(http://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Okonjo-Iweala.jpg)Nigeria's Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was on Tuesday named by the United Nations Secretary-Geneeral, Ban Ki-moon, as a member of a 27-member body to tackle childhood malnutrition.
As Okonjo-Iweala waits for the result of an interview process for the presidency of the World Bank, the UN's Department of Public Information on Tuesday said she and some heads of state and other reputable individuals would be part of the panel, Scaling Up Nutrition, which would focus on improving nutrition as a key to progress in health and development.
The group is to represent the many countries, organidations and sectors working to improve nutrition, and serve as a strategic guide for the global movement.
SUN is committed to advancing the strength and security of nations by improving maternal and child nutrition. SUN, is a global push for action and investment to improve maternal and child nutrition.
"Never before have so many leaders, from so many countries and fields, agreed to work together to improve nutrition," said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, as he explained that "the SUN movement gives all of us, including the UN, an opportunity to support countries in their efforts to end hunger and malnutrition."
Okonjo-Iweala will be joining the lead group which includes heads of state from countries that have prioritized efforts to scale up nutrition, as well as representatives of the donor, civil society, business and UN system organizations that are aligning resources to help SUN countries drive progress.
The group's role is to ensure that the countries at the heart of the movement are supported as they work to create tangible and sustainable improvements in nutrition. In addition to providing strategic oversight, the group will help to mobilise support and strengthen both coordination and accountability within the movement.
Twenty-seven countries have so far signed up to the SUN movement and according to the UN, more countries are set to join in the coming months.
SUN helps governments, civil society, businesses, development agencies, international organisations and foundations to synergize their support to communities as they reduce malnutrition – and demonstrate their results.
"This is a historic moment for nutrition," said David Nabarro, Coordinator of the SUN Movement.
"Today a group of world leaders pledges to work together to improve the nutrition of the world's poorest and most vulnerable children. Their two-year commitment to SUN illustrates the urgency and priority that these leaders place on alleviating malnutrition, as well as a recognition of the incredible impact that improved nutrition could have on the future of both individuals and nations," he added.
Others appointed alongside Okonjo-Iweala to head the SUN project include:
• Armando Emílio Guebuza, President of Mozambique
• Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of Tanzania
• Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh
• Nahas Angula, Prime Minister of Namibia
• Babu Ram Bhattarai, Prime Minister of Nepal
• Nina Sardjunani, Deputy Minister of Development Planning of Indonesia
• Nadine Heredia, First Lady of Peru
• Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of NEPAD Civil Society Organizations
The Punch