Developed for the SUN CSN WCA Regional Meeting

1. MEAL for nutrition advocacy brief - 1
Atelierannuel du réseauSUN Société civile /renforcementde capacités
Nutrition&Humancapital: civil Society jointactions for more impact in Westand Central Africa,
24-27 February2020, Abidjan
MEAL for nutrition advocacy brief
1. Briefintroduction with definitionof PMEAL
Advocacyis a tactic forachieving social or policy change,such as framingthe issue,developing
alliances, and gatheringand disseminatingdata. The impact of advocacyefforts provides the
essentialinfrastructure thatlead to policy change and,subsequently,tosocialchange.Keyexamples
of these impactsinclude strategicalliances, public awareness andpublic andpolitical will. Despite
challenges,there are manygood reasonsto implementevaluationof advocacyand policy work.
Evaluation can provide informationthat clarifies meaningfulandappropriate expectations inregard
to advocacyand policy work,as well as whatstrategiesare the mosteffective forachievementof
desiredgoals. Evaluation researchmethodsoffercredible andreliable tools andprocessestomake
the case to donorsand implementersthattheirinvestmentof resources,time andeffortsare making
a significant difference. Itcan also developadeepunderstandingaboutwhatis workingand what
might needtobe rethoughtinthe areaof advocacyand public policy change.
MEAL Nutrition advocacy changescan beidentified in the following areas:
• Attitudinal changes: changesabouthow actors (policy actors) thinkabout an issue
• Discursive changes: changesin labels and narrative of policy actors/media/leaders
• Procedural changes:changeson the way certain processare undertaken
• Contentor policychange: change in the contentof policies (like strategypapers,legislations
or budgets)
• Behavioural or institutional changes:more durable changesin the way policy
actors/leaders/keystakeholdersbehave
2. SUNCSNPlanning,Monitoring,Evaluation,Accountability & Learning (PMEAL) Strategy for
CSN Secretariat and CSAs – highlightsfor NutritionAdvocacy (1)
EFFECTIVE MEAL System = IMPACTFUL & SUSTAINABLE CSA: Designing a long-termMEALstrategy
(versus ashort-termproject-focusedMEAL),adaptedtothe CSAs goals,is crucial to ensure learning,
transparency,accountabilityof the CSAs and is a keyfactor forthe CSA’ssustainability. The MEAL
systemshould build on the CSA Theoryof Change,andin a waythat fostersCSA’sgovernance. It
shouldhelp to empowermembersandbuildstrongerownership of achievementsandchallenges.It
can increase trust and responsibility amongCSAsmembers,beneficiariesandall otherstakeholders
the CSAsengageswith.
METHODOLOGIES:The CSA should carefully selectin advance the appropriate MEAL methodologies
to gather,analyse and learn fromthe evidence.ConsideringthatCSAsmostlydeal with advocacy,
behaviorchange communication (BCC),social mobilization and multi-stakeholderengagement,
1 SUN CSN PMEAL strategy brief available here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ufD3mFsbMZ7XRVsURH8rbFz_lGXVT51Y

2. MEAL for nutrition advocacy brief - 2
participatory MEAL methodologies are particularly suitable.A balance between quantitative and
qualitative evidence gatheringtools wouldbe the bestway to assessthe progresstowardthe
expectedchanges.
MANTAINING ANORDERED RECORD OF THE DATA YOU GATHERis a keyaspectthat allows you to
analyse the work as yougo. Without a plan to record andshare the informationcarefully categorised
and recorded,it is almost impossible to conducta rigorousanalysis and to demonstrate evidenceof
impact. Being able to indicate the steps you took towardthe change is key to show whathas been
the CSA’scontribution andto understandlinkagesamongdifferentinterventionandresults.
The SUNCSN secretariatis currently developingaMEAL database thatcould be usedbyall CSAsas a
platformto archive achievementsandthe SUN CSN Website couldbe anotherresource toshare CSAs
results.Please getin touch to discusshow make yoursthose online platforms.
BUDGET & RESOURCES FOR MEAL: The budgetforMEAL is verymuchlinked to the type of data
gatheringor analysis processeach Alliance decidesto putin place andmust be budgetedinthe
annual workplanand budget of the Alliance as a whole (inaddition to the projects yourCSA is
implementing). A MEALworkplanshould be clearly definedandagreedamongthe CSAsactors in
advance to be sure that there is high buy-in,motivationand support from all members.Usually,a
“healthy”budgetforMEAL in a project might be between5-10% of the overall costs. Inthe context
of a SUN CSA,this estimationmight not be relevant,because itis verymuchlinked to roles and
responsibilitiesof memberorganisations,whichshould be motivated and involvedin the MEAL plan
for learning,accountability and sustainability reasons.
SUNCSN THEORY OF CHANGE(TOC) & INDICATORS: Developingalong-termTOC is the keystarting
point foryour MEAL system.Havinga TOC will delineate the sphere of influence of yourCSA.Based
on the available assets or resourcesanda stakeholdersmappingexercise,yourAlliance will have to
agree on main tactics thatwill be putin place to achieve expectedgoals.While eachCSA (and
memberorganisation) shoulddevelop theirownspecificTOC, the SUN CSN Theory of Changemight
be a usefulresource to facilitate the discussion andframing of the CSA TOC. Developedin 2016 and
validatedthroughout2017 by mostof the CSAs,the CSN TOC attemptedto“tell the storyof Change”
that mostof the networkis puttingin place.
The TOC was on purpose developed toreflectthe vastand diverse interventioncoveredby allCSAs.
For this reason,the CSN TOC provideswith a long list of outcomes,outputs,indicators.The aim is for
all CSAsto map out theirown TOC or strategyagainst the SUN CSN,choosingonly a small portion of
outcomes/outputs/indicators.Doingsothe CSA should be able to see how its interventionis
contributing to the CSN goals and the SUN Movementasa whole.More guidance is providedin the
TOC with indicators document.2
2 SUNCSN MEAL TOC with indicators available here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FIkRFzugyUIN9mfej_SVW8oyJy5mbz5H/view

3. MEAL for nutrition advocacy brief - 3
The CSA shouldbe able to map out its ownTOC/pathfor change against SUN CSN TOC that eachCSA
can selectbasedon We decided onpurpose todevelopa TOC with high levelof outcomes/outputs
and indicators A revisionof the CSN TOC is due to start before the endof 2020 andwill run for most
of 2021. Each CSA is encouragedtoinputinto it, gettingin touch with the MEAL Advisor, joining
regional discussionsand/orthe MEAL workinggroup.
Key Nutrition Advocacy outcomesand indicators are groupedunderthe first3 outcomes of the TOC
(commonlyidentifiedrespectivelyas: ImprovedPlanning;SufficientResourcesandFunding;
IncreasedAccountability).The outcome 4 (“StrongCivil Society”) is whatenablesAlliances to putin
place long-lastingadvocacy efforts.The TOCwith indicators documentprovidesinputsforCSAsfor
the developmentof the TOCand identificationof specific,measurable,achievable,relevantand
time-bound(SMART) indicators.
3. Descriptionof the steps to followfor a MEAL process.How can we followup and measure
advocacy actions?
Here are some keystepsforthe designand implementationof MEAL processes:
1. Designyour TOC – be consistentwiththe SUN CSN TOC if possible.
2. Identify specificoutcomes- the more specific theyare, the easierthey will be to monitor.
Rememberthatin advocacythe change might be long-term, soensure thatyour short
and mediumtermresultsare part of a longer-termplan.
3. Stakeholdersmapping:identifywhich stakeholdersyouwill involve and influence
directly. If theyare targetedin youradvocacy interventionmapout: What do your
stakeholderscurrently 1) know,2) feel, and 3) do?What do you wantthemto 1) know,2)
feel, and 3) do? Once you have identifiedthe change youwant themto getto, identify
the tactics youwill be puttingin place and potential “progressmarkers”thatwill let you
see if youare gettingclose to yourexpectedresult.
4. Assessyour CSAs assets/capacity/resources:The capacity of the CSA will be keyto
identifywhattype of MEALmethodologyis mostfeasible.
5. Timeframe and workplan for discussingprogress: Which methodology(ies) willbe
adopted?Which toolswill be usedtorecord/share progress/challenges?Whowill be
involvedin the data gathering andanalysis/verification? RelativelyfrequentMEAL
sessions will facilitate learning,monitoring of progressand allow timely changestothe
approach if it is notleading to expectedresults.
6. Disseminate resultsofyour MEAL sessions,withveryquick notes(feelfree tobe
innovative).Share the keyfindings(achievements/blockages) withthe Alliance and the
Networktogain supportand fosterunderstanding andlearning.
7. Final evaluations:Design yourprogressMEALsessionin a waythat will contribute to a
multi-year’sevaluation, toshow your CSA contribution to change,challenges,lessons
learnedand recommendationforfollow-upactionstobe usedforfurtherplanning.
4. Advisory support: Where can you findsupport
Technical Assistance:you can always submita technical assistance requestto
c.ruberto@savethechildren.org.uk Pleasenote thatdue tohigh requests,we are now settingup a
MEAL Working Group.Sendyourrequesttojoin the group to the above address.The CSN MEAL
Working groupwill focuson 1) effective MEALTools,approaches,techniques2) peertopeer

4. MEAL for nutrition advocacy brief - 4
(country to country) supportin developingTOCand MEALassistance of various types(including
evaluations) 3) revise the SUNCNSTOCforSUN 3.0 and anyother topic that can be proposedand
lead bythe participants.The first call will be on the 27th
of March.
 SUNCSN MEALStrategybrief
 SUNCSN MEALTOC withindicators (English– translation currentlyongoing)
 SUN MEAL TOC (English/ FRENCH)
 SUN CSA MEAL capacity self-assessmenttool(English)
 Advocacy MEAL manual (The Annie E. CaseyFoundation /2007)
 How to developaTOC – brief tutorial
 MEAL Methodology: MostsignificantChange Technique manualand MSCplaylist (seriesof
videotutorials)
 MEAL Methodology: OutcomesHarvesting (OH):introductiontoOH; stepbysteptutorial; OH
manual
 MEAL Methodology: StakeholdersMappingtool(pg22 of the Political Tool) or videotutorial
 MEAL Methodology: Political Will tool