ST4N Impact Report: Fighting for Global Nutrition in an Era of Crises

A letter from the ST4N Program Lead

Three years ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the world to shut down, I relocated back to North America from Asia and like millions of others I adapted to a new life and remote work. As I began a new role as the Program Lead for the Standing Together for Nutrition (ST4N) Consortium, I immediately realized the unique privilege I had to collaborate with leading experts committed to improving the health and nutrition of vulnerable mothers and children. I could never have anticipated the length or extent of the ensuing crises over the past few years — nor the impact that a group of dynamic and passionate experts and advocates working together could have.

ST4N’s initial mandate was to examine the pandemic’s impact on global malnutrition levels. What we did not know was that this crisis would cascade into a polycrisis, deepening pre-existing inequalities and devastating the world’s most vulnerable people, particularly children, women, adolescent girls, and displaced persons. The ramifications of these crises extend far beyond nutrition and health, affecting economies, health systems, and societies. It is precisely these injustices that have fueled the work of the Consortium.

As the effects of these crises mounted, we recognized the urgency of our mission and the need to elevate nutrition on global agendas as development resources faced increasing strains. Our response was to generate and disseminate policy-relevant evidence to mitigate the impact of these crises on food and nutrition security for vulnerable groups. We innovated a pathway for impact by publishing our findings in high impact journals to support an expanding network of advocacy partners. We urged policymakers and funders to recognize the critical role of nutrition in pandemic mitigation and to consider the impact of the war in Ukraine and subsequent food inflation on the households who were already spending up to 70% of their income on food. And we focused on supporting a resilient future for the women and girls who faced disproportionate impacts from the multi-sector disruptions of these crises.

As we enter an era of the ‘new normal’, where severe climate events compound conflicts, economic disruptions, and the lingering effects of the pandemic, we remain fiercely committed to protecting the health and nutrition of the most vulnerable through evidence-based policy recommendations.

It has been a privilege to work with such a dedicated group of experts. I am deeply grateful to the Steering Committee, who provided sage and strategic guidance, to the hard-working members of the Working Groups, who developed and disseminated evidence to support ST4N’s effective advocacy efforts, and to Global Affairs Canada and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation for their on-going encouragement and support that enabled the work to continue, as crises continued. 

Cecilia Fabrizio

ST4N Program Lead