Increase the number of Civil Society Alliances building their own capactity on and integrating gender-transformative actions in their plans towards increasing the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding the first 6 months

All four commitments made by the SUN Civil Society Network are underpinned by its 2021-2025 strategy and theory of change (attached) which all individual members, civil society alliances, youth leaders, regional groups and steering group members align with. The strategy was developed in close consultation with all CSN members to ensure it is fit-for-purpose, context-specific and fully owned by all.

The SUN Civil Society Network Secretariat has its own fully-fledged workplan and Monitoring & Evaluation framework (see attached indicators) which will guide the implementation of its 5-year strategy and specific commitments made to N4G. In addition, the MEAL adviser is working with each of the four regional groups (Asia; East & Southern Africa; West & Central Africa; and Latin America & the Caribbean) to produce tailored workplans with SMART indicators. These will then organically trickle down to national-level Civil Society Alliances and individual member organisations who will ultimately implement the commitments, with support from the global secretariat.

With this commitment, we want to see women and girls play a prominent role in network structures, gender transformative approaches piloted and shared, and gender-sensitive leadership models promoted within and beyond the SUN Movement. Gender inequality, and the low value many societies accord to women and girls, is a core driver of global malnutrition. To be sustainable, efforts to end malnutrition must address that inequality, empower women and girls to put local solutions in place, and sustain their leadership role in their communities.

As part of the 5-year strategy, the Network must play a key role in transforming gender norms and championing women and girls' rights, while engaging men and boys in this effort. We will ensure women and girls are supported to play a prominent role in CSN global and national governance structures, document gender transformative approaches benefiting communities' nutritional status, and promote gender sensitive leadership models within and beyond the SUN Movement.