1. End Child Hunger and Undernutrition Initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean
WFP Global Meeting
Copenhagen
June 2006

2. Possibilities of Achieving the Target
Achievement of the Hunger Objective in the Millennium Development Goals
Possibilities of Achieving the Target
Would achieve both Indicators
At least one indicator
Objective #1 of Millennium Development - Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
May not achieve any indicators
Not analyzed in this study
Target #2 -
Reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger
LAC region is on track to meet the MDG nutrition target, with annual reduction of underweight of 3.8% ( ). But the current prevalence of 7% of underweight still represents nearly 4 million children affected.
However, according to an estimate by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua are not on track to meet the nutrition targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
General awareness and political and financial commitment to reduce hunger and malnutrition, as well as micronutrient deficiencies, in young children is low compared with resource allocations for other development priorities. About 1 percent of social spending is allocated to food-based programs, among which investment in fortified food for young children is very low.
In the LAC context there is a need to “customize” the ECHUI approach:
Working in partnership with governments, civil society and the private sector and with proper commitment and support, many countries of the LAC region could exceed the targets set in the MDGs and indeed eradicate child hunger altogether. With proper commitment and support, many countries of the LAC region could exceed the target set in the MDGs, thus the focus on eradicating child malnutrition
Chronic malnutrition as the most appropriate indicator in LAC
To respond to existing gaps in national programme coverage LAC efforts focus on reaching the 0-36 month age group (exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months and appropriate fortified complementary foods or other nutritional support from 6-36 months
WHO/PAHO and UNFPA, as well as UNICEF, are critical partners in LAC (as is ECLAC)
Indicator 1 – Global Malnutrition in Children under five years (Weight/Age)
Indicator 2 – % of Population Undernourished
Fuente: CEPAL. Panorama Social de América Latina
Los límites y los nombres y las designaciones que figuran en este mapa no implican su apoyo o aceptación oficial por las Naciones Unidas.

3. From the Outset: Regional Political Endorsement
Chile, April 2005: Meeting of Health Ministers of South America endorsed WFP as leader in networking and knowledge management initiatives related to hunger reduction
Panama, July 2005: Heads of State of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) requested WFP to take the lead in the fight towards eliminating all forms of hunger and malnutrition in the upcoming decade
Belize, September 2005: RESSCAD XXI - Meeting of Health Ministers of CA and Dom Rep - requested WFP to take the lead in formulating a sub-regional project to eradicate child malnutrition by 2015 in partnership with governments and other cooperation agencies
Panama, March 2006: The Special Summit of Heads of State of the Central American Integration System (SICA) gave its political endorsement to the WFP/Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) project proposal “Towards the Eradication of Child Malnutrition in Central America and the Dominican Republic by 2015”. The programme concept will be submitted for endorsement to the next SICA Presidential Summit in late June in Panama.
Since early 2005 various high-level meetings endorsed and requested WFP to take the lead in the fight towards eliminating all forms of hunger and malnutrition in the upcoming decade. This culminated in SICA’s Special Summit of Heads of State of the Central American Integration System giving its political endorsement to the WFP/Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) project proposal “Towards the Eradication of Child Malnutrition in Central America and the Dominican Republic by 2015”. The project will be submitted for endorsement to the next SICA Presidential Summit. This initiative was endorsed by the UNDG LAC Regional Directors Team in May and will be subject to an extensive stakeholder consultation in early June in preparation for the high-level SICA meeting for endorsement. Plans are underway to adopt a similar approach in the Andean Region.

4. Strategic Partnerships and Consensus Building
Joint IDB-WFP Regional Programme “Towards the Eradication of Child Malnutrition in Central America and the Dominican Republic by 2015”:
Endorsed by the UNDG LAC RD group in May and was subject to an extensive stakeholder consultation in early June in which consensus was reached on the key components and requirements of the regional programme. Participants included representatives of national governments, regional experts, the World Bank, members of civil society, UN agencies and NGOs.
Plans are underway to adopt a similar approach in the Andean Region through an eventual partnership with the Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF)
A Regional Technical Consultation was held in Panama to define the basic components to be taken into account for the design of the Regional Programme “Towards the Eradication of Child Malnutrition in Central America and the Dominican Republic” at the national level (in each of the 8 countries) as well as to identify the synergies to be developed in order to establish a regional support component for the Programme.
Consensus reached on:
Preventive approach focusing on children under 36 months, pregnant women and lactating mothers
Strengthen national programmes with high-potential for nutritional impact
Conceptual framework of 8 national pillars supported by a regional pillar addressing cross-cutting themes
Establishment of a Steering Committee comprised of national authorities from each country, WFP, the IDB, INCAP and SICA to drive the programme preparation process forward
The Technical Consultation brought together 80 participants, including high level technical government representatives directly related to the coordination of national efforts on nutrition, as well as managers and directors of national mother-child nutrition programmes of the eight countries of the Central American region, within the SICA framework. Other participants included UN agencies (UNICEF, PAHO-WHO, INCAP, and ECLAC) and experts from USAID, the EU, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the World Bank, the National Institute of Public Health of Mexico (INSP), Emory University, the Centre for the Autonomy and Development of Indigenous People, the Institute for Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP) and the University of Chile.
Some of the cross-cutting themes that the regional pillar will support include M&E, training, migrations and the cultural dimension (indigenous and afro-descendant groups).
As a key result of the meeting, national representatives pledged to move forward without delay in finalizing their respective components of the regional programme.

5. Working Together: WFP and UNICEF Regional Strategic Partnership Meeting
Executive Directors Jim Morris and Anne Veneman presided over the May meeting in Panama that addressed ECHUI and related themes of HIV/AIDS, emergency response and UN reform
The LAC region has made more progress on the MDGs than most other regions, but the challenge is how to reach those who remain excluded
Need to work with governments, civil society and the private sector to make a systemic difference
To achieve sustainability it is critical to ensure reporting on and monitoring of results, including impact assessment
Many opportunities exist for cross-fertilization across countries and organizations which can help demonstrate effectiveness (facilitating South-South cooperation)
The Panama meeting brought together all WFP and UNICEF Country Representatives and Regional Bureau staff for the first time in the Ciudad del Saber, or “City of Knowledge” in Panama city.
The notion of ending child hunger has powerful implications: it is the right thing to do; it addresses the MDGs and, it is achievable (requires a reasonable amount of money).
Bringing governments together to look at what has worked and what has not, fostering South-South cooperation as well as showing experiences are all critical.
Sustainability/Showing results: Scaling up successful programs to more communities, up to the country level and further to other countries, and also scaling up by integrating complementary initiatives; and measuring results for the long-term Cross fertilization: At country level, training, learning and staff development opportunities could be further explored between the two agencies.

6. Working in Partnership to Support to National Hunger Reduction Plans
Bolivia
WFP, UNICEF and PAHO/WHO will provide integrated support to the recently-launched “National Strategy for Zero Malnutrition”. The two agencies have been working together since 2003 on institutional strengthening, advocacy and micronutrient supplementation and fortification
Guatemala
UNICEF, WFP and PAHO/WHO implementing a joint programme to reduce chronic malnutrition for children under 3 years and pregnant and lactating women
Panama
WFP/UNICEF/UNFPA “Evaluation of Social Programmes with Food and/or Nutrition Components helped support major policy changes regarding the MCH national programme
To achieve the objective of ending child hunger in LAC, continued UNICEF-WFP partnership is critical in joint advocacy, creating a strong coalition of committed national governments, civil society, regional organizations, UN system, NGOs, international cooperation agencies, academic experts and building on the political momentum among strong players in the region willing to place eradicating child malnutrition on their political agendas and to invest in making it possible.
Bolivia:
Institutional Strengthening; Since 2003, both agencies have supported institutional strengthening of the Nutritional Unit of the Ministry of Health, coordinated activities in related communication campaigns, and advocated actively for the establishment of the National Commission for Nutrition and Food Security.
The two agencies also worked together with others in the formulation of the GAIN Project and complemented each other in the provision of micronutrients either through supplementation (UNICEF) or fortification (WFP). These actions have a national coverage.
WFP, UNICEF and PAHO/WHO are committed to provided intergrated support to the recently-launched “National Strategy for Zero Malnutrition”.
Guatemala:
In support to the National Program, UNICEF, WFP and PAHO/WHO are implementing a joint programme for the reduction of chronic malnutrition for children under 3 years and pregnant and lactating women for the period
The Programme promotes breast-feeding and facilitates appropriate supplementary feeding with integral health and environment care targeting 83 municipalities out of 332 with the highest rates of infant malnutrition
Panana:
Upon Government request WFP, UNICEF and UNFPA carried out in October 2005 an “Evaluation of Social Programmes with Food and/or Nutrition Components”, which greatly contributed to the coordination, review, refocus, and follow-up of the national government’s nutrition programmes, particularly those of the Ministries of Education and Health.
Findings of the study were presented to the President of the Republic and his Cabinet. As a direct result, the government of Panama instituted major policy changes related to MCH programmes, to improve existing programmes and adopt decisions for the upcoming budget period, placing emphasis on universal coverage of children aged 6-36 months and pregnant and lactating women living in areas of extreme poverty.

7. Ending Child Hunger is Possible in LAC
Joint advocacy: Cost of Hunger Studies; Investing in early childhood nutrition brings high economic returns – Increased allocation of national resources to MCHN programmes
Creating a strong coalition of committed national governments, civil society, regional organizations, UN System, NGOs, international cooperation agencies, academic experts
Building on the political momentum among strong players in the region willing to place eradicating child malnutrition on their political agendas and to invest in making it possible
BUILDING ON POLITICAL MOMENTUM
Lula / Lagos / Chirac / Zapatero initiative Lula’s Fome Zero. Current opportunities.
Several other major country initiatives to build on and support
CHILE REGIONAL SUMMIT – MARCH/APRIL 2007
In a meeting with President Bachelet of Chile, WFP gained commitment to host a regional summit for an action plan for LAC to eradicate child malnutrition. Building on the WFP-IDB initiative in Central America, similar consultations will be held in the Andean and Caribbean regions to prepare for this important event. ECLAC has agreed to serve as the technical secretariat for the summit and will be preparing the technical document (“Action Plan for LAC).

8. United in the Battle to End Child Hunger!
Cost of eradicating child malnutrition in LAC is between US 60-US 100 / child / per year. Who can say no????
United in the Battle to End Child Hunger!