Seven Countries Gather to Strengthen Nutrition Safety Nets

News Desk

Islamabad:  A three-day global meeting opened in Islamabad on Monday, bringing together representatives from seven countries to discuss how social protection programmes can help reduce malnutrition.

Pakistan and Timor-Leste are co-hosting the event, with the World Food Programme (WFP) facilitating discussions focused on evidence, country experiences, and future policy directions.

Government officials and experts from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Niger, Timor-Leste, and Pakistan have gathered to share practical solutions for reducing malnutrition. The meeting, convened under the Global Task Force on Social Protection for Nutrition, aims to help countries integrate nutrition into national safety-net systems.

The discussions will review existing programmes, successful models, and innovative approaches to strengthening national policies. Delegates will explore ways to expand support for vulnerable families, improve early childhood nutrition, and align social protection efforts with global development goals.

As the host country, Pakistan is presenting its experience through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), considered a leading model in the region. BISP’s initiatives, including its nutrition-focused Benazir Nashonuma Programme, are being highlighted as examples of how national systems can reduce malnutrition and support families during early childhood.

Launched in 2020 with support from WFP, UNICEF, and WHO, the Nashonuma Programme provides targeted assistance to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children under two. An evaluation by Aga Khan University found that stunting at six months of age was 20 percent lower among children enrolled in the programme—one of the strongest documented nutrition impacts achieved at scale in Pakistan.

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In a written message, President Asif Ali Zardari said that integrating nutrition into social protection marks an important shift for Pakistan. He emphasised that the first thousand days of life require focused attention and noted that the Nashonuma initiative ensures essential support for women and young children during this critical period. He said the goal is clear: no child should suffer from malnutrition, and no mother should be left without care.

BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid said the programme would continue to expand in coordination with provincial authorities to maintain progress made in recent years. She noted that BISP has transformed Pakistan’s social protection landscape since 2008 by replacing scattered initiatives with a coordinated system backed by digital payments, beneficiary registries, and targeted support.

Senator Khalid said BISP is now the country’s largest social protection platform, supporting 10 million families. She highlighted its key programmes, including Benazir Kafaalat, Taleemi Wazaif, Hunarmand, and the Nashonuma initiative. She added that Nashonuma alone has reached 3.9 million mothers and children with nutrition services, health support, and awareness sessions that have contributed to lower stunting rates.

WFP Representative and Country Director in Pakistan, Coco Ushiyama, said Pakistan’s progress shows that integrating nutrition into social protection is not only effective but also cost-efficient. She stressed that long-term political commitment and sustained financing are essential for strengthening these systems.

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Speaking on behalf of President Jose Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste, Vice Minister of Social Security and Inclusion Ceu Brites thanked Pakistan for hosting the event and acknowledged its leadership in promoting nutrition-focused social protection. She also recognised the support of the Government of France for the Global Task Force and encouraged participants to translate shared ideas into concrete actions to ensure families everywhere receive essential support.

The gathering highlights the commitment of participating countries to end hunger and reduce malnutrition. It is aligned with global efforts under the Sustainable Development Goals, including Zero Hunger (SDG 2) and universal social protection (SDG 1).

Organisers say the event reflects the leadership of the Global South in driving international action towards stronger, nutrition-sensitive social protection systems.