Overall, it is a well articulated document. Nutrition is the outcome of food security and one of the objectives of the document is to consider the role of MSPs in improving and financing FSN. However, Nutrition issues/examples are not adequately mentioned (except SUN) throughout the document.
Other comments:
- Page-9, Paragraph-1, Line-2 (INTRODUCTION)
- Introduction may start with positive information, instead ofthe negative information/findings and then problem statement can be presented.
Page-12, Line-16 to 19
- Definition of “private sector” should be broad.
- ..”entrepreneurs, land owners, farmers”…. …..”including production, storage and distribution, processing and packaging, retail and markets”… can be mentioned as example.
- Page-13, Line-10 (1.1.3 “Partnerships” or “platforms”?)
- “Platform” is not well discussed here a more detailed discussion will help reader to conceptualize partnership and platform.
Page-16, Line-2 to 3
- “…those acting on consumer behaviour to improve food utilization and nutrition through, for instance, nutrition education, information and knowledge sharing.”
- Page-19, Line-31
- “……..fundamental human rights such as the right to adequate food and nutrition or and the right to water, and sanitation, and health,…..”
Page-20, Line-12
- In the context of the sentence, “FSN” could be elaborated i.e. “Food security and Nutrition”.
Page-24, Line-3
- “learning-oriented MSPs” is missing in figure 2 though it has been mentioned that “Chapter 1 concluded by presenting the different functions of MSPs (Figure 2), namely policy-oriented, 2 action-oriented, and learning-oriented MSPs“. So, “learning-oriented MSPs” needs to be included in figure 2 and also be elaborated in chapter 1.
Page-24, Line-23
- It has been mentioned that, ‘For this report, in addition to public, private and CSO, two other stakeholders are distinguished in Chapter 1, namely the knowledge sector and the banking sector. But ‘banking sector’ issue is not discussed in chapter 1, so it needs to be discussed.’
Page-27, Line-11 to 17
- Action oriented and resource mobilization both cluster need to include “Nutrition”.
Page-47, Line- 33 to 42 (What are the risks associated with the growing influence of private funds in public governance?)
- Form our experience, one bullet could be added as: ‘growing conflict of interest in provisioning/delivery of nutrition services may arise with the growing influence of private funds in public governance.
Page-52, Line- 22
- Add, “………… and fulfil the right to adequate food and nutrition.”
- Page-54, Line- 2
- Add this question “Is there any mechanism to incorporate/address wider public opinion about MSP’s decisions and actions and exercise their opinion?”
Nutrition governance, under the leadership of Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC), (as outlined in Second National Plan of Actionnnn for Nutrition, 2016-2025), could be put as an example of Multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs) to Finance and Improve Food Security and Nutrition.
Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC), the apex body and the core of the nutrition governance system in Bangladesh was formed in 1975 as per the order of the President of Bangladesh. In 2017, the Government reformed BNNC to establish a multisectoral, multilevel (national & sub-national), multi-stakeholder (following 3M approach) coordination platform for nutrition. This council is headed by Honorable Prime Minister and under the Council there is Executive Committee (EC) led by the Honorable Minister of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), which has top level representations from various government ministries and agencies. The Standing Technical Committee (STC) headed by the Joint Secretary of MOHFW with expert members from various government agencies, academia and civil society. While BNNC is responsible for overall policy guidance, the Executive Committee is responsible for the overall coordination throughout implementation of the policies, program management cycle and act as executive oversight. The STC is responsible for technical oversight of the policies and programs related to nutrition. The Council with Hon’ble Prime Minister as its Chair meets twice a year and its Executive Committee meets quarterly.
To effectively scale up nutrition with a 3M approach, the BNNC has a number of coordination platforms with participation from partners including Development Partners. These are: 1. Nutrition Specific 2. Nutrition Sensitive 3. M & E and Research 4. Training & Capacity Building, and 5. Advocacy & Communication. The relevant ministries, agencies, development partners, civil society etc. are linked to both apex committees of BNNC and also in these working level platforms through mid-level representations. Moreover, district and sub-district level coordination mechanisms are also underway as envisaged in the Plan.
Md Ruhul Amin Talukder