In an era where food systems are increasingly under pressure from climate change and nutritional challenges, this panel session addresses critical issues by exploring two programming approaches: Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture (NSA) and Farmer Managed Natural Resources (FMNR)/ Regreening (RGC) approaches. As a member of the global Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement, World Vision is committed to contribute towards building the evidence base for NSA and FMNR/RGC. World Vision Australia’s (WVA) Evidence Building Framework (EBF) will be briefly introduced as a basis for learning, meta-reviews and evidence-gap analysis; findings from a recent NSA meta-review generated using this framework will then be explored, highlighting what worked, what were the enablers and constraints, and lessons learned. This session will also unpack the intersection of climate resilience, regreening and nutrition by sharing field perspectives from an NSA project in Timor-Leste, including use of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR). A final session presented by DFAT will show how positioning NSA within a food-systems approach can lead to transformative results through both community-led and policy-based initiatives.

In alignment with DFAT’s Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and Food Systems Guidance Note and climate resilient agricultural development and food security initiatives, the presentation will highlight the importance of integrating explicit nutrition objectives into agricultural development programming, including climate-adaptive and environment-focused initiatives, and facilitate a food system approach that addresses nutritional security in the context of the climate crisis.

At the end of the session, delegates will gain a deepened understanding of NSA as an approach to maximise nutrition outcomes; they will also be equipped with knowledge and insights on evidence-based NSA and FMNR/Regreening approaches that promote solidarity and resilience within their respective contexts. Practical insights from World Vision programming in the Better Food, Better Health Project in Timor-Leste will illustrate successful integration of these approaches. The session will provide actionable strategies for stakeholders in agriculture, health & nutrition, livelihood, climate resilience and DME sectors to facilitate a food system approach to achieve nutrition impacts, leveraging World Vision Australia’s Evidence Building Framework in alignment with DFAT’s NSA and Food Systems Framework for standardised approaches to design, monitoring, evaluation and learning on NSA programming.

Panel Chair:
Karen Mejos, Evidence Building Advisor, World Vision Australia

Panellists:
Charlotte Coogan, Consultant, Food Security Evidence Brokerage
Evangelita da Costa Pereira, Maternal Child Health and Nutrition Specialist, World Vision Timor Leste
Fiona Lynn, Director, Agricultural Development & Food Security Section, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade