PolICY BRIEF Scaling up Nutrition: A Framework for Action

The following policy brief ‘Scaling up Nutrition: A Framework for Action’ is not directly related to the papers that make up the bulk of this issue covering a history of five decades of research by the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP), although many of its findings are applicable to it. The policy brief includes a call for scaling up high impact interventions that address undernutrtion and build on the kind of knowledge captured in the INCAP studies. “Scaling up Nutrition: A Framework for Action’ is included in this issue because of its urgency and importance to readers of this journal. The policy brief, completed in March 2010, is based on a broad collaborative effort of the World Bank, UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Programme (WFP) and a wide range of developing country partners, civil society organizations and bilateral agencies. The principle objective is to catalyze actions to move undernutrition toward the center stage of international political economy discourse. Intended audiences include policymakers and opinion leaders around the world. The policy brief seeks substantially increased investment for a set of exceptionally cost-effective nutrition interventions that principally target women during pregnancy and children from birth to 24 months of age. The policy brief also calls for making nutrition central to the strategies of other sectors — particularly food security and agriculture, health, and social protection. Enhancing and scaling up support for high impact interventions and a multi-sector approach are imperative both for nutrition objectives and for realization of most of the Millenium Development Goals. This policy brief was prepared with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Government of Japan, UNICEF and the World Bank. The brief is authored by Keith Bezanson and Paul Isenman, independent consultants. For additional information, please contact Anna Herforth: [email protected]. Introduction and executive summary