Saving the Lives of 16 Million FEBRUARY 2012 In Focus: Nutrition   Nutrition Under-nutrition is at the root of 1/3 of child deaths and is directly associated with the ability to fight infection in all people. Nutrition and the struggle to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger (MDG 1) are closely linked to the goals of the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health. A key outcome of the Global Strategy is to end stunting in 88 million children by the year 2015. A coalition of more than 100 governments, civil society groups, donors and businesses have come together to form the “Scaling Up Nutrition” (SUN) Movement and have pledged to reduce under-nutrition in their countries. Learn more about these commitments, and how improving women's and children's nutrition benefits individuals, communities and entire economies. Image via Save the Children.     In this Issue Nutrition Updates from January Partner Spotlight: Nepal News and Opinion Publications Twitter Calendar of Events Publications A monthly roundup of pertinent resources. Please submit your recent reports via email for consideration. A Roadmap for Scaling Up Nutrition Behavior Change Communication interventions on Maternal Neonatal and Child Health Knowledge in Urban Slums of Bangladesh Comprehensive Implementation Plan on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (Draft) Frontline Health Workers: The Best Way to Save Lives, Accelerate Progress on Global Health, and Help Advance U.S. Interests OECD: A Quality Toolbox for Early Childhood Education and Care Read More Publications and Resources » Quote of the Month "Investments in improved nutrition for women and children during the 1,000-day period from pregnancy to two years are critical…Nutrition is the basic building block for the success of many health and development interventions." Marc Van Ameringen, GAIN Executive Director, in a media release announcing the Future Fortified Campaign. In September, Every Woman Every Child launched a brand new Twitter feed. Follow us on Twitter, handle @UnfEWEC, to receive updates, news stories and links related to women's and children's health and the Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health. Also, be sure to check out the newly redesigned Every Woman Every Child website. Calendar of Events 4 February 2012 World Cancer Day 11-14 February 2012 Annual Conference of the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs 15 February 2012 Save the Children Report Launch: Ending Hunger, Saving Millions  20-23 February 2012 Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Nursing and Midwifery Conference 27 February 2012 56th Commission on the Status of Women 8 March 2012 International Women's Day View full calendar »   Updates from January New Commitment: HRP Commits to Improve Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health — In January, HRP (the UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction) made a new commitment to advance the Global Strategy through a prioritized research agenda for improving reproductive, maternal and newborn health. Learn more. Intel and UNFPA to Support Skills Training for Health Workers — Intel and UNFPA have announced joint efforts to strengthen the skills of midwives and community health workers through technology and training. As a part of Intel’s commitment to the Global Strategy, it pledged to train 1 million front line health workers by 2015. This collaboration will go a long way toward implementing Intel’s commitment. Learn more. UN Secretary-General Outlines 5-Year Action Agenda — Entering into his second-term, Secretary-General Ban has laid out his vision for the next five years, a plan, he said, “to build the future we want.” Full implementation of the Global Strategy remains a strong priority for the Secretary-General. Read the full text here. 2012 World Economic Forum — Women’s and children’s health was high on the agenda at the 2012 World Economic Forum in Davos. The UN Secretary-General and Archbishop Desmond Tutu co-hosted a lunch entitled “A Better World for Women and Girls." Two new initiatives were launched by business and social media leaders that aim to end new HIV infections among children. Global Health & Diplomacy Magazine launched its inaugural issue at Davos, which shone a spotlight on women's and children's health. Read remarks given by the Secretary-General at Davos on why women are a smart investment. View photos from Davos. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the 2012 World Economic Forum in Davos. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe. Anthony Lake to Chair SUN Lead Group — Executive Director of UNICEF, Anthony Lake, will Chair the SUN Movement Lead Group on behalf of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Dr. David Nabarro, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Food Security and Nutrition, will serve as the SUN Movement’s Coordinator. Learn more. UN Association (UNA-USA) Call on Every Woman Every Child — On Thursday January 12th, UNA-USA held a nationwide conference call on Every Woman Every Child with the UN Foundation. A recording and transcript of the call is available here. Development of a Global Research Agenda for Women’s and Children’s Health — Representatives from academic and research institutions, civil society organizations, governments and multilaterals met in Geneva to kick off a work plan for a prioritized global research agenda to influence policy and best practice on women’s and children’s health. Learn more. Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Summit — 13 leading pharmaceutical companies, the World Health Organization, the Gates Foundation and governments met in London to announce joint action for the elimination of 10 NTDs which affect 1.4 billion people. Implementation of these pledges will save and improve the lives of women and children. Learn more. Partner Spotlight Nepal is working to improve nutrition through interventions such as micro-nutrients for children and innovative programs such as cash transfers for nutrition support to women. Learn more. View all government commitments. News and Opinion January 20, 2012: Rewarding the Heroic Work of Midwives in Afghanistan January 11, 2012: Indian Prime Minister declares child malnutrition a "national shame"   January 11, 2012: Fighting Fistula: One Woman's Campaign to Break the Taboo   January 10, 2012: Two Years after Devastating Earthquake, Progress Continues in Haiti   January 9, 2012: Rwanda Aiming Toward Two Million Male Circumcisions   January 9, 2012: USAID Presents: Why Invest in Women?   January 8, 2012: Human Rights Watch Issues Call to Action to Stop Violence against Women   January 4, 2012: Fashion Icons Attend Nigerian Event in Support of Every Woman Every Child   January 3, 2012: New FAO Director-General makes ending hunger his top priority See All News » Every Woman Every Child aims to save the lives of 16 million women and children by 2015.  It is an unprecedented global movement that mobilizes and intensifies international and national action by governments, multilaterals, the private sector and civil society to address the major health challenges facing women and children around the world. Learn more at www.everywomaneverychild.org Share this newsletter with a friend or colleague. View in browser.