United Nations Administrative Committee on Coordination - Sub-Committee on Nutrition

(ACC/SCN)

The Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC), which is comprised of the heads of the UN Agencies, recommended the establishment of the Sub-Committee on Nutrition (SCN) in 1977, following the World Food Conference (with particular reference to Resolution V on food and nutrition). This was approved by the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC). The role of the SCN is to serve as a coordinating mechanism, for exchange of information and technical guidance, and to act dynamically to help the UN respond to nutrition problems around the world.

The UN members of the SCN are FAO, IAEA, IFAD, ILO, UN, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCHR, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNRISD, UNU, WFP, WHO and the World Bank The Asian Development Bank is also a member. From the outset, representatives of bilateral donor agencies have participated actively in SCN activities. Non-governmental organizations are also involved. The SCN is assisted by the Advisory Group on Nutrition (AGN), comprised of six nutritional scientists and practitioners of world repute from different regions. The Secretariat is hosted by WHO in Geneva.

The SCN undertakes a range of activities to meet its mandate. Annual meetings have representation from the concerned UN Agencies, from 10 to 20 donor agencies, the AGN, as well as invitees on specific topics; these meetings begin with symposia on subjects of current importance for policy. The SCN brings certain such. matters to the attention of the ACC. The SCN sponsors up to nine working groups in specialized areas of nutrition.

The SCN compiles and disseminates information on nutrition, reflecting the shared views of the agencies concerned. Regular reports on the world nutrition situation are issued. Nutrition Policy papers are produced to summarize current knowledge on selected topics. SCN News is normally published twice yearly and reports on the nutritional status of refugees and displaced persons four times per year. As decided by the Sub-Committee, initiatives are taken to promote coordinated activities - inter-agency programmes, meetings, publications - aimed at reducing malnutrition, primarily in developing countries.

Further in formation can be obtained from the Sub-Committee on Nutrition, as follows:

http://www.unsystem.org/accscn/