This piece was originally published by Devex on November 6, 2019. 

Programs to address global malnutrition frequently rely on highly multisectoral approaches. Is this complexity hampering the sector’s ability to drive progress at scale? The Eleanor Crook Foundation’s William Moore explains why it is essential to critically examine the tension between multisectoral approaches and scalable solutions.

These days, it seems like every speech and event in the global health and development space includes a call to break down silos and a push for new approaches that are inclusive, universal, and multisectoral.

This was particularly apparent during the United Nations General Assembly this past September under the theme “Galvanizing Multilateral Efforts for Poverty Eradication, Quality Education, Climate Action, and Inclusion.” The list of accompanying side events was full of vague, all-encompassing titles, many of which could have been retitled: “A General Discussion on the Topic of Everything.” We seem to be having a lot of those these days.

In the global nutrition sector, this focus on interconnectedness is omnipresent. Our sector is captivated by the idea of multisectoral approaches. We know that malnutrition is caused by a complex array of factors, and so naturally, we posit that a multisectoral package of solutions is required to address the problem. But has this approach really worked in practice, at scale?

Read the full piece at Devex.