This document outlines an objectives, methodology, and outputs of a study examining nutrition commitment, policy coherence, and community experiences across South Asia and Africa. The study aims to understand drivers of nutrition commitment and policy implementation over time, as well as current and future challenges. It involves literature reviews, stakeholder mapping, and qualitative interviews in Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Zambia. The outputs will include country briefs, papers, stories, and events to share learning about commitment, coherence, accountability, capacity, leadership, and financing for nutrition.

1. What and why?
Stuart Gillespie, IFPRI
23 October 2016

2. Objectives
• To better understand the drivers, pathways and
challenges that influence political commitment, policy
and program coherence and the implementation of
nutrition-relevant actions, as experienced by various
stakeholders.
• To foster an experiential learning process based on
real-time documentation of change, and sharing ideas
across national boundaries.
• Inform…..and inspire!

3. Where?
South Asia:
• Bangladesh
• Nepal
• Odisha (India)
Africa:
• Senegal
• Ethiopia
• Zambia

4. Meta-protocol
Change (2000-present) Challenge (present-2025)
Commitment How has commitment for
nutrition, in its broadest
sense, been generated?
How will commitment be
sustained in the face of current
or likely future challenges or
threats?
Coherence How has policy and program
coherence been developed
and ensured – both
horizontally (across sectors)
and vertically (national to
community levels)
What current and future
challenges are faced in
ensuring policy and program
coherence
Community How have the lives of
nutritionally vulnerable
communities changed in the
last 15 years?
What do communities perceive
as the most significant
challenges to progress in
nutritional and health well-
being?

5. Methods
• Literature review
• Landscaping of policies and programs
• Stakeholder mapping/networks analysis
• Quantitative analyses of drivers of change
• Mixed-methods analysis of change using an array of
tools (“SoCTool Pool”)
• Qualitative analyses:
• Key informant interviews (incl community-level)
• Focus group discussions
• Stakeholder consultations/learning events

6. What have we learned?
1. Commitment
2. Coherence
3. Accountability
4. Data, evidence
5. Capacity
6. Leadership
7. Financing

7. Outputs
• Base reports
• Country briefs
• Forthcoming special issue (proposed Global Food Security)
with 9 papers and commentaries from 10 stakeholders
• Audio-visual stories
• National learning events
• Nourishing Millions book (including 4 case studies)