DECLARATION 

We the under listed 'Organizations, met in Ilorin. Kwara State from November 18-22, 2013 to consider and deliberate on the current Nutrition situation in Nigeria, especially as it affects mothers and children under five and develop appropriate mechanisms to address identified issues. 

We appreciate Government's renewed efforts at addressing the problems of malnutrition by joining the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement, reviewing the National Food and Nutrition Policy and thecommitment by Federal Government of Nigeria at the recent G8 Summit on Nutrition for Growth. 

Nigeria's commitments at the G8 Meeting in London 

1. Sustain the current average annual Federal Spend ofUSD $10 million on nutrition specific interventions. 

2. Establish a distinct budget line for nutrition within the budget in the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency. 

3. Sustain the level of funding under the SURE P and MSS programs which currently deploy 10,000 health workers, with a nutrition component. 

4. Leverage the use of mobile technology to reach mothers and children, empower the health workers and strengthen the system. 

5. Strengthen regulation and enforcement to ensure compliance e.g. with fortification standards, working across agencies. 

6. Expand monitoring and evaluation of nutrition programs over time, through the expansion of SMART surveys and other programs. 

7. Additionally. in the 20] 4 budget, to reallocate USD $20 million towards nutrition specific interventions, within the 

existing fiscal envelope. 

We however note as follows 

That the prevalence of malnutrition among children under five in Nigeria remains at crisis level for it has not changed significantly over the years. specifically, stunting was 42% in 2003 and 41 % in 2008 (NDHS). Malnutrition remains a major underlying factor of under-five mortality in the country. It also results in higher healthcare costs, reduced educational attainment and economic productivity. 

However, recent evidence has reaffirmed that the 1000 davs between a woman's pregnancy and her child's second birthday is a critical window of opportunity to address child under-nutrition. 

To this effect, we have come together to establish a Civil Society Coalition named the, Civil Society (Alliance) Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria CS-SUNN) and hereby solemnly declare as follows: 

1. To harmonize and raise the voice of civil society in Nutrition to advocate at National, State, Local Government and 

Community levels to contribute towards the progress of Nutrition in Nigeria. 

2. To mobilize and empower communities. especially the most vulnerable at the grassroots, to contribute to the work of scaling up Nutrition

3. To increase Civil Society involvement in Nutrition programming and capacity-building at all levels

4. To commit to a nationwide reduction of under-nutrition by engaging all Stakeholders (Government, Private sectors, academia and other) to improve coordination and funding for Nutrition interventions.

5. To hold leaders and Governments accountable for their commitment to the development of Nutrition.

6. To promote nutrition governance by supporting the establishment of muti-stakeholder platform that aligns civilsociety activities with national costed plans. 

7. To strengthen the capacity of CSOs to facilitate an effective National and Local response to address the problem of Nutrition across the nation. 

8. To promote evidence-based approaches to enhance a nation- wide Scaling Up of Nutrition. 

To this end, we affirm and call on; 

1. Governments, at all levels, to strengthen capacity of the Planning bodies for the effective coordination of nutrition actors, collect, analyze, document and disseminate data on the National response to Nutrition problems. 

2. Governments, at all levels, to maintain and increase their commitment, Increase nutrition financing and strengthen their nutrition information surveillance system. 

3. Academia to be involved m relevant nutrition research programmes and disseminate findings to the relevant bodies for evidence based decision making/ policy! programs. 

4. Farmers to be actively involved in the production, preservation ofqua1ity crops that will enhance the scaling up of nutrition in the nation. 

5. Women and children to avail themselves of nutrition programs I projects for improved knowledge and nutrition behavioral practices. 

6. Religions / traditional leaders to be actively involved to support the vanous nutrition programs rn their vanous localities. 

7. Private sector institutions to actively participate in scaling lip Nutrition in Nigeria by ensuring their business activities promote and provide resources for good nutrition at affordable costs. 

8. Development partners to increase their support for nutrition and collaboration on Nutrition interventions. 

9. Communities to active1y participate and take ownership of all nutrition programs for sustainability 

10. Civil Society Organizations with Nutrition related focus, to join this movement to ensure all Nigerians have adequate 

nutrition. 

Below is the list of participants at the Nigerian CSA Visioning Workshop in Ilorin, Nigeria. 

ORGANIZATIONS AT THE MEETING 

1. Nutrition Society of Nigeria 

2. Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria(APHPN) 

3. Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) 

4. Save the Children, Nigeria. 

5. Federal Ministry of Health 

6. National Planning Commission 

7. Food Basket Foundation 

8. Women in New Nigeria 

9. PRAWA

10. WASHPOL

Signed 

Professor Isaac Akinyrlr

Steering committee Chairman 

Mrs. Rosemary Nsirim

Steering Committee Secretay