Gender Transformative Training Empowers Nutrition Leaders!
CARE Ethiopia, through its CASCADE Project, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Civil Society Coalition for Scaling Up Nutrition (ECSC-SUN) Secretariat, successfully conducted a Gender Transformative Food Systems and Nutrition Programming Training in Adama, from 15-17 July 2025. The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders to design and implement gender-equitable and rights-based food and nutrition programs. It brought together representatives from key government institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, as well as international NGOs that are members of ECSC-SUN. Key Training Topics The training covered a wide range of gender-related concepts and practical tools, including: Gender Concepts and Equity – Foundational understanding of gender equality, equity, and their implications in programming. Gender Norms, Roles, and Social Structures – Analyzing how societal expectations impact food systems and nutrition outcomes. Rights-Based and Equity-Focused Nutrition Programming – Designing inclusive programs that uphold human rights and address disparities. Gender Transformative Tools for Food and Nutrition – Introducing practical approaches to shift power dynamics and promote equality within communities. Gender Audits – Tools and methods to assess gender sensitivity and responsiveness in organizational programs and policies. Gender Integration Continuum and Gender Markers – Tools to assess and track gender integration across program cycles. Gender Budgeting and Action Planning – Techniques to ensure resource allocation is responsive to gender needs and priorities. Several community-level approaches were also discussed, including: Social Analysis and Action (SAA) – Engaging communities in reflecting on and transforming traditional gender norms. Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) – Economic empowerment models that promote women’s agency and decision-making. Farmer Field and Business Schools (FFBS) – Strengthening the capacity of women and men farmers through inclusive learning. Men and Boys Engagement – Strategies to actively involve men and boys in supporting gender equality. Collaborative and Impactful The training was highly interactive and participatory, providing a platform for learning, reflection, and sharing of best practices. Participants appreciated the practical tools and real-world examples, and emphasized the importance of collaborative, gender-transformative approaches to improving food systems and nutrition outcomes. As part of the broader goal of scaling up nutrition in Ethiopia, the training also covered advocacy, partnership development, and resource mobilization strategies to ensure sustainable and far-reaching impact.
Read More
🌍 Strengthening Nutrition Efforts in Sidama Region! 🍎
The Ethiopian Civil Society Coalition for Scaling Up Nutrition (ECSC-SUN) held a regional platform strengthening workshop on July 3, 2025, at Rori Hotel, Hawassa. The event brought together over 20 civil society organizations (CSOs) working across nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific interventions in the Sidama region. 🌱 Participants included local, international, and faith-based organizations, all committed to improving nutrition outcomes. Key highlights: ✅ ECSC-SUN status updates and roadmap presentations ✅ Food and nutrition advocacy strategy familiarization ✅ Introduction of the regional Terms of Reference (ToR) and membership guidelines ✅ Election of the regional steering committee members 📌 The workshop concluded with a joint commitment to develop and submit a organizational action plan within two weeks. 🤝 The Sidama regional platform is led by World Vision Ethiopia and co-led by Save the Children. #ECSCSUN #SidamaRegion #CivilSociety #ScalingUpNutrition #PartnershipForChange
Read More
ECSC-SUN Afar Regional Platform Strengthened !
The Ethiopian Civil Society Coalition for Scaling Up Nutrition (ECSC-SUN) conducted a successful monitoring visit to the Afar Region. Led by Afar Health Bureau, interactive discussion held engaging key stakeholders from the Health, Agriculture, and Education Bureaus, the President’s Office, Amref Health Africa, and the ECSC-SUN Secretariat. 🔍 Key Highlights: ✅ Regional Food & Nutrition Council officially launched ✅ Strategy translated into local language for accessibility ✅ Technical committee established ✅ Multi-sector collaboration strengthened ✅ Mapping of civil society organizations working on nutrition ✅ Regular, timely coordination meetings held 🌟 Impact Achieved: 🥦 School gardening programs expanded 📈 Local capacity enhanced 🚫 Stunting averted through joint interventions Together, we’re making nutrition a priority in Afar! #NutritionMatters #ECSCSUN #AfarRegion #Amref #SaveTheChildren #GEP
Read More
School Gardening Visit
A joint delegation from Save the Children, Ethiopian Civil Society Coalition for Scaling Up Nutrition (ECSC-SUN) Secretariat and Mums for Mums paid a visit to a thriving school gardening project in Kilete Awlalo Woreda, located in the Tigray region. The school garden, flourishing with a variety of vegetables including spinach stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of multiple stakeholders. Key contributors to the project’s success include the woreda’s development agents, agricultural experts, school clubs, and principals, all of whom played vital roles in driving the initiative forward.
Read More
Tigray regional ECSC-SUN coordination platform
The Ethiopian Civil Society Coalition for Scaling Up Nutrition (ECSC-SUN) convened a Tigray Regional Coordination Platform workshop in Mekelle this week. The workshop brought together key stakeholders from across the region to foster collaboration, exchange experiences, and reinforce efforts aimed at combating malnutrition and improving nutrition outcomes. The event was organized in partnership with Mums for Mums, a local civil society organization serving as the regional lead for ECSC-SUN in Tigray. #ECSCSUN #Tigray #ScalingUpNutrition #MumsForMums #EndMalnutrition#NutritionMatters
Read More
2024 Joint Annual Assessment conducted
In Ethiopia there are 6 active Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Networks: SUN Business Network (SBN), SUN Academia, SUN government, SUN UN, SUN Donor and SUN CSOs. These Nutrition Muti Sectorial Platform conduct their 2024 Joint Annual Assessment (JAA) to share achievements, challenges and next priorities. Ethiopian Civil Society Coalition for Scaling Up Nutrition (ECSC-SUN) presented advocacy and programmatic achievements in the event. In terms of capacity building, ECSC-SUN has facilitated and financially supported nutrition leadership training where more than 120 professionals from Afar, Oromia, Somali, Southwest Ethiopia. Regarding gender and community interventions, ECSC-SUN implemented Women’s Economic Empowerment and Adolescent Initiatives where women trained, provided seeds, poultry, seedlings in the intervention areas in Afar, Tigray and Somali regions. In addition, ECSC-SUN engaged in advocacy and knowledge sharing events Globally. For instance, the national lead represented Ethiopia at SUN Regional Meeting at Nairobi, Kenya. JAA is a country-focused process providing an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on annual progress. It helps to ensure that multisectoral efforts to end all forms of malnutrition are well-aligned and effective. #ECSCSUN #Savethechildren #SUNglobal #Ministryofhealthethiopia #Drsisay #AbebeBimerew #NahusenayAlemayehu #SBN #endmalnutrition
Read More
Seqota Declaration Resilience Building Report Disseminated
Seqota Declaration (SD) Resilience Building Report Dissemination and Launching event held with the presence of nutrition stakeholders. Government, UN agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, private sectors and academic institutions are among the participants of the event. In her remark Mr. Hiwot Darsene, Lead Executive Officer of Nutrition Coordination Office at Ministry of Health states that the report findings are well prepared. She also underscores that the report recommendations are expected to be translated into actionable tasks. Seqota Declaration is a government- owned commitment to end stunting in children under two years by 2030.
Read More
Acknowledged !
Nutrition leadership training has been provided at national and regional levels. Organizing such an impactful capacity building program needs multi dimensional efforts. Mobilizing resource is one of challenging tasks to the organizing team. Ethiopian Civil Society Coalition for Scaling Up Nutrition ( ECSC-SUN), has provided financial support to the training organizer regions. Our contribution is recognized. Being acknowledged creates proud ! hashtag#ECSC-SUN hashtag#MinstryofhealthEthiopia # Oromia hashtag#Somali
Read MoreGlobal Nutrition Crisis Demands Immediate Action
We are thrilled to share that the Civil Society Declaration on the N4G Paris Summit 2025 – Call to Action has been endorsed by over 152 organizations, representing thousands of nutrition advocates, practitioners, frontline workers, and more. As a reminder, this declaration calls on world leaders to: Prioritize people, particularly women, girls, and marginalized communities. Protect and increase financing for nutrition, ensuring alignment with national priorities. Ensure accountability through transparent, well-funded mechanisms. Center nutrition in crisis response and long-term development. Regulate the private sector, prioritizing public health over profit.
Read More
Facilitation and communication skill training
Facilitation and communication skill are very important to conduct dialogue session effectively and efficiently. Cognizing this, Ethiopian Civil Society Coalition for Scaling Up Nutrition (ECSC-SUN) organized and conducted training from 2-6 April,2025 at Bishoftu. A total 26 (4 women) participants from three regions, Afar, Tigray and Somali, engaged in the training. Training participants were implementers and supporters of ECSC-SUN Women Economic Empowerment and Adolescent initiative (WEE& AI) intervention. The intervention focused on food production, consumption and practice change in the household feeding. The adolescent nutrition intervention is highly focused to reach out in and out school adolescent groups. The intervention is under implementation by using existing platforms within the schools ( gender , health and sanitation, Nutrition clubs…) and out of school adolescent groups established by Save the Children Gender Equality Project (GEP) . Capacity building, school gardening, and Social and Behavioral Change Communications (SBCC) gender and nutrition are among the intervention component underway with detailed activities. Gender Model Family (GMF) is an approach identified and employed with the objective to promote positive gender norms and address food taboos affecting adolescent groups nutrition status . The social behavioral change intervention expected to be achieved through GMF approach demands to employ multiple approaches including organizing regular dialogue session. The dialogue session is deemed to be managed through organizing subsequent discussion on different adolescent focused nutrition and gender message developed by ECSC-SUN secretariat team. The dialogue session is expected to facilitate by Woreda stakeholders and implementing partners in the regions: Mums for Mums for Tigray and Amref Health Africa for Afar. To enhance the stakeholders and implementing partners facilitation and communication skill, a three-day training was organized and conducted by ECSC-SUN secretariat. Basic communication skills, listening skills, message development Facilitator’s role, facilitation principles were among the contents of the training. The training was interactive, practical that enhance participants knowledge and skill on how to develop adolescent
Read More
