Taking action for better informed consumers’ choices in the Decade of Action on Nutrition
Background
In April 2016, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2016-2025 the Decade of Action on Nutrition. Led by WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Nutrition Decade is a framework for making commitments, tracking progress and ensuring mutual accountability in line with the global nutrition targets.
One of the mechanisms of implementing the commitments of the Nutrition Decade is the establishment of Action networks. Action networks are informal coalitions of countries aimed at accelerating and aligning efforts around specific topics linked to one or more action areas of the Nutrition Decade, through advocating for the establishment of policies and legislation, allowing the exchange of practices and experiences, highlighting successes and lessons learnt, and providing mutual support to accelerate implementation. Action networks will help countries implement their SMART commitments. An action network may be established at the request of one or more countries, who should define the objectives, scope and initial programme of work, identify other partner countries, convene meetings and manage joint initiatives. Action networks may be regional or global and operate under the leadership of a government institution.
The UN system may support action networks, particularly through the provision of operational tools. The countries convening an action network should decide on how to engage with civil society organizations, academia and the private sector, as appropriate. It is important that the action networks avoid conflicts of interest in both their membership and implementation of activities.
The Decade calls for policy action across six key areas:
- creating sustainable, resilient food systems for healthy diets;
- providing social protection and nutrition-related education for all;
- aligning health systems to nutrition needs, and providing universal coverage of essential nutrition interventions;
- ensuring that trade and investment policies improve nutrition;
- building safe and supportive environments for nutrition at all ages; and
- strengthening and promoting nutrition governance and accountability
Global Action Network on Nutrition Labeling
France and Australia with the support of the Nutrition Decade Secretariat will convene countries to the inaugural meeting of the Global Action Network on Nutrition Labeling with the aim to engaging countries into accelerating efforts around nutrition labelling, strengthening collaboration among countries, foster policy dialogue and facilitate and enhance local and global actions. The network intends to expand to a growing number of countries. By implementing nutrition labelling, it will strengthen national nutrition policies and help reduce the incidence of malnutrition worldwide.