Strengthen the institutional framework, sustainability and continuity of the Coalition's areas of work.

Strengthening of a federal coalition to influence public policies related to malnutrition in childhood

In developing countries such as Argentina, the prevalence of being overweight and obese has grown in recent years, as undernutrition has not yet been eradicated. Malnutrition by excess has grown steadily and affects mainly the people who are economically and socially vulnerable. These populations have been primarily impacted because healthy diets are more expensive than ultra-processed food and are less nutritious; fruits, vegetables, milk products, fish and meats are consumed less by individuals with lower incomes. Instead, greater amounts of products with high amounts of fat, sugar and refined flour are preferred because they are cheaper. The response of the Argentinian state has been implemented through welfare policies – giving money or food, for example – that have focused on the right to be free from hunger, but without consideration of the quality and nutritional value of the food provided. This situation highlighted the necessity to include a high-quality, nutrition-focused approach.

In this context, the Coalition was created in 2017, at the initiative of UNICEF Argentina and the Fundación Internacional de Cardiología (International Cardiology Foundation) Argentina. Originally formed by 30 civil society organisations (CSOs), this network now comprises more than 50 CSOs. During 2021, a new statute defining the mode of functioning was discussed, voted on and came into force in September. In October, the coordination of the Coalition changed, and the Fundación para el Desarrollo de Políticas Sustentables (Foundation for the Development of Sustainable Policies), or FUNDEPS, assumed this leading role.