The Kathmandu Declaration Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Global Gathering 2019

The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Global Gathering brought together over 1,000 global leaders from 101 countries, 1 Indian State, and representatives from the over 3,000 civil society organisations, 600 small, medium, and large enterprises, 5 UN agencies and the international donors and foundations that form the SUN Networks to intensify the response to ending malnutrition.

Preamble

We, the member countries and states that lead the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, met in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 4 to7 November 2019, hosted by the National Planning Commission, Government of Nepal, to make united efforts to prevent a global malnutrition crisis, while protecting the planet.

Recognising that the triple burden of malnutrition – undernutrition, hidden hunger, overweight and obesity – threatens the survival, growth and development of children, young people, women, economies and nations. Affirming that nutrition is a maker and marker of development, and is crucial for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, member countries of SUN and all stakeholders1 committed to:

1. Stepping up efforts to improve nutrition during the critical 1,000-day window, from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday, throughout the lifecycle, and targeting all forms of malnutrition;
2. To transform global and local food systems, so that they deliver nutritious, safe, affordable and sustainable diets within planetary boundaries;
3. Institutionalise a coordinated multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder approach, at all levels, needed for a country-led, country-driven SUN Movement – as it enters its third phase (2021-2025).

Outcomes

Anticipating the 2020 Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit, to be hosted by the Government of Japan, every SUN country and stakeholder should make Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timebound (SMART) commitments towards a healthier, better-nourished future. At the mid-point of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition, with five years to achieve the World Health Assembly nutrition targets, and with 10 years to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals, all stakeholders need to champion convergence, alignment and accountability for impact – through their governments, organisations, companies and networks.

As members and stakeholders of the SUN Movement, we commit to:

From planning to practice: Delivering throughout the policy cycle

• Securing the highest level of political commitment with heads of government in SUN countries convinced of the necessity of good nutrition for the physical and cognitive development of all people and translating it into a coordinated multi-sectoral response;
• Appointing focal points, at political and technical levels, to bring together government and stakeholders and linking implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Placing the national nutrition plan at the heart of the national development plan and ensuring stakeholder alignment;
• Securing the buy-in of finance ministers, the involvement of parliaments, and a nutrition budget code, where relevant, while increasing domestic nutrition investment;
• Ensuring nutrition financing is channelled into multi-sectoral and costed national nutrition
• Plans, with easily tracked, accountable commitments and disbursements.

Advocating and mobilising for mass change: Making nutrition everyone’s business

• Involving and increasing community engagement and ownership, particularly young people, for the most appropriate and sustainable actions to ensure that citizens can claim their right to adequate nutrition.

Strengthening capacity for impact at scale: Multi-stakeholder action on universal challenges

• Adhering to the SUN Movement’s Principles of Engagement and holding each other to account for the innovative approaches and behaviour change that is required to achieve systemic results;
• Scaling up comprehensive, evidence-based nutrition packages, at national and sub-national levels;
• Incorporating health, water and sanitation, agriculture, education and social protection systems, and promoting good nutrition for children, adolescents and women;
• Supporting a well-functioning and positioned multi-stakeholder platform – with the active participation of relevant government sectors, civil society, private sector, UN agencies, donors, among others;
• Active outreach to regional social and economic organisations to engage them in national nutrition planning, resourcing and planning cycles;
• Intensified engagement of the UN Resident Coordinators and their ‘whole-of-UN’ representation roles;
• Establishing a ‘SUN Academy’, accessible to all, that will involve technical training, preserving institutional memory and the SUN Principles of Engagement – inspiring country-based leadership.

Equity, equality and empowerment: Leave no one behind

• Delivering results by holding each other accountable, guided by the SUN Movement call to action to scale up gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls;
• Involving youth to make the SUN Movement more inclusive, innovative and effective;
• Focus on transforming food systems to be healthy, sustainable, and equitable – nourishing people and planet:
• Ensuring national Universal Health Coverage plans and multi-sectoral nutrition plans are aligned. Essential nutrition services must be part of a strong primary health care system;
• Bridging the gap between humanitarian and development support in fragile situations.