For this Learning Network context, nutrition surveillance is defined as a system established to continuously monitor the dietary intake, nutritional status and other nutrition indicators of a population or selected population groups using a variety of data- collection methods whose ultimate goal is to lead to evidenced-based and well-informed nutrition policy formulation, advocacy and action planning.
This TWG focuses on Early Warning (EW) technical areas of nutrition surveillance. These include SMART surveys, sentinel sites, IPC (Integrated Phased Classification – Food Security and Malnutrition Assessment Tool), Dietary Assessments, Adhoc food and nutrition surveys and assessments and meteorological data, among others.
The objective of this TWG is to contribute to the understanding, sharing and learning to promote actions, change and transitions to strengthen data collection, repository, analysis and use.
Functions and responsibilities
The TWG facilitates learning on technical and non-technical matters, as well as trigger and support innovation in nutrition surveillance. These are done through:
- Facilitating discussions leading to learning and sharing of best practices, innovations and new dimensions in nutrition surveillance;
- Creating and operationalizing frameworks for addressing collective regional challenges in surveillance including but not limited to efforts in harmonization, standardization and development of policy/strategy framework on surveillance;
- Supporting TWG members in addressing technical issues related to data collection, repository, analysis and use;
- Facilitate capacity needs assessment in the 8-member countries;
- Advocate for capacity building on food and nutrition security early warning system;
- Advocate the development of integrated/multisectoral Early Warning, Early Action Systems; and
- Tracking and documenting the learnings in the TWGs.