"The SCN is one of the few UN agencies that has a crosscutting membership; it's not formed by UN agencies nor UN agencies and NGOs. It's comprised of UN agencies, NGOs and bilateral partners. Therefore, in terms of how we are constituted a constant dialogue must exist and this is one of the great strengths of the organization."
In this interview Ms. Catherine Bertini, Chair of the UN System Standing Committee on Nutrition, shares with the UN System Network its achievements, current activities and goals for the future regarding partnerships and initiatives at the country level.
What are the main goals and activities of the Standing Committee on Nutrition?
Our long term vision sees the world as a place where malnutrition is no longer a constraint for human development. To achieve this objective we have to help the poor have decisive action at the country level and coordinated international strategies. We try to provide not only technical knowledge but also information on what is required in order to achieve various objectives. Given that nutrition is a crosscutting theme in almost all the Millenium Development Goals (MDG), we are trying to see how to use nutrition to make the goals a reality.
The SCN has been functioning for over 25 years. What milestones have been achieved during its recent evolution?
One of the key achievements was the introduction of the World Nutrition Situation report in 1987 which began reporting on trends in nutrition during the life cycle. The fifth report came out in March under the theme of "Nutrition for improved development outcomes". Many people have used these reports as a basis for action in different countries around the world.
Secondly, we have established a project called the Nutrition Information in Crisis Situations. Given that in the last 15 years the number of acute crises has been growing, this report has allowed us to better coordinate among all the agencies that are working on these matters. We also publish a newsletter, the SCN News, in which we share critical information.
We also have a special programme to develop young talent in the international nutrition community. As for carrying out specific roles and responsibilities in developing countries, we've been able to build a network of international and local people, in these countries in order to promote the work in nutrition. We have been aggressive in helping to train and motivate and mentor people who work in nutrition in developing countries.
How does the SCN promote harmonized approaches among the UN agencies, and between the UN agencies and governmental and non-governmental partners to tackle malnutrition?
The SCN is one of the few agencies of the UN that has a crosscutting membership; it's not formed by UN agencies nor UN agencies and NGOs. It's comprised of UN agencies, NGOs and bilateral partners. Therefore, in terms of how we are constituted a constant dialogue must exist and this is one of the great strengths of the organization. It's that interaction that makes for a more cohesive approach to working on nutrition issues.
What are the SCN's plans for the near future?
We want to be very forward thinking, much of our work is being designed around the achievement of the MDGs because we want to influence governments to put nutrition issues at a high priority level. We also want to prove to them that improving nutrition inputs makes a difference for everything else you're trying to achieve, whether it's improving the economy, the GDP of a country, the agricultural production, increasing number of children educated, etc. and of course it has a very significant impact on health. Since the member states have signed on to the MDGs we want to use this fact to show the importance of emphasizing nutrition.
Our next annual conference will be held in Brazil in 2005 and we hope that this will be a focal point for continuing efforts to build capacities in developing countries.
Regarding further partnerships with NGOs, we're looking into increasing interaction with the private sector as well. We also have a new Secretary of the SCN joining our team, Dr. Roger Shrimpton.
In the recommendations made by the working group on household food security during the Annual Session, importance was given to the need to work on a national level in specific countries. Is this proposal beginning to be implemented?
Absolutely, we are a network of people but we can't just sit at meetings and talk. We have to help provide the technical capacities and the coordination for people that will be working at the national level in order to convince governments to provide inputs that are directly related to the improvement of nutrition outcomes.
What synergies could be created between the UN System Network on Rural Development and Food Security and the SCN?
This could be a natural next step for the SCN if the UN System Network has already these kinds of contact points in different countries. It might be an excellent way to work together and take advantage of what each of our networks has to offer.
We are currently undertaking an evaluation of the UN System Network, what suggestions or remarks could you give us regarding the relations between the secretariat based in FAO, WFP and IFAD?
What we all have to do whether it's the UN System Network or the SCN is set specific goals and see if we have achieved them. If specific goals don't exist, it is important to create them for the future I think we don't do enough evaluating in the UN system frankly, I think it could be much more useful if we could do more of this.
To read more about the United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition please visit the
SCN website.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this interview do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the UN System Network on Rural Development and Food Security nor of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
