The Politics of Ending Malnutrition - Challenging Conversations with Decision Makers

In the final episode of the series reflecting on the future of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, N4D Directors Chris Leather and Jeremy Shoham are talking to Dr Joanne Raisin, Director of the SUN Movement Secretariat.

This conversation explores what the SUN Movement has achieved since its inception, the key lessons from its third phase and the ambitions of the newly launched SUN 4.0 Strategy (2025–2030). The discussion focuses on how SUN can strengthen country-led action, adapt to a rapidly changing global financing environment and better support fragile and conflict-affected states.

What does the podcast cover?
1. What is the SUN Movement and why does it matter?
SUN as a country-led, multi-stakeholder movement bringing together governments, civil society, donors, UN agencies, and the private sector
The unique value of SUN as a neutral convening platform that supports coordination under country leadership
Reflections on SUN’s achievements to date, including elevating nutrition globally and strengthening multi-sectoral collaboration
Key limitations identified in SUN 3.0, including fragmentation, accountability gaps, and uneven support to fragile states
2. What’s in the SUN 4.0 Strategy (2025–2030)?
SUN 4.0 as a strategic refresh, building on what has worked while adapting to new global realities
Greater attention to:
Fragility, conflict and climate vulnerability
Shifting malnutrition patterns, including overweight and obesity
Future-proofing nutrition outcomes in a constrained financing environment
Looking beyond 2030
Is SUN still needed after 2030?
The future of SUN as a platform shaped by country and regional demand
The importance of localisation, shared ownership and amplifying country voices in global and regional decision-making

Key takeaways
The success of SUN 4.0 will depend less on strategy and more on how the Movement works in practice
Stronger accountability, better coordination and clearer alignment with country-led priorities are essential
Fragile and conflict-affected states must be at the centre of future SUN support
Nutrition integration and sustainable financing require the nutrition community to engage more effectively with other sectors on their own terms

Please join the debate!
Credits: Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co
Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz
© N4D Group 2026
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

N4D is in conversation for a second time (check out previous short podcast at N4G Summit) with Madam Manty Tarawalli, Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, discussing Sierra Leone's nutrition progress since joining the SUN Movement in 2012. An acknowledged leader in politics and development, the Honourable Minister is spearheading country-led initiatives to tackle malnutrition: “When you demonstrate leadership as a country by saying to partners, this is the approach you want to take and these are the reasons & expected outcomes you foresee, you get partners following that drive. Without that leadership you get confusion and people doing whatever they want to do,” she affirms.

It seems to be paying off. Recent standout moments include:
High-level political leadership with nutrition anchored in the Office of the Vice President;
Integration of the SUN Secretariat with the Food Systems Coordination Unit for stronger multisectoral alignment;
Introduction of national multisectoral nutrition budget lines (2026) and a new information management system to track investments;
Expansion of home-grown school feeding to 270,000 children; and
Major nutrition gains: exclusive breastfeeding up from 31% (2012) to 50.9% (2023), stunting reduced from 33%(2012) to 25% (2024), and wasting down from 10.7% (2012) to 6.3% (2024).

We also discuss key challenges—food insecurity, climate vulnerability, financing constraints—and why sustained investment and innovative financing mechanisms are critical for continued progress. SUN Movement support has been crucial, providing technical assistance and donor linkages. The Minister advocates for ring-fenced nutrition financing for poorer countries, risk guarantees to boost private sector growth, and multi-country projects to stimulate economic development. The discussion highlights the complexity of multisectoral nutrition efforts and the importance of coordination and tailored support.

Please join the debate!
Credits: Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co
Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz
© N4D Group 2025
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like many Latin American countries, El Salvador’s malnutrition problems are increasingly more likely to be Type 2 diabetes amongst eight year-olds than stunting amongst children under 5. Elisa Gamero, Chief of Health and Nutrition Projects in the Office of the First Lady, paints a picture of how the country is tackling high rates of both undernutrition and child overweight/obesity and increased consumption of ultra processed foods. In recent years, El Salvador has made big strides in putting nutrition high in the political agenda, including new laws promoting a healthy start in life, launch of a youth platform, work with the private sector, a national nutrition strategy and more aligned action by UN and other international partners. A multisectoral approach and resource mobilisation, both domestic and international, lie at the heart of these initiatives.
“It was not easy at first… when we first convened these actors, they look at each other [around] this table and say ‘what do I have to do with nutrition? This is a health perspective.’ But when we started developing the actions and they feel that they could connect with all the actions that surround the reduction of malnutrition in El Salvador, they're fully and strongly committed.” SUN’s Latin America regional learning hub and technical support are other features that El Salvador counts as gifts from the SUN Movement - “it’s so important that we learn from countries with a similar political approach and context”.

Please join the debate!
Credits: Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co
Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz
© N4D Group 2025
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I think there is a huge [opportunity] to take the lessons learned from Yemen and to try to bring them into the other countries where I see the SUN [Movement] working as a global actor…
We need the voices of [Humanitarian, Development, Peace] HDP Nexus coordination everywhere to explain what it is and to show what it is… that could be the example of Yemen… a model to other countries.” Marcela Masiarik, Head of Cooperation with Yemen at the German Embassy in Amman (2021-2025)

N4D director Chris Leather is in conversation with German diplomat Marcela Masiarik on her 5-year stint as Head of Cooperation in Yemen, coordinating efforts on the ground for humanitarian assistance, economic cooperation and development. Marcela elaborates on her leadership role in promoting a Humanitarian, Development and Peace nexus approach to international aid and a multisectoral approach to nutrition.

This is fascinating and wide-ranging discussion from a donor’s perspective – the importance of bridging the gap between humanitarian and development efforts, and how this played out during her time in Yemen where Germany is one of the country’s biggest donors. What were the strategic approaches, which tools did they use to develop coordination, which structures were put in place – and how did they deal with the country’s complex political situation? Marcela shares her experiences on key achievements during her time and the challenges of working in a volatile security situation.

Please join the debate!
Credits: Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co
Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz
© N4D Group 2025
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our latest podcast in the SUN series is another country (and regional) voice - this time we’re in conversation with George Ouma, coordinator of the African Leaders for Nutrition Initiative. The ALN is is a platform jointly established by the African Union and the African Development Bank to drive high-level political will to tackle malnutrition. Discussions with George range from ‘game-changer’ policy reforms he’s working on in his current role, such as a framework to harmonise multisectoral policies across the African continent, to what it takes to galvanise high-level political will for nutrition and which countries are making strong progress.
As a former SUN civil society coordinator in Kenya and chair of the East and Southern Africa SUN Civil Society Network, George reflects on what SUN is doing well - and where the Movement could do better.
“Strong advocacy [has been achieved] through SUN networks… [acting as] a catalyst to heads of state realising that nutrition is a priority that should be integrated into national development plans.” But he believes that SUN networks other than civil society need to play a stronger role - “Academia should be generating evidence, the donor network is not just about giving money but should also focus on supporting advocacy at regional level… we need to make sure that every network delivers…”

Please join the debate!
Credits: Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co
Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz
© N4D Group 2025
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.