12th Governing Board Meeting

of the Regional Network on

Food and Nutrition Planning (RN-FNP)

UP Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

April 22, 2006
 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 12TH GOVERNING BOARD MEETING
OF THE REGIONAL NETWORK ON FOOD AND NUTRITION PLANNING
April 22, 2006, UPCO Guest House, College, Laguna

Attendance:

Dr. Maria Antonia G. Director Regional Training

Tuazon Programme on Food and
Nutrition Planning, College
of Human Ecology, UP Los
Baños, Philippines
Mr. Mirza Altaf Hossain Executive Director Bangladesh Applied
Nutrition and Human
Resource Development
Board (BAN-HRDB)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dr. Feng Ying Zhai Professor/Deputy Director Institute of Nutrition and
Food Safety, China Center
for Disease Control,
Beijing, China
Dr. Nihal Wijesinghe Senior Lecturer Department of Food and
Science and Technology,
Faculty of Agriculture,
University of Peradeniya,
Sri Lanka
Dr. Hardinsyah Dean College of Human Ecology,
Bogor Agricultural
University, Kampus IPB
Darmaga, Bogor, Indonesia
Secretariat:
Ms. Daisy Corazon R. University Extension Regional Training
Lampayan Associate I Programme on Food and
Nutrition Planning, College
of Human Ecology, UP Los
Baños, Philippines
Mr. Levi E. Garcia Research Assistant Regional Training
Programme on Food and
Nutrition Planning, College
of Human Ecology, UP Los
Baños, Philippines
Mr. Rouel Bernard N. Research Assistant Regional Training
Padua Programme on Food and
Nutrition Planning, College
of Human Ecology, UP Los
Baños, Philippines
1 I. Introduction

2 The Regional Training Programme on Food and Nutrition Planning (RTP-FNP)

3 conducted its 12 Governing Board meeting at the UPCO Guest House on
th

4 April 22, 2006. The meeting started at 9:00 am and was presided over by
5 Dr. Ma. Antonia Tuazon, director of the RTP-FNP. Dr. Hardinsyah (Indonesia),
6 Dr. Feng Ying Zhai (China), Dr. Nihal Wijesinghe (Sri Lanka) and Mr. Mirza
7 Altaf Hossain (Bangladesh) attended the meeting. Dr. Tuazon also welcomed
8 and introduced the FNP staff who were present, Ms. Daisy Corazon R.
9 Lampayan, Mr. Levi Garcia and Mr. Rouel Bernard N. Padua.
10 II. Approval of the Highlights of the 11th RN-FNP Meeting

11 The highlights of the 11th Meeting of the RN-FNP were approved as

corrected

12 to include the statement that the 11th RN meeting was presided by the

13 Bangladesh Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Mr. ASM Abdul

Halim.

14 Lines 33 to 35 of the highlights were inserted into line 4.

15 The statement “also upgraded library facilities were made possible

through

16 RN-FNP” in lines 246-247 was deleted from the highlights. The “Ministry
of

17 Health” in line 264 was corrected into “Provincial Health Office.”

18 III. FAO Report

19 Dr.Biplab K. Nandi, Senior Food and Nutrition Officer of FAO-RAP has

20 suggested that the network should inform the FAO-RAP office about its

21 projects. FAO is also interested in financing publications from the

Network.

22 The Board also agreed that the strategies which the Network has
developed

23 should be shared in the Asia Pacific Network Meeting which will be

held in

24 Bangkok on November 2006.

25 IV. SPRINKLES Program

26 Dr. Stanley Zlotkin, Director of the SPRINKLES Global Health Initiative

of the

27 Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto has asked Dr. Tuazon if
she

28 can help coordinate the SPRINKLES program in Asia. Dr. Zlotkin also
gave

29 permission to discuss the project at the country level. The need to

coordinate

30 actions related to the program in China, Indonesia and Vietnam was also

31 noted. Each governing board member needs to review the research

protocol

32 and make the necessary revisions. The budget for each country also needs
to be

33 itemized, reviewed and submitted to RTP-FNP. RTP-FNP must

consolidate all
34 the SPRINKLES proposals and submit to GAIN/Hospital for Sick
Children.

35 Dr. Tuazon also reported that UNILAB, a local pharmaceutical company,

is

36 willing to finance the efficacy study for SPRINKLES.

37 V. Feedback on the 18th Short Term Course on Food and Nutrition

38 Programme Planning and Management (STC-FNPPM)

39 The participants’ lack of enthusiasm for the field practicum component of

the

40 STC was noted. Participants have also complained about the poor
living

41 conditions during the practicum. As a result, the Board decided that

the

42 recruitment process should be more stringent and select applicants who are

43 prepared to face less than ideal living conditions. The nature of the
applicants’

44 work should also be considered and priority should be given to

government

45 officials.

46 In the SWOC feedback, there is a need to validate the responses generated.

47 Specifically, the feedback on the field or practicum component as

identified.

48 The Board also agreed that efforts should be made to keep track of FNP
alumni
49 such as activating alumni associations. The focal points should assist in

50 updating the alumni listing. Mr. Mirza Altaf Hossain raised the possibility

51 of the network providing small funds to convene alumni meetings.

Dr.Tuazon

52 mentioned that in the Philippines, professional alumni associations have

53 different ways to generate funds like organizing conventions and

collecting

54 registration fees. She also mentioned that in her last visit to Nepal, the
Nutrition

55 Association of Nepal had an FNP subgroup. The group of alumni in Nepal

56 conducted the FNP meeting after a national convention with less

organizing

57 costs.

58 VI. Conduct of the 19th STC-FNPPM

59 After the report on the 18th STC-FNPPM, Dr.Tuazon presented the

conduct of

60 the upcoming 19th Short-Term Course on Food and Nutrition Planning and

61 Management. The 19th STC will have a revised module in response to the

62 feedback from the previous trainees and the 11th RN-FNP Governing
Board

63 Meeting. The module will train the participants on nutrition management

during

64 emergency situations. Dr. Hardinsyah suggested that a course on

interpreting
65 food intake and supply data should be included in the STC. Mr. Mirza
Altaf

66 Hossain suggested that policy analysis for food consumption effects

should be

67 included in the STC. He also said that the field practicum component
helped

68 expose participants in dealing with people. Dr. Nihal Wijesinghe

expressed the

69 need for more exercises in the STC while Dr. Feng Ying Zhai said that the
field

70 practicum should not be removed although less time should be given to it.
The

71 following needs were also identified: report on the status of food

fortification,

72 implementing rules and regulations, law enforcement, vigorous NGO and

GO

73 partnership. List of data for food fortification and quality control is also
needed.

74 VII. Presentation of Research and Project Proposals

75 Dr. Tuazon suggested that success stories should be included in the

country

76 presentations. These includes the Grameen and BRAC programs in

Bangladesh,

77 the Porsyandu, VIDANI and flour fortification programs in Indonesia and

the

78 Sarvodya program in Sri Lanka. In China, case studies on soy sauce

79 fortification, SARS management and family planning also need to be
presented.

80 A. Nutrition in Emergency Situations

81 . Bangladesh
82 Mr. Mirza Altaf Hossain presented a project proposal on “Capacity
Building

83 for Nutritional Management in Emergency Situations.” The Board agreed

that

84 Bangladesh needs to submit a more detailed description of its National

Disaster

85 Programme. The program components at the country level also need to be

86 identified as well as the possible unique contributions of FNP. The need

to

87 develop a conceptual framework for disaster management was

identified.

88 . Indonesia
89 Dr. Hardinsyah presented a research proposal on “Nutrition in
Emergency

90 Situation.” The need to review the budget for the proposed research was
91 stressed since the proposal did not include a training component.
92 . Sri Lanka
93 Dr. Nihal Wijesinghe presented a project proposal on “Nutritional
94 Rehabilitation and Management in Tsunami Affected Areas of Sri
Lanka.”

95 The importance of value reorientation about the environment was raised

as
96 well as the need for documentation after the tsunami. The budget and

97 methodology of the proposed project also needs to be reviewed.

98 The Board agreed that all of the countries with proposals on nutrition in

99 emergency situations should provide the network with a description of

the

100 components of disaster mitigation programs which will be checked

against the

101 conceptual framework that will be developed.

102 B. Food Policy

103 . Bangladesh
104 Mr. Mirza Altaf Hossain also presented a project proposal on
“Sensitization

105 on Food and Nutrition Policy through Advocacy and Trainors’ Training
in

106 Bangladesh.” The activities of the proposed project include baseline data

107 collection, supplementary feeding, advocacy meetings and nutrition

training.

108 . Indonesia
109 Dr. Hardinsyah also presented a research proposal on food and nutrition
110 policy. The research will be conducted at Jakarta, East Nusa Tenggara
(most

111 prevalent malnutrition in Indonesia) and Bali (lowest malnutrition rate).

112 C. Advocacy

113 Dr. Hardinsyah presented a research proposal on nutrition advocacy in

114 Indonesia. The nutrition advocacy research will be done at the local
level in

115 the areas outside Java. This research aims to assess nutrition advocacy at
the

116 local level particularly in areas outside Java. The need to determine what
the

117 Network has done through capacity building in Indonesia was raised. The
issue

118 of program sustainability was also identified and the importance of

monitoring

119 and evaluation was stressed.

120 D. China

121 Dr. Feng Ying Zhai presented three papers. The first was a report on the
state

122 of food and nutrition policy in China while the second paper was a report
on

123 “Integrating Nutrition in the Medical Curriculum in China.” The last

paper

124 which Dr. Zhai presented featured three research proposals: intervention

125 program against calcium deficiency, nutrient supplement intervention for

126 children in western China and nutrient improvement program for infants,

127 pregnant and lactating women and women of reproductive age. The
Board
128 suggested that China should look into the most cost effective nutrition
policy

129 and develop modelling strategies. The Board suggested that China may
need to

130 reduce the area of coverage and the budget for the research proposals.
The

131 primary role of RN-FNP is modeling, sharing and dissemination of

results for

132 adoption of national and local governments. China’s population must also
be

133 considered in determining an effective food and nutrition policy.

134 Since the presentations also served as a rehearsal for the 4th Asian
Congress of

135 Dietetics, improvements to the PowerPoint presentations of each country

were

136 th
pointed out and corrections were made. The Board also suggested that
the 12

137 RN meeting should be held in the Institut of Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia

138 After the presentations, there being no other matters to be discussed, the

139 meeting was adjourned at 5:00 PM.

140 Prepared By:

141 Rouel Bernard N. Padua

142 Research Assistant

 143 Attested By:

144 Dr. Ma. Antonia G. Tuazon

145 Director, RTP-FNP

Introduction
The Regional Training Programme on Food and Nutrition Planning (RTP-FNP)
conducted its 12th Governing Board meeting at the UPCO Guest House on April 22, 2006.
Dr. Ma. Antonia Tuazon, director of the RTP-FNP, presided over the meeting which
started at 9:00 am. Dr. Hardinsyah (Indonesia), Dr. Feng Ying Zhai (China), Dr. Nihal
Wijesinghe (Sri Lanka) and Mr. Mirza Altaf Hossain (Bangladesh) were the members of
the Governing Board who attended the meeting.

Discussed in the meeting were the highlights of the 11 th Meeting of RN-FNP, the
highlights of the 18th Short Term Course on Food and Nutrition Program Planning (STC-
FNPPM) and Management and the Short Course on Nutrition Surveillance, the country
report on the STC feedback (using SWOC), the conduct of the 19 th STC-FNPPM, and the
conduct of other training and extension activities for 2006.

Research proposals from the member countries and a background on the SPRINKLES
program were then presented. The papers of Dr. Nihal, Dr. Zhai and Dr. Hardinsyah for
the 4th Asian Congress of Dietetics were also presented. Comments and suggestions about
the presentations were elicited and specific areas of concern and action points about the
agenda were identified and noted. These are presented on the table in the succeeding
pages.
 Agenda Items Issues Raised Actions Taken

I. Approval of the Highlights  inclusion of the statement that the  approved

of the 11th Meeting of RN-FNP 11th RN meeting was presided by
Mr.ASM Abdul Halim, Bangladesh
Secretary of the Ministry of
Agriculture  approved
 deletion of the statement “also
upgraded library facilities were
made possible through RN-FNP” in  approved
lines 246-247
 correction of “Ministry of Health”
into “Provincial Health Office” in
line 264

II. Highlights of the 18 th STC

on Food and Nutrition
Program Planning and
Management

III. Country Report on the  short duration/too much  emphasize during the
STC Feedback using SWOC content/inadequate time levelling-off for the
19th STC that the STC
is an appreciation
course; horizontal
dealing of subject
matter to broaden the
participants’
perspective
 RTP to send to focal
 regular follow-up of activities of points the list of the
alumni after training MPS and STC alumni
for updating and
follow-up of alumni
activities
 RTP-FNP is willing to
provide small funds
to convene alumni
meetings.
  STC has been
 reduction of training period reduced from three
months to two
months.

 RTP-FNP will ask

Prof. Theresa
 validate initial feedback generated Talavera to design a
from SWOC questionnaire and
develop evaluation
methodology to
validate the initial
results with the
assistance of RN
members
 RN members to give
suggestions on
 recruitment of participants effective mechanisms
to identify applicants
who will meet
specific criteria: e.g.
he/she must be
willing to live in less
than ideal conditions,
nature of work,
English proficiency.

IV. Conduct of the 19th STC-
FNPPM
 Dr. Hardinsyah suggested that a  19th STC curriculum
course on interpreting food intake given to RN
and supply data should be included members for their
in the STC. comments and
 Mr. Mirza Altaf Hossain suggested suggestions
that policy analysis for food
consumption effects should be
included in the STC.
 Dr. Nihal Wijesinghe said that
there should be more exercises in
the STC.
 Dr. Zhai said that the field
practicum should be retained even
if it has a shorter duration.

V. Conduct of other training

and extension activities
1. FAO  Dr. Tuazon mentioned
opportunities for funding from
FAO-RAP.
 Dr. Biplab K. Nandi had
suggested that the network
should inform the FAO-RAP
office about its country level
activities.
 strategies which the network has
developed should be shared in
the Asia Pacific Network
Meeting in Bangkok, November
2006
 packaging of best practices from  GB members to
each country submit to RTP-
FNP for
consolidation and
submission to
FAO-RAP.
 materials for publication  GB members to
developed as part of RN submit prototypes
activities to RTP-FNP.
 RTP-FNP will
seek financial
assistance for
publication of
these documents.

2. SPRINKLES  Dr. Tuazon informed the GB  RTP-FNP to

members that the request for consolidate proposals
Sprinkles sachets was approved. and submit them to
She also told the GB members that GAIN
Dr. Stanley Zlotkin had asked her if Switzerland/Hospital
she can coordinate Sprinkles efforts for Sick Children,
in Southeast Asia and hopefully in Canada.
South Asia.
 each GB member to review the
research protocol and make the
necessary revisions
 The budget per country needs to be
itemized, reviewed, and submitted
to GAIN Switzerland/Hospital for
Sick Children, Canada.

VI. Presentation of Research

Proposals by Country

a. Nutrition in Emergency  all countries should provide

Situations RTP-FNP with description
 of components of disaster
management programs
which will be checked
against the conceptual
framework to be developed

 Bangladesh  needs to submit a more

detailed description of
National Disaster
Programme
 conceptual framework for
disaster management

 Indonesia  needs to review budget

since the proposal has no
training component

 Sri Lanka  for review of budget and

methodology

b. Food Policy
 Bangladesh  identify possible unique
contributions of FNP

 Indonesia

c. Advocacy
 Indonesia  need for monitoring and
evaluation of trainings
 sustainability of nutrition
advocacy programs
 proposals are more action-
research and two sub-
components:
a. Research
b. Action (application of
research results)
d. China’s Research
Proposals
 Intervention  area coverage and budget may
Program Against have to be reduced
Calcium Deficiency  RN-FNP’s role is modeling and
 Nutrient sharing/dissemination of results
Supplement for adoption of national and
Intervention local governments
 Nutrition
Improvement
Among
 Pregnant/Lactating
Women and Women
of Reproductive
Age

VII. Other Matters
 GAIN, Switzerland has earmarked  RN-FNP will package
funds for a food fortification action the needed information
research project. and submit a proposal
Initial information needed : on food fortification
 legislation
 implementing rules and
regulations
 law enforcement system

 what are the food items to

be fortified
 success stories
 evaluation studies
 what still needs to be done

Conclusion
After the presentations, the board discussed the possible venue for the next RN meeting.
IPB in Bogor, Indonesia was the suggested venue. There being no other matters to
discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm.

Recorded by:

Mr. Rouel Bernard N. Padua

Research Assistant

Noted:

Dr. Ma. Antonia G. Tuazon

Director, RTP-FNP