To initiate and support the establishment of networks for capacity development in various part of the World, for the purpose of improving knowledge and skills in areas such as food, nutrition and health policy development, nutrition research and higher training, nutrition academic accreditation, nutrition advocacy, nutritional norms and recommendations (such as recommended intakes, dietary guidelines, food composition databases). The regional networks will themselves decide on capacity development objectives, their focused activities, all based on the needs in the countries in the region.
General objective for the CEE Network
The general objective for the CEE Network is the same as the general objective for the UNU/SCN Network. Specifically to the region the objectives will be linked to the specific topics of interest for the Network at any time. This is to be open for new challenges following the changes in the various countries over time. At present the objectives are as follows:
Share information on food, health and related nutritional challenges in the CEE countries as identified by the Network participants.
Identify follow-up activities within food, health and nutritional challenges in order to facilitate the initiatives of the Network in the field of capacity development in the CEE region.
Identify, support and occasionally run specific capacity development activities such as on the use of the new WHO growth standard for children, Food and Nutrition Action Plan, epidemiology, policy development approaches, strategy development and implementation, and leadership.
Share and discuss challenges in national developments of dietary guidelines for different population groups.
Within the defined strategic framework identify strategic elements to meet the capacity development plans of institutions and individuals in the region.
Identify externally funded research projects for network participants to engage in (such as EC and other regional and national funded research and development projects). This may be on issues such as non-communicable diseases, micro-nutrient deficiencies, implications of obesity (in children and adults), gene-nutrient interactions, and criteria for food and nutrition policy development (such as good governance, human rights approaches).
Share experiences and plans for preventive actions against nutrition related diseases, and nutritional health promotion (this can be related to regional and global action plans such as WHO’s Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health).
Initiate a dialogue with relevant industries in the region on how to take nutritional considerations in developing, marketing and selling food and related products. In such cases take account of the ethical dimensions and challenges to the nutrition related industries.
Share the results of the Network with colleagues in other parts of the world, in particular the other UNU/SCN Networks at the annual sessions of SCN (this includes also sharing of information through Internet, but establishing a home page for the Network).
