Comments from Chris Leather, Director, N4D following a recent webinar:
I think we’re at a very critical and exciting moment in efforts to tackle malnutrition in Yemen. The Yemen National Multisectoral Nutrition Plan (2025-2030) has recently been updated, and many civil society organizations fed into the updating of the national plan which outlines critical priorities that need to be addressed to more effectively and sustainably reduce malnutrition in the country.
A key way of implementing and addressing those priorities is through the SUN Yemen Accelerator programmes, which aim to target particular geographical areas with some of the highest rates of malnutrition and the greatest vulnerability to malnutrition.
Accelerator programmes also aim to address particular issues, like micronutrient deficiencies – such a big challenge within the country and one that needs greater resources and attention. So I just wanted to highlight how important it is right now that civil society engages and builds on all the amazing programmes and work that you’re already doing to support the scale-up and the implementation of this national plan.
It’s not going to be effective and it’s not going to be sustainable without the role of civil society organizations, particularly Yemeni CSOs supported by international partners. These CSOs working together and collectively through a Yemen Civil Society Alliance will play an incredibly important role in the implementation of the National Nutrition Plan at a local level, because you are already working so closely with communities that are most vulnerable to malnutrition.
The role of civil society organizations working together in a coordinated way will be vital for scaling up implementation of programs at a very local community level. As is the case in other countries, there’s also a vital role for civil society on the advocacy side of things, influencing, ensuring that nutrition is really integrated into sectoral policies and plans, advocating for the resources that are needed for the implementation of services and programmes.
Also, civil society has a critical role in promoting accountability – ensuring that the whole range of stakeholders are playing their roles, whether that’s government, or donor organizations, or United Nations organizations, or the private sector – ensuring that everybody is playing their role in alignment with the agreed priorities.
Accountability is also vital to ensure that the National Plan for Nutrition is implemented in the interests of everybody, particularly the most vulnerable and really reaching the mothers and children in need of that support to ensure that everybody can improve their nutrition and lead healthier, more dignified lives.
I think it’s really important now to move on to the next steps about how the SUN Yemen Civil Society Alliance will be established.
