Technical Working Groups – General

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The Technical Working Groups are comprised of technical specialists in various thematic areas from a cross-section of stakeholders including key sector ministries, representatives of development partners, civil society organisations and the academia. The TWGs include; Infant and Young Child Feeding, Micronutrient, Nutrition M & E Surveillance and Research, Nutrition Education & Training and Targeted Nutrition Programme. The TWGs meets at least quarterly.

  • Providing a forum for dialogue and information sharing among partners at all levels.
  • Reviewing national and sectoral policies, strategic plans and technical proposals.
  • Providing technical support and guidance in the implementation of activities and capacity building initiatives.
  • Coordinating and leading in thematic reviews, studies and development of guidelines for the projects.
  • Addressing emerging issues in various thematic areas.
  • Identifying and disseminating best practices.
  • Networking with other Technical Working Groups

Infant and Young Child Feeding

  • Review/update IYCF strategy
  • Facilitate the standardization and harmonization of IYCF IEC materials
  • Support the dissemination of the reviewed IYCF strategy,  IEC materials and best practices to nutrition stakeholders
  • Resource mobilization for IYCF
  • Provide technical guidance on recommended / appropriate infant and young child feeding practices to implementing agencies at all levels
  • Enforcement of code of marketing of infant formula and breast milk substitute
  • Provide technical guidance in assessing health facilities in Malawi to be certified Baby-Friendly (IYCF)
  • Networking with other Technical Working Groups
  • Conduct quarterly IYCF technical working group meetings
  • Report to the National Nutrition Committee

Micronutrient

This TWG includes a representative from the National Fortification Alliance.

  • Provide leadership and technical guidance on the implementation of the micronutrients programmes and project to the stakeholders
  • Facilitate  the development, review and standardization of micronutrient guidelines, strategies and IEC materials
  • Identify micronutrients education needs in liaison with the Nutrition Education, Research and Training Committee
  • Identify research areas of micronutrients for evidence based interventions
  • Facilitate development of database of food fortification monitoring system
  • Facilitate review of Food Fortification Monitoring Guidelines
  • Proactively pursue emerging issues on Micronutrients and advise the National Nutrition Committee on actions to be taken
  • Facilitate monitoring and evaluation of micronutrient interventions
  • Participate in National Fortification Alliance meetings.
  • Networking with other Technical Working Groups
  • Resource mobilization for micronutrients TWG
  • Disseminate best practices in micronutrients and facilitate scale up of the same
  • Conduct quarterly TWG meetings
  • Report to National Nutrition Committee

Nutrition, M & E, Surveillance and Research

  • Advocate for harmonization and alignment of various sectoral and institutional plans with the National Nutrition M&E plan and the Research Agenda;
  • Provide technical guidance in the development and revision of various key documents, such as National Nutrition M & E framework and plan, Research agenda and M & E and surveillance database.
  • Provide technical guidance in the implementation of research, M&E and surveillance activities, as well as capacity, needs assessment of the key implementing and coordinating institutions in the National Nutrition Response.
  • Identify and review priority areas for nutrition research.
  • Provide direction for nutrition Research ethical approval
  • Participate in the Joint Annual Work Plan development process;
  • Coordinate review of nutrition research and project proposals;
  • Participate in the Joint Nutrition Review Processes of the National Response.
  • Advocate and lobby for adequate research, M&E and surveillance funds (basket funding).
  • Organize annual research dissemination symposia.
  • Resource mobilization for Nutrition, M & E Surveillance and Research
  • Conduct quarterly nutrition research, M&E and surveillance meetings.
  • Networking with other Technical Working Groups
  • Report to the national nutrition committee.

The Nutrition Education & Training

  • Guiding Nutrition Education & Training material improvements.
  • Consolidate, create and update a data bank for the existing nutrition guidelines, manuals, IEC and other resource materials on nutrition education and training.
  • Standardize all IEC Materials for service delivery (teaching and training tools) and community use (pamphlets, posters) with relevant TWGs and other stakeholders.
  • Monitor the use of the developed education and training materials to ensure quality and maintaining standards
  • Conduct review meetings
  • Disseminate the standardized nutrition education and training materials to all the stakeholders working in nutrition programmes, activities and the general public
  • Coordinate the process of developing and reviewing nutrition curricula at all levels of the education system.
  • Analyse community nutrition extension services recommend and advocate for improvements in nutrition education. 
  • Develop consensus on the direction of community nutrition education systems
  • Coordinate school health and nutrition activities related to nutrition education such as curriculum development, productive school environments and school meals.
  • Strategically Advocate for entry level and progressive nutrition careers in: Private Sector, Government, Entrepreneurs, NGOs
  • Support National Council for Higher Learning to oversee Nutrition Training institutions
  • Aid in development of database & accreditation for Nutrition Training Institutions
  • Strengthen Nutrition Profession development through in-service training and provision of short courses
  • Coordinate operational research and studies on Nutrition Education & Training in collaboration with the Nutrition Research TWG
  • Ensure that Nutrition Education & Training issues are represented at the national nutrition committee
  • Resource mobilization for Nutrition Education and Training
  • Networking with other Technical Working Groups
  • Conduct quarterly Nutrition Education & Training meetings
  • Reporting to the National Nutrition Committee

Targeted Nutrition Program

  • Develop/review Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM)  and Nutrition Care Support and Treatment (NCST) guidelines (OTP, SFP, NRU. Community Outreach)
  • Conduct CMAM and NCST training at different levels
  • Develop IEC materials for CMAM and NCST
  • Management of CMAM and NCST supply chain
  • Monitoring and supervision of CMAM and NCST interventions
  • Provide technical guidance to the implementation of CMAM and NCST interventions.
  • Facilitate resource mapping and mobilization for CMAM and NCST
  • Networking with other Technical Working Groups
  • Reporting to the National Nutrition Committee.