(P24-001-24) Strategies to Improve Nutrition Commitments of State Governors: Insights From the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat

Objectives: To demonstrate the use of evidence by NGF Secretariat to improve state Governors’ commitment to nutrition.

Methods: The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, a platform for the 36 Governors in Nigeria is positioned to drive effective nutrition governance at the subnational, but the lack of relevant data has limited this. The NGF Secretariat, the Forum's technical and administrative arm employed these strategies to enhance the access of Governors to relevant nutrition information to secure their commitment.

1. Evidence generation: Poor coordination, financing, and maternity protection were identified as core gaps in nutrition governance at the subnational. Relevant high-level indicators to measure progress on identified gaps were developed and data was collected routinely through the State Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN), a platform for coordinating nutrition activities in the states.

2. Data Accessibility: Meta-dashboard and state profiles were developed to improve access of the Governors to these dat

3. Evidence-Based Advocacy: State-specific advocacy tools such as policy briefs were presented to Governors at different fora to secure their commitments and drive actions.<

4. Accountability for Action: A nutrition scorecard was developed to track progress and hold Governors accountable to these nutrition commitments. In addition to tracking progress, it was used to promote peer learning and positive peer pressure.

5. Systems Strengthening: The NGF Secretariat provided technical assistance to the SCFN to build their capacity in operationalizing the nutrition commitments.

Results: All 36 states revitalized their SCFN (b=5), 19 states approved a multisectoral plan of action for nutrition (b=10), six states approved 6-months paid maternity leave (b=3), three states established a nutrition department in relevant ministries(b=0), 11 states have functional government-owned creches (b=4), and funding for nutrition increased at the subnational level.

*(b = baseline)

Conclusions: The perceived lack of nutrition commitment of state governors can be attributed to poor access to relevant information. Improving access of the Governors to relevant and evidence-based nutrition information will reinforce their commitments and invariably improve nutrition actions and outcomes.

Funding Sources: None