processes and action steps to foster improved collaboration
and coordination of nutrition policies and programs.
Currently, accountability for nutrition outcomes is also
spread across the government. In the absence of a whole
of government nutrition strategy, there are only ad hoc
coordination mechanisms, making it difficult to document
the impact of U.S. investments in nutrition and to ensure
coordination. Each SUN country has appointed a high-level
focal point for nutrition.48 This is a senior-level position,
usually in the prime minister’s or president’s office, that has
the authority to bring together finance, agriculture, health,
and social protection ministries in order to implement
national nutrition strategies. This is a model that the U.S.
government should also consider, particularly given the
crosscutting, multi-sectoral nature of nutrition as an issue
and the fragmentation and complexity of U.S. global
nutrition programs. The creation of a high-level Nutrition
Focal Point, housed within the USAID Administrator’s
office and granted the authority to develop, direct, and
implement a whole of government global nutrition strategy
across multiple agencies, would improve accountability for
tracking progress against set objectives and targets. The
administration could also consider creating a nutrition
technical advisory board composed of civil society and
academic experts to help inform and provide feedback on
the U.S. government strategy and implementation.
Ideally, this high-level position would be supported by
a Nutrition Point Person, senior and mid-level managers
within each corresponding agency, bureau, or office (e.g.,
at BFS, USAID/FFP, USAID/NUT, USAID/OHA, and
OGAC, USDA) who focus on building partnerships and
improving policies and programs. These Nutrition Point
Persons would promote interagency planning, coordination, and management efforts. They would not assume
the responsibilities of Agreement Officer Representatives
(AOR) and Contract Officer Representatives (COR);49
rather, they would focus on implementing and operationalizing an interagency nutrition strategy. Nutrition Point
Persons would complement the growing number of nutrition technical advisors50 within existing agencies, bureaus,
and offices.
This structure would provide both managerial/
operational and technical organizational support for
nutrition in GHI, FTF, and other countries with U.S.funded nutrition programming. It would ensure that
a single coordinated nutrition strategy aligns with and
supports country priorities, including country- and
community-led nutrition goals. The high-level nutrition
focal point and supporting nutrition point people would
harmonize U.S. government efforts for nutrition and
ensure that staff members in the field receive accurate, upto-date guidance to manage their nutrition portfolios. This
www.bread.org
structure would also encourage stronger documentation of
important evidence-based results from the field and would
support the creation of a common knowledge platform
and best practices for nutrition.
Recommendations
• Appoint a high-level Nutrition Focal Point at USAID to
implement a whole of government nutrition strategy, lead
interagency nutrition efforts, be accountable for results,
and facilitate improved coordination among agencies,
bureaus, and offices.
• Map out and assess lines of authority, roles, and
responsibilities for coordinating, planning, and managing
nutrition programs at headquarters and in the field. Make
necessary recommendations for improvement, which
should include increased staffing levels as well as more
coordinated efforts.
• Appoint Nutrition Point Persons within relevant bureaus, )