to retaining attained capacity. The idea that the center of gravity for highly linked research and action must shift to the developing world, in a problem-based “learning laboratory” milieu was stressed. Failure to do this could result in capacity development fading away as just another fad.

Recommendations:

(a) Action plans developed by each region should include a specific section outlining 10-year Human Resource Development Master Plans that build incentives for career development and placement. These plans should provide clear mechanisms for continuing education to enable individuals and institutions to

  • Respond to changing needs and opportunities (e.g., linking up with new initiatives such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers process)
  • Improve links with sectors such as agriculture where nutrition is recognized to play a role, and
  • “Widen the discourse” with the aim of recruiting economic policy makers and politicians to view nutrition as an urgent public policy choice.

(b) UN agencies, bilaterals, and NGOs also should review what each could do to create local opportunities, thus enhancing retention of capacity in the regions.

Item 4: Enhancing Financial Support

The need was stressed for innovative mechanisms that link capacity development to ongoing programs. A clear mechanism for linking the lack of sufficient capacity in a country/region with programs that rely on external consultants was suggested to accelerate the development of capacity in areas most in need.

Recommendation:

The establishment of a fund linked to the need for external advisors/consultants on projects supported by UN agencies, NGOs and bilaterals should be explored. One specific proposal that was endorsed by the group is the allocation of 2% of funds budgeted for external consultants/advisors on all projects to a dedicated fund for capacity development. Care however must be taken that such a plan not act as a disincentive to nutrition programs.

Item 5: Next steps in Asia and the Middle East

The need for coordinated efforts in regions other than Africa was recognized. For example, Asia is ready to move forward directly as a region with later efforts enlisting sub-regional political organizations such as ASEAN, SAARC, Pacific, and CIS in capacity development efforts.

Recommendation:

An Asia steering committee should be formed and a work plan developed by it to permit the presentation of a 10-year action plan(s) at the 30th SCN session in Chennai. A similar effort should be undertaken in the Middle East.