(P07-015-25) Improving Subnational Multisectoral Nutrition Financing Through the Use of a Structured Nutrition Financing Process

Objectives: To demonstrate the use of a nutrition financing process to improve multisectoral nutrition financing at the subnational level in Nigeria.

Methods: The Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat in collaboration with Results for Development developed and supported fourteen states to implement a Nutrition Financing Process (NFP). The NFP was used to guide states into accurate planning, budgeting and advocacy for the release of budgeted funds. The key components of the financing process include:

1. Establishing a functional state committee of food and nutrition with high level representatives across nutrition relevant ministries, departments and agencies.
2. Developing a costed State Multisectoral Plan of Action for Nutrition (MSPAN) that is in line with the National Multisectoral Plan of Action for Nutrition.
3. Incorporating MSPAN into the states’ plan as in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and the Medium-Term Sector Strategy.
4. Conducting capacity building for nutrition focal persons on appropriate budgeting, advocacy and memo writing.
5. Developing a realistic annual operational plan with two-thirds of activities extracted from the state MSPAN.
6. Establishing systems for collating, monitoring and tracking budget approvals.
7. Generating memos in line with the approved budget requesting funds release.
8. Conducting advocacy to facilitate funds release.
9. Tracking memos to ensure timely disbursement of funds.

Results: Upon implementation of the NFP, 9 out of the 14 states experienced an increase in budgetary provision to nutrition in 2024 compared to 2023. Three states recorded an increase of over 100% in their budgetary allocation while four states recorded an increase of over 50%. Additionally, two states that had no budget in 2023 allocated funds for nutrition in 2024.

Conclusions: The implementation of the nutrition financing process improved multisectoral nutrition financing at the subnational level. The process enabled states to plan, budget and advocate for nutrition funding effectively. These results show that using a structured approach is very effective in addressing nutrition financing challenges.

Funding Sources: No funding