Championing nutrition:

effective leadership for action

Namukolo Covic (PhD)

Stories of Change IFPRI Symposium

Micronutrient Forum, Cancun Mexico

23 October, 2016

Introduction: Nutrition Action is a Change Process!

• Change of attitudes

• Change of mind-set

• Change of orientation

• A willingness to adapt

• A fresh look at prevailing systems

o Food systems

o Marketing principles etc.

• Behaviour change needed across the board

o Political leaders

o Nutrition professionals

o Doctors; nurses; social workers

o Educators and municipal officials

o Nutrition sensitive sectors

o Households

o Individuals

“Change is LED and not managed”

All must constantly ask: How can we get there?

Optimal diets and nutrition

WASH

Heath

Optimal diets and nutrition

Multisectoral action

Agriculture

Coordinated Coherent Action: Leadership

Champions

Policy Entrepreneurs

Nutrition Supporters

Influencers

Decision makers

Clients

Championing Nutrition

Nisbett, N., Wach, E.,

Haddad, L., El-Arifeen, S.,

Wach (2014)

Different Actions• Advocacy• Framing evidence• Exert electoral

pressure• Influence others• Community

mobilization• Governance and

Accountability • Recognition• Roles are dynamic

Key capacity elements: understand complexity

CommunicationPersuasion Negotiation

Building alliances

Strategic thinking

Evidence framing

Identified champions from Africa to Asia

Concluding Remarks

Championing of nutrition is important and can form the positive current that can propel:

• Momentum and coherence of action.

• Governance and accountability for nutrition across the board.

• But attention to capacity is important and should not be overlooked.

• Equally important is identifying decision makers, influencers and clients and supporting them with evidence, training and exposure to transcend to champions, policy entrepreneurs and supporters.

Thank you!

Championing nutrition: effective leadership for action

Namukolo Covic (PhD)

Stories of Change IFPRI Symposium

n.covic@cigar.org