Briefing Papers Number 19, July 2012 | Page 11

system that tracks results at a country or population level using the “Zones of Influence” approach. The guidance must also be aligned with the Foreign Assistance Coordination and Tracking System (FACTS), a new database used to collect, aggregate, and analyze foreign assistance planning and performance-reporting data. Country-owned M&E plans for nutrition, jointly developed with Ministries of Health, other ministries, and civil society, will allow these data and indicators to be integrated into existing national health data systems. This will provide an important first link between “whole of government” and “country-led” approaches in scaling up the development of nutrition policies and programs. Transparency and Accountability for Results: GHI and FTF are working towards a goal of reducing child undernutrition by 30 percent in five years (by 2015) in their focus countries. Recently, USAID conducted a targeting exercise, based on population data and the latest Demographic Health Surveys, to establish estimated 2010 indicator baselines and projected 2015 targets within the FTF Zones of Influence. However, it is not clear how country and field support programs will contribute to meeting these targets and results. Which government agency, bureau, or office will be accountable for meeting cumulative targeted results? What are the various country-level and program-level targets? How will nutrition outcomes be measured and attributed to FTF investments? These are the types of questions that should be addressed in a whole of government nutrition strategy. Doing so will help ensure that nutrition investments achieve the desired results. Recommendations • Document, make public, and disseminate country baseline targets for nutrition, explaining how the targets were developed and wh