SCN News, Number 15













Table of Contents


UNITED NATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE ON COORDINATION

SUB-COMMITTEE ON NUTRITION

(ACC/SCN)

The ACC/SCN is the focal point for harmonizing the policies and activities in nutrition of the United Nations system. The Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC), which is comprised of the heads of the UN Agencies, recommended the establishment of the Sub-Committee on Nutrition in 1977, following the World Food Conference (with particular reference to Resolution V on food and nutrition). This was approved by the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC). The role of the SCN is to serve as a coordinating mechanism, for exchange of information and technical guidance, and to act dynamically to help the UN respond to nutritional problems.

The UN members of the SCN are FAO, IAEA, IFAD, ILO, UN, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNRISD, UNU, WFP, WHO and the World Bank. From the outset, representatives of bilateral donor agencies have participated actively in SCN activities. The SCN is assisted by the Advisory Group on Nutrition (AGN), with six to eight experienced individuals drawn from relevant disciplines and with wide geographical representation. The Secretariat is hosted by WHO in Geneva.

The SCN undertakes a range of activities to meet its mandate. Annual meetings have representation from the concerned UN Agencies, from 10 to 20 donor agencies, the AGN, as well as invitees on specific topics; these meetings begin with symposia on subjects of current importance for policy. The SCN brings certain such matters to the attention of the ACC. The SCN sponsors working groups on inter-sectoral and sector-specific topics.

The SCN compiles and disseminates information on nutrition, reflecting the shared views of the agencies concerned. Regular reports on the world nutrition situation are issued, and flows of external resources to address nutrition problems are assessed. State-of-the-Art papers are produced to summarize current knowledge on selected topics. SCN News is normally published twice a year. As decided by the Sub-Committee, initiatives are taken to promote coordinated activities - inter-agency programmes, meetings, publications - aimed at reducing malnutrition, primarily in developing countries.


SCN NEWS was edited by Cathy Needham

The refugee issues section was compiled by Jane Wallace

We are most grateful for contributions as shown in Sources after articles

Illustrations by Lindsay Barrett


SCN NEWS is issued twice-yearly by the Secretariat of the UN ACC Sub-Committee on Nutrition.

Your contributions to future issues would be most welcome.

SCN NEWS aims to help the sharing of experience in nutrition.

If you wish to receive additional copies of SCN NEWS or would like to suggest other names to be added to our distribution list, please write to us:

Chairman: Dr Richard Jolly

Technical Secretary: Dr Sonya Rabeneck

Special Advisor to the Administrator

ACC/SCN c/o World Health Organization

United Nations Development Programme

20, Avenue Appia

One United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA

CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland

Telephone: [212] 906 5764, Fax: [212] 906 6661

Telephone: [41-22] 791 04 56, Fax: [41-22] 798 88 91

EMail: Richard.Jolly@UNDP.ORG

EMail: ACCSCN@WHO.CH


SCN NEWS aims to provide information for those concerned with international nutrition.

Publication of items in SCN NEWS does not imply endorsement of views given, nor necessarily the official positions taken, by the ACC/SCN and its member agencies.

The status of quotes and other material is generally indicated in the text and/or sources.


Items in SCN NEWS be reproduced without prior permission, but please attribute to the ACC/SCN


We gratefully acknowledge funding assistance from the Government of the Netherlands for the preparation and printing of this issue of SCN NEWS


Table of Contents


Message from the chairman

AGN Page

ACC/SCN Symposium Report: Effective Programmes in Africa for Improving Nutrition, including household food security

The 10th Annual Martin J. Forman Memorial Lecture: How are we doing in International Nutrition?

News and Views

Letters to the Editor

Refugee Issues

Courses, Meetings and Announcements

Programme News

Publications

Publication List - Dec 1997

Publications Order Form

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