About the SUN Civil Society Network

The SUN Civil Society Network brings together over 4,000 members in over 50 countries across the globe.

Our goals

As part of the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement (SUN), the SUN Civil Society Network (SUN CSN) is working to raise the voices of those who are affected by malnutrition. Our primary purpose is to end malnutrition globally by 2030.

The network contributes to this cause through five strategic objectives:

Objective 1 – Civil Society Space: Promote meaningful civil society representation and engagement, especially from the most marginalised, across the SUN Movement and beyond.
Objective 2 – An Enabling Environment: Advocate for improved financial, policy and legal action on nutrition, and hold all stakeholders accountable.
Objective 3 – Network Sustainability: Drive sustainability across the CSN by equipping the Network’s structures with the skills and resources they need to deliver on their workplans and address the challenges they face.
Objective 4 – Programme Delivery: Scale up effective nutrition interventions and sensitisation at community level.
Objective 5 – Evidence & Learning: Generate evidence and use it to inform decisions and scale promising interventions.

Full SUN CSN strategy document

Our impact

How are we helping to end malnutrition?

Campaigning

In Pakistan, a SUN Civil Society Alliance between 150 civil society organisations organised a campaign called Invest in Nutrition. It gained mass media coverage and influenced the government to allocate a three-year budget towards nutrition.

Increasing reach and influence

In Kenya, new SUN Civil Society Network county chapters were established, and four county and national nutrition plans were developed. And in Laos, a new SUN Civil Society Alliance helped run the first ever National Nutrition Forum, successfully engaging all levels of government.

Getting media coverage

By gaining media coverage wherever possible, we help people suffering from malnutrition to have their voices heard.

In Zambia, Kenya and Zimbabwe, SUN Civil Society Network organisations have improved media coverage by holding training sessions with journalists. And in Tanzania and Ethiopia, award ceremonies are being held to recognize effective coverage of nutrition issues.

Creating learning opportunities

In 2017, the first SUN Civil Society Alliance was launched in the Philippines. In addition, we recently brought together 6 alliances for the first time in Indonesia, 9 alliances for a Learning Route in Rwanda and 14 alliances for a workshop in Senegal.

How are we governed

The SUN Civil Society Network is governed by a steering group of representatives from different member organisations across the globe, overseen by a chair and vice-chair. The steering group is responsible for network decision-making, with guidance from SUN Civil Society Alliances in SUN countries.

The day-to-day work of the network is coordinated by the SUN Civil Society Network secretariat, currently hosted by Save the Children UK.

Save the Children UK

How we are funded

The SUN Civil Society Network receives financial support from our donor partners. This funding ensures we’re able to provide an effective secretariat to support and galvanise civil society in a collective effort to end malnutrition.

Our incredible donor partners are, FCDO, Irish Aid and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Our donors

The secretariat team

Alexandra Newlands

Head of SUN CSN Secretariat

Alexandra focuses on:

Managing the Secretariat’s team members and workplan
Managing relations with the SUN Movement Secretariat and other SUN networks
Leading CSN engagement with SUN 3.0 strategy
Leading engagement with Nutrition for Growth summit and its preparations

Barbara Rehbinder

Senior Adviser

Barbara focuses on:

Managing SUN CSN’s regional coordination work, and the Secretariat’s support to our civil society alliances
Leading our global governance processes
Working with head on team on strategy and engaging with the other SUN networks
Working with head of team to lead the network’s advocacy plans

Andy Rooke

Senior Fundraising & Sustainability Adviser

Andy focuses on:

Leading of the CSN fundraising and sustainability capacity, systems and tools.
Developing the CSN fundraising and sustainability strategic approach.
Coordinating the Pooled Fund to CSAs
Leading on design and supervision of CSN competitive grant initiatives
Supporting the Asia regional group and a range of CSAs globally

Nazgol Kafai

Senior Impact and Evidence Adviser

Nazgol focuses on:

Managing global level MEAL, Knowledge Management, and the SUN CSN Technical Assistance programme
Providing technical assistance on MEAL and KM to country alliances
Supporting the Asia regional group and a range of CSAs globally
Organising learning events and trainings for CSAs

Michèle Semaan

Senior Communications Officer

Michèle focuses on:

Supporting alliances with their communication strategies
Delivering the SUN CSN’s communication strategy
Creating and delivering a social media plan for the SUN CSN Secretariat’s social channels
Support the Western and Central Africa Region

Sean Counihan

Advocacy & Youth Adviser

Sean focuses on:

Managing the Youth Leaders 4 Nutrition Programme and supporting our youth leaders in their local, national, and global advocacy efforts
Working with SUN movement stakeholders and CSN members to mainstream youth participation and leadership across all levels of the movement
Supporting CSAs to adapt global advocacy plans and develop national-level advocacy strategies, and developing tailored resources to suit specific contexts