Entity: Synergos
Project Type: Non-Core
Duration of Support: 2 years (2014-2016)

Malnutrition is widespread in Namibia, with nearly one in four children under five stunted and underweight. The Namibian government responded to its nutritional challenges by launching the Namibian Alliance for Improved Nutrition (NAFIN) in 2009 with the goal of developing and coordinating the implementation of the Namibian Nutrition Strategy. The Synergos institute serves as the secretariat for NAFIN, implementing a major initiative to enhance leadership capacities and innovation in the Namibian health system.

Namibia faces numerous challenges that perpetuate undernutrition: Chronic food insecurity, recurring weather hazards, HIV and recently rising food prices have had dire effects on people's lives and livelihoods. The high rates of chronic malnutrition for young children increase the risk of mortality, morbidity and disability, and therefore require an immediate and systematic response.

NAFIN is an independent trust that has a membership of key line Namibian ministries, leading international agencies and domestic stakeholders. The Alliance is a partnership among organizations that have joined together to support the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) to develop, coordinate and monitor an integrated national nutrition strategy that would improve a common approach to nutrition across sectors in Namibia.

Synergos has leveraged its experience gained over the past decade in implementing a major initiative to enhance leadership capacities and systems innovation in the Namibian public health services. In 2014 Synergos built upon its work with NAFIN and has committed to providing additional technical assistance to the Alliance.