Growing partnerships: Collaborative action and co-creation of evidence to transform care of small and nutritionally at-risk infants under 6 months and their mothers

Worldwide, an estimated 21.3 percent of infants under six months (u6m) are wasted, 20.1 percent are underweight, 17.6 percent are stunted, and 17.8 percent are born with a low birth weight. These infants are at higher risk of sickness, death, and poor growth and development. Preventing early-life growth  failure is a neglected area of life-course nutrition action that has impeded progress on global  targets. Urgent action to transform MAMI care is essential to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 3. 

To help plan and deliver frontline care, the MAMI Global Network developed the MAMI Care Pathway Package, an integrated care pathway approach for adaptation to country needs and  services across fragile, conflict-affected, and development contexts. Quality evidence on this  approach is urgently needed across multiple settings. Co-creation of evidence with multiple  stakeholders and country leadership is critical to ensure evidence is driven by country agendas  and plans for scalable and sustainable care within government systems and structures.  

Country conversations will showcase experiences from two countries, Ethiopia and India, on utilizing cross-disciplinary and multi-level partnerships to co-create evidence around the  management of small and nutritionally at-risk infants under 6 months and their mothers (MAMI)  to inform national and international policy and service development.

A brief introduction by the MAMI Global Network co-chairs (ENN and LSHTM) will set the scene. Following country conversations with Ethiopia and India, a plenary session will provide  time for questions to the panelists, beginning with a few words from WHO on evidence to policy.  A reflection from UNICEF will then describe UNICEF’s strategic plans on MAMI and share our  collective asks for MAMI-sensitive N4G commitments. 

Speakers/Panellists: 

• Professor Tsinuel Girma, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Jimma  University, Jimma and Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Ethiopia
• Dr Praveen Kumar, National Centre of Excellence for SAM Management, India • Grainne Moloney, UNICEF HQ (US) 
• Kirrily de Polnay, WHO (Geneva)
• Marie McGrath, Emergency Nutrition Network/MAMI Global Network Co-Chair (UK • Marko Kerac, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine/MAMI Global Network Co-Chair (UK) 

The side-event will be in English with French and Spanish interpretation. Please register using the  link below and share widely with your colleagues.