ISLAMABAD, Aug 22 (Alliance News): A new EU-supported initiative has begun tackling the severe malnutrition crisis in Sindh by fostering collaboration among key stakeholders.
The province faces a critical situation, with nearly 50% of children under five suffering from stunting, wasting, or being underweight.
This malnutrition crisis has profound and lasting effects not only on the affected children but also on their families and the overall development of the nation.
To address these challenges, the Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the Medical Emergency Resilience Foundation (MERF), organized a Provincial Networking Workshop.
The event, aimed at strengthening collaborative efforts, gathered stakeholders from various sectors, including Sindh’s Planning and Development Department, the Accelerated Action Plan Task Force Secretariat, and the Sindh Social Protection Authority.
Representatives from the World Health Organization, PPHI Sindh, Nutrition International, HANDS, and civil society networks such as the Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance (SUNCSA) Pakistan and Sindh Climate Action Network (SCAN) also participated.
The workshop highlighted the urgent need to bridge the gap between public policies and their grassroots implementation. By leveraging decades of experience and best practices, and by adopting a collaborative approach that includes insights from sector experts and local communities, the initiative aims to improve developmental projects and nutritional outcomes.
The IRC, which has been active in Pakistan for over 40 years, is leading the European Union-funded project to combat malnutrition in Sindh.
The workshop provided 15 local Civil Society Organizations with a platform to explore opportunities, form alliances, share knowledge, and enhance collaborative efforts.
Discussions included a contextual analysis of malnutrition in Sindh, insights from local organizations, and the development of a provincial-level policy advocacy plan.
Dr. Nadeem Mir Bahar, Planning Officer at the Planning and Development Department Sindh, and Dr. Sahib Jan Badar, Nutrition Consultant at the AAP Task Force, commended the initiative and recognized the efforts of IRC and its partners. They emphasized the importance of a multisectoral approach and pledged support for the project’s interventions.
Dr. Ranomal Lohano, Program Coordinator at IRC, stressed the need for coordinated efforts in policy advocacy, social behavior change, outreach, and nutrition care services. SUNCSA and SCAN committed to supporting the 15 local organizations for positive policy outcomes.
The workshop is part of a larger two-year initiative funded by the European Union with 5.5 million euros.
The project aims to enhance the capacities of 15 local organizations, improve facility-based treatments, and increase community outreach in five severely affected districts of Sindh: Kashmore, Ghotki, Sukkur, Khairpur, and Naushahro Feroze. The initiative is set to provide nutritional support to over 245,000 women and 415,000 children.
