From Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
The Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has equipped nutrition advocates with the knowledge and skills needed to drive nutrition advocacy and sustain alliances in Kaduna State.
The two-day capacity training, held in Kaduna, brought together representatives from various civil society organizations and media partners.
In his opening remarks, Ibrahim Tudun. A member of the CS-SUNN steering committee in Abuja emphasized the importance of effective advocacy to promote nutrition in Nigeria.
“Advocacy is a critical component of our work, and we need to ensure that our advocates are equipped with the right skills and knowledge to drive change,” he said.
The Program Officer of CS-SUNN Abuja, Hope Ikani, explained that the training has the following objectives: to strengthen the capacity of programmatic leadership, jointly develop the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the state executive officers, build the capacity of state chapter members in leadership and advocacy, enhance their knowledge of alliance protocols, and collaboratively develop an annual work plan for the state chapter.
In his presentation, Kunle Ishola, Senior Programming Officer of CS-SUNN, emphasized the importance of understanding the policy process and identifying key stakeholders. “Advocacy is not just about shouting slogans,” he said. “It’s about understanding the system, building relationships, and influencing decision-makers.”
He highlighted the importance of building alliances and partnerships in advocacy. “No single organization can achieve nutrition goals alone,” he said. “We need to work together, build partnerships, and leverage resources to drive change.”
Mr. Kunle added that nutrition advocacy is critical to improving nutrition in Kaduna State. “We need advocates who can drive change and promote best practices in nutrition.”
He clarified that food security focuses on access to sufficient food, emphasizing availability, affordability, and physical access. It addresses the quantity of food, ensuring people have enough calories and energy.
Kunle explained that nutrition security goes beyond food availability, focusing on access to nutritious food that meets dietary needs and considers factors such as nutrient quality, health, and care practices.
“It prioritizes the quality of food, ensuring people have a balanced diet for optimal health.
Food security is about having enough food on the table, while nutrition security is about having the right food on the table, promoting overall well-being.”
The training aimed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed to advocate effectively for nutrition policies and programs at both national and state levels.
Participants learned about principles of nutrition advocacy, alliance building, and sustainability planning.
The training covered key topics, including advocacy strategies, partnership building, and resource mobilization. Participants engaged in interactive sessions, group work, and case studies to apply their new skills.
A participant, Patience Joseph Chet, of the community development initiative said that the training enlightens CBOs on how well-planned advocacy can lead to sustainable policies that drive positive change in nutrition matters.
And every Advocacy must be SMART ( specific, measurable, achievable, Relevant, and time-bound) to achieve results
Another participant, Mary Sabastine of Hope for Communities and Children Initiatives (H4CC), expressed gratitude for the training. “I’ve gained valuable insights and skills to advocate for nutrition in my community. I’m committed to promoting nutrition and best practices.”
This training is part of CS-SUNN’s efforts to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to promote better nutrition in Nigeria. With support from development partners, CS-SUNN is working to improve nutrition outcomes across the country.
As Kaduna strives to meet its nutrition goals, empowered advocates will play a vital role in driving change and promoting nutrition best practices, such as advocacy strategies, alliance building, and sustainability planning. Participants also participated in case studies and group exercises to test their understanding.
Participants also attended a session on sustainability planning, where they learned how to develop sustainable advocacy plans that outlast funding cycles.
