UN-Nutrition Catalytic Funding for UN Country Offices

UN-Nutrition Catalytic Funding for UN Country Offices is sponsored by UN-Nutrition. This funding provides targeted, short-term support to UN Country Teams pioneering innovative ways to work together on nutrition.

2026 UN-Nutrition Catalytic Funding for UN Country Offices | UN‑Nutrition: the United Nations inter‑agency coordination mechanism for nutrition. 2026 UN-Nutrition Catalytic Funding for UN Country Offices 2026 UN-Nutrition Catalytic Funding Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement UN‑Nutrition’s Catalytic Funding provides targeted, short‑term support to UN Country Teams that are pioneering innovative ways to work together on nutrition.

This six‑month “ignition phase” funding is designed to spark collaboration, strengthen multisectoral action, and help teams embed nutrition as a cross‑cutting priority within national development agendas.

Six Countries Selected for 2026 This year, six UN Country Teams were awarded Catalytic Funding grants coordinated by UN‑Nutrition: Burundi · Ethiopia · Madagascar · Mozambique · Myanmar · Vietnam Each team is implementing a unique initiative to enhance nutrition governance and strengthen coordinated UN action. Projects are now underway, with funding periods concluding at the end of September 2026 .

A more coherent, collaborative, and knowledge-driven UN system for nutrition that accelerates country-level progress, through aligned advocacy, shared learning, and strategic partnerships, while effectively influencing global action.

Discover the Work Underway Explore how UN Country Teams are strategically using catalytic resources to strengthen multisectoral nutrition coordination, accelerate progress on national priorities, and lay the groundwork for sustainable, long‑term impact. These initiatives highlight practical solutions, collaborative approaches, and innovations that are helping countries drive measurable improvements in nutrition outcomes.

Learn more about each country’s project below. To strengthen multisectoral nutrition governance and enhance UN system coherence at national, provincial, and communal levels. This work focuses on improved coordination, stronger data systems, and unified advocacy for better nutrition outcomes across Burundi.

Revitalizing UN Nutrition Coordination Participating agencies will re‑energizing the UN Nutrition Working Group and develop a joint UN Nutrition Action Plan to ensure that the UN system speaks with one voice and acts collectively in support of national priorities. Implementing a National Nutrition Information Platform A new multisectoral nutrition information platform is being established and tested, with pilots in four communes.

This platform will bring together data from multiple sectors to guide real‑time decision‑making. Strengthening Local Coordination and Capacity At the communal level, participating agencies are building the skills and systems needed for effective multisectoral coordination, joint planning, and routine monitoring of nutrition actions.

Generating and Using Multisectoral Evidence Initial data reports will inform evidence‑based decisions at all levels, helping stakeholders identify needs, track progress, and adapt programming. Sharing Knowledge and Success Stories Participating agencies will be documenting and disseminating best practices to support national learning and contribute to global nutrition advocacy.

Implemented by: FAO, UNICEF, WHO, WFP To strengthen multisectoral nutrition governance at federal and regional levels, accelerating progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger. Mapping and Understanding Coordination Systems Participating agencies are supporting a comprehensive diagnostic study to assess nutrition coordination structures across federal and subnational levels.

The findings guide will target improvements and inform future investments. Engaging Key Government and Regional Stakeholders Sensitization sessions will be held with more than eight national and regional entities to reinforce shared understanding, build commitment, and foster multisectoral collaboration.

Producing High‑Level Policy Insights A national policy brief on “coordination for results” will be developed to highlight challenges, opportunities, and actionable recommendations for stronger nutrition governance.

Driving Cross‑Sector Alignment Through National Dialogue A national dialogue event will bring together diverse sectors to strengthen alignment, encourage collective action, and support coherent implementation of Ethiopia’s nutrition agenda.

Advancing One‑UN Support for Nutrition One‑UN nutrition recommendations will be developed and formally endorsed within the UNSDCF, ensuring a unified UN approach that supports national leadership and priorities.

Implemented by: FAO and UNICEF To strengthen national and sub‑national nutrition coordination mechanisms so that ONN and UN Partners for Nutrition can jointly design, map, cost, and monitor nutrition‑responsive, climate‑smart agri-food system policies and programmes, ultimately enabling equitable access to nutritious, locally produced foods.

Conducting Joint Diagnostics and Mapping Participating agencies are carrying out a coordinated assessment of nutrition‑sensitive agri-food interventions, key stakeholders, and financing flows. These diagnostics form the foundation for more coherent and effective multisectoral action.

Building National Capacity for Integrated Planning ONN/ORN and ministry teams are being trained to use the UN inventory and mapping toolkit, enabling them to systematically track interventions and identify opportunities for alignment and scale‑up.

Strengthening Collaboration Through Planning and Validation Workshops A series of joint workshops bring together government, UN partners, and other stakeholders to harmonize evidence, validate findings, and ensure coherence across agrifood and nutrition initiatives.

Enhancing Skills for Healthy Diets and Agrifood System Pathways Capacity‑building sessions focus on designing, costing, and monitoring agri-food system pathways that support healthy diets, integrating nutrition, climate resilience, and local food systems.

Developing Joint Advocacy Products A summary brief and an investment case are being prepared to champion integrated, nutrition‑responsive agrifood systems and mobilize greater political and financial support. Convening a Donor and UN Roundtable ONN is leading a high‑level roundtable bringing together donors and UN entities to align investments and strengthen collective commitment to nutrition‑responsive, climate‑smart agri-food systems.

Implemented by: FAO, UNICEF, WHO, WFP To institutionalize a unified UN coordination framework that accelerates the implementation of PESAN 2024–2030. This includes strengthening joint planning, enhancing shared accountability, reinforcing SETSAN’s leadership, improving evidence generation, and ensuring a coherent, influential UN voice on nutrition.

Mapping UN Nutrition Actions and Opportunities An inception phase and rapid targeted mapping exercise are being conducted to identify existing UN nutrition actions, gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for convergence.

Engaging Stakeholders Through Structured Consultations Participating agencies are facilitating consultations with SETSAN, government ministries, SUN networks, donors, civil society, and the private sector to build ownership, ensure alignment, and strengthen multisectoral collaboration.

Developing the Joint UN Nutrition Strategy 2026–2030 A comprehensive strategy is being drafted to guide unified UN engagement in Mozambique’s nutrition agenda. Securing Endorsement and Ensuring High‑Visibility Launch Internal UN endorsement and a public launch will solidify the framework, strengthen alignment with national priorities, and elevate the visibility of nutrition efforts across the country.

Producing Strategic Knowledge and Advocacy Products Key materials, including alignment notes, an advocacy brief, and a private‑sector position paper, will support evidence‑based decision‑making and stronger partnerships.

Initiating Joint Programming and Evidence Generation At least one joint programme concept will be developed, alongside lessons learned, a case study, and SNISAN‑linked evidence products to inform ongoing and future multisectoral nutrition actions. Implemented by: FAO, UNICEF, UNFPA​, WHO, WFP To strengthen multisectoral nutrition action by improving evidence generation, joint planning, and inter‑agency coordination.

This work uses a shared analytical base to inform coherent, nutrition‑sensitive programming across both humanitarian and development contexts. Generating a Shared Evidence Base Through Joint DIEM FAO, UNICEF, and WFP are conducting a joint DIEM exercise that integrates agriculture, food security, and nutrition indicators. This provides a unified analytical foundation for coordinated programme design and decision‑making.

Developing an Integrated Programme Proposal Using DIEM findings, partners are preparing an integrated programme proposal to guide joint programming and strengthen policy advocacy for nutrition‑sensitive actions.

Aligning Priorities Through Joint Planning Workshops Workshops at national and sub‑national levels will bring stakeholders together to harmonize priorities, reduce overlap, and ensure coherent multisectoral response across humanitarian and development settings.

Strengthening Inter‑Agency Coordination DIEM will serve as a shared evidence base to improve coordination, facilitate joint decisions, and reinforce collaboration among UN agencies and partners working on nutrition. Building Capacity and Sharing Knowledge Capacity‑building activities will support continuous learning and collective action.

Implemented by: FAO, UNICEF (WFP endorsed)​ To lay the foundation for a national, multisector, AI‑enabled Food and Nutrition Data Hub that strengthens evidence‑based policymaking, improves food safety monitoring, and supports the prevention of all forms of malnutrition and diet‑related non‑communicable diseases.

Establishing a Multisector Governance Taskforce A national taskforce is being set up to guide the development of the Data Hub, with agreed terms of reference, shared standards, and data‑sharing arrangements across sectors. Mapping Existing Food and Nutrition Data Systems Participating agencies are conducting a comprehensive mapping of datasets spanning food, nutrition, agriculture, trade, and food safety.

Based on this review, recommendations for harmonized national data standards will be developed. Designing System Architecture and Operational Tools The project is designing the Data Hub’s system architecture, interoperability layer, and a set of core operational SOPs and reporting templates to ensure consistency, transparency, and ease of use.

Building the Minimum Viable Architecture A Minimum Viable Architecture (MVA) will be developed, alongside two pilot analytics packages and the first version of the national dashboard, demonstrating the potential of integrated, AI‑supported analysis. Strengthening Governance and Integration for Sustainability A governance review and a routine surveillance integration plan will be produced to support long‑term sustainability.

Policy briefs, case studies, and a national learning workshop will help build momentum, visibility, and national ownership. Implemented by: FAO, UNICEF, WHO Application Manual: 2026 UN-Nutrition Catalytic Funding