Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative (NFSI) In partnership between EDC, FAO, SCN, UNESCO, UNICEF, World Bank,WFP and WHO Ulla Uusitalo WHO Department of Nutrition for Health and Development

u Originally developed as a follow-up to the WHO Expert Meeting on Childhood Obesity in Kobe (2005) ● double-burden of malnutrition should be addressed also in school nutrition programmes u A brainstorming meeting in Montreux, Feb. 2006, among partners (EDC, FAO, SCN, WFP and WHO) ● reviewed ongoing school based nutrition programmes ●reviewed evidence base ●developed the NFSI framework Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative

u OBJECTIVES - Provide a framework for school-based intervention programmes which address the double burden of nutrition-related ill health - Serve as a mechanism for inter-connecting the various on-going school-based intervention programmes Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative

EXPECTED OUTCOME OF NFSI To increase the number of schools that: 1. Provide an enabling environment that contributes to the health and nutritional well- being of children 2. Have close links with parents, local community and health services

Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative Concept and principles: UNICEF / WHO Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) Global Award Plaque Global Award Plaque

Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative NUTRITION-FRIENDLY SCHOOL A school will be entitled after fulfilling 22 Essential Criteria within five core components

1. Having a written Nutrition-Friendly Schools policy 2. Enhancing awareness and capacity building of the school community 3. Developing a nutrition and health-promoting school curriculum 4. Creating a supportive school environment 5. Providing supportive school nutrition and health services Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative The core components:

1. Having a written Nutrition-Friendly School policy 2. Enhancing awareness and capacity building of the school community 3. Developing a nutrition and health-promoting school curriculum 4. Creating a supportive school environment 5. Providing supportive school nutrition and health services Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative 22 essential criteria 11 essential criteria 3 essential criteria 4 essential criteria 1 essential criteria 3 essential criteria

Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative The process: Form a core action group Conduct self-appraisal (SAT) I Action plan and implementation Conduct self-appraisal (SAT) II Accredited Conduct an external evaluation Certificate of commitment Global Award Plaque Global Award Plaque External re-evaluation

Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative What is specific to NFSI? ● NFSI addresses all forms of malnutrition ● NFSI uses a global standardized evaluation and accreditation scheme ● NFSI has a strong focus on developing supportive school environment which promotes nutrition and physical activity

Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative NFSI Pilot-testing countries - Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Grenada, India, Italy, Lithuania, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uganda, (Hungary and Latvia).

Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative PILOT-TEST OF THE NFSI Main outcomes and issues: ● support needed in the beginning of the implementation (technical and financial resources), also suggested that local partnership should be formed for further support ● curriculum changes may be a challenge ● poor infrastructure may delay the implementation of the initiative ● creating a NFSI Info Website was suggested for developing a global network ● in general, comments were positive, and countries were interested in implementation of the NFSI

Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative (NFSI) How NFSI related to the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health: a School Policy Framework (SPF)? ● SPF focuses on governmental level policy action whereas NFSI focuses on a school-level policy implementation ● The focus of SPF is to prevent and control childhood overweight and obesity while NFSI addresses all forms of malnutrition (undernutrition, micronutrient malnutrition, overweight/obesity) ● SPF and NFSI are complementary

Contact the NFSI Team at: GOOGLE: " WHO NFSI " Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative