Civil society organizations have played an important role in scaling up nutrition efforts in many countries. Through continued support, over 2500 civil society organizations across 39 countries have been engaged in nutrition efforts in 2016, up from under 500 in 2013. National civil society alliances have united community groups, coordinated advocacy and action on nutrition, enriched nutrition policies, ensured accountability, and supported multi-sectoral government efforts for nutrition. Modest funding for civil society alliances has achieved real impact, such as mobilizing additional national resources and cultivating high-profile nutrition champions. Civil society brings unique contributions as the "eyes and ears" implementing programs and sharing local expertise.

1. SUN Civil Society Network
May 2016
Photo: Mark Kaye/Save the Children
Civil Society
Drivers of change and sustainable development

2. Thanks to continued support
We have:
• Supported the establishment and strengthening of national CIVIL SOCIETY
ALLIANCES in 39 countries coordinating more than 2500 civil society organisations
who have become essential contributors to scaling up nutrition
• CIVIL SOCIETY ALLIANCES have
 UNITED community groups, national CSOs and international civil society organisations at
national and sub-national levels
 COORDINATED civil society advocacy and action on nutrition at national, sub-national
levels
 ENRICHED nutrition policies
 CHANNELED expertise, evidence, reality of those suffering from malnutrition into
government policies & plans
 SUPPORTED governments ensure multi-sectoral efforts for nutrition
 ENSURED ACCOUNTABILITY of governments and other actors for nutrition commitments
SUN Civil Society Efforts | April 2016 2

3. Scaled efforts
SUN Civil Society Efforts | April 2016 3
Over 2500 Civil Society Organisations
engaged across the network in 2016
Compared to under 500 in 2013
Civil Society Alliances in 39 SUN countries in 2016
Compared to 11 in 2013
Adapted from the SUN CSN publication on Civil Society Successes

4. Our unique contribution
• Civil society essential for
sustainable nutrition efforts
• ‘Eyes and ears’ embedded in
communities, implementing
programmes
• Sharing on-the-ground
expertise, community
knowledge of what works
• Working with decentralised
structures and local champions
to ensure nutrition efforts reach
most vulnerable
The Value we bring
1- Speaking with one voice
2- Raising nutrition’s profile and sustainability
3- Enriching Nutrition Policy
4- Highlighting gender needs and sharing
effective practices on the ground
5- Promoting accountability
6- Building local capacity
7- Ensuring efforts are sustainable
Photo: Jonathan Hyams/Save the Children

5. Had some impact

6. 8. Value for money
Civil Society Alliances and the CSN have achieved real impact in a short period for
modest budgets
• Kenya’s CSA budget was US$278,628 for 2014/15
• With this funding, the CSA achieved:
– Stronger nutrition component in national health policy
– Clear budget lines for nutrition in four counties
– National resources mobilised for county level nutrition
– Cultivation of 3 high profile nutrition champions including First Lady
– Nutrition training for more than 200 advocates, 31 journalists
• Donor investments = catalyst for more investments. INGOs invested over $1.9m
between June 2013 - December 2015 in support of global network efforts
against donor investments of $1m.

7. More of OUR impact
on OUR map
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8. AND in some key resources
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ACCESS DOCUMENT

9. Thank you
Photo: Adam Hinton/Save the Children