The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Secretariat of Yemen recently hosted a national gathering of more than 50 representatives from civil society, United Nations agencies, business and Government that led to a roadmap of the country’s fight against malnutrition and food insecurity.

The gathering, branded “New Partnership, National Leadership, Sustainability,” took place from 4-6 June 2023 in Amman, Jordan. Bringing together representatives from Yemeni ministries, civil society, companies, UN agencies, donors, and academia, it sought to mainstream nutrition policies and improve coordination among government institutions, as well as raise awareness about critical needs in the midst of the country’s ongoing conflict. The output of the gathering was a jointly agreed roadmap for these members of SUN Yemen Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP) outlining strategic priorities, nutrition actions and required investments .

"Malnutrition, in all its forms, is a critical challenge for our country, weighing us down as much as the economic and social crisis we face," said Waed Bathib, Yemen’s Minister of Planning and International Cooperation.

The protracted armed conflict in Yemen has made it one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with an estimated 20.7 million people relying on humanitarian assistance. It constitutes a leading cause of acute malnutrition in the country, affecting the population with levels of stunting and wasting among the highest in the world. About 56 per cent of its population suffers from severe food insecurity, hurting most acutely vulnerable groups such as female-headed households and the 4.5 million internally displaced individuals.

Yemen joined the SUN Movement in 2012, over a decade ago. In conflict-affected countries, the SUN Movement is not always recognized as a key player in ensuring coordination between humanitarian service providers, the government, and development partners. However, in Yemen, the SUN Movement takes an active role in fostering strong links and alignment among all stakeholders, as demonstrated by this national gathering.