What is MSNP (Multi-Sector Nutrition Program)?

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What is Multi-Sector Nutrition Program (MSNP)?

In simple words, multi sector nutrition program refers to the program which is implemented through joint/collective effort from multiple sectors to improve nutrition status of the people.
It is a joint effort towards a single objective i.e. improved nutrition status.
It also fights back against malnutrition issues throughout the country/region through combined effort from all the sectors.

Multisector approach is one of the pristine concepts that involve collaboration and coordination among various governmental, local, and non-governmental authorities for implementing various strategies in various fields of health, economy, business, etc.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), the goal of MSNP is ‘to take the country on the path towards significantly reducing chronic malnutrition to ensure that it no longer becomes an impeding factor to enhance human capital and for overall socio-economic development’.
The goal of MSNP is to improve maternal, adolescent and child nutrition by scaling up necessary nutrition sensitive and nutrition specific interventions.

Components of MSNP might differ between the countries/regions. However, in general, stakeholders of MSNP can include:

One of the effective ways to address malnutrition due to synergistic effect from different sectors
Enables stakeholders to address multi-factorial causes of malnutrition
Ensures sustainability of the nutrition programs and provides a sustainable solution to malnutrition and poverty.
Combined efforts from all the sectors will help to fight back malnutrition efficiently and sustainably.
Promotes efficient utilization of resources
Increases multi-sectoral capacity and potential
Encourages food security; water, sanitation and hygiene, improved health status, increase in agricultural productivity and other aspects in a comprehensive manner
Increase the availability of micro-nutrient-rich foods through nutrition intervention programs
Reduces nutritional deficiencies
Ensures funding from different mechanisms and sectors
Strengthens mutual accountability and shared responsibility

Lack of political commitment and support
Lack of accountability and commitment among the stakeholders
Weak collaboration and coordination among the stakeholders
Lack of strong advocacy from all levels in order to cope up with the momentum of a multi-sector approach.
Limited human and financial resources
Insufficient knowledge of task division to all the sectors to implement specific parts of the plan.
Lack of trained professionals and a high turnover in the government sector due to a low incentive
Lack of visible leadership by the concerned authorities
Lack of budget allocation and distribution in various nutrition intervention programs.
Lack of bottom-up planning
Lack of monitoring and evaluation strategies in developing countries like Ethiopia and Nepal
Lack of advanced nutrition indicators in developing countries.
Lack of effective reporting system
Weak institutional and individual capacities