As part of its commitment to transparency and accountability in its work, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) committed to supporting an annual, independent review of the Nutrition Connect website. The first review was conducted FoodMinds; the Terms of Reference for the review are here and the report is available here.
This page sets out the main findings from the report and how we intend to respond to them. To further strengthen our response, we would like to invite you to answer a few short survey questions to help us better understand how you use Nutrition Connect, and how we can make it better for you. The questions are also set out below.
The review
Read the full report here: 2020 Review of Nutrition Connect.
GAIN’s response to the review
Nutrition Connect was launched on 29 May 2019 with the aim of creating a knowledge mobilisation platform to bring together evidence and experience around public private engagement (PPE) for better nutrition. Nutrition Connect aims to be a ‘safe space’ for dialogue, providing credible resources to support public and private sector actors to explore, engage and collaborate.
In May 2020, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) commissioned an external, independent review of Nutrition Connect. The top-level findings from the report were:
- Highly comprehensive and credible source of information on PPE and related issues. The resources it provides are substantive and robust.
- PPE vs PPP framing is unique and positions NC as a clear a space of thought leadership. PPE approach has strong potential to reduce barriers across sectors and build trust that may not be possible through formalised PPPs.
- Selection of information and positioning of the site is quite balanced and representative of a variety of stakeholder perspectives across sectors, geographies and resource types.
The review also highlighted areas for improvement. After careful reflection, in the short-term GAIN intends to prioritise the following:
- Review and update the content across the site, including the Priority Areas to ensure, where possible:
- There is better geographic representation, (especially Latin America, Middle East and North Africa).
- At least 80% of content is from external, non-GAIN sources.
- There are more resources to reflect business perspectives.
- Make adjustments so users can better engage with Nutrition Connect, including:
- Make clear who can get in touch, and how.
- Create an FAQ section to pre-empt common questions from users, including guidelines for submissions.
- Create a single process to submit case studies, reports, blogs and other resources for consideration.
- Review the search functionality in the Resource Centre and apply any ‘quick fixes’ that will help improve user navigation. As part of this we will take note of larger structural changes which will be considered as a longer-term activity and investment.
Nutrition Connect is focused on bringing together evidence and experience around public private engagement (PPE) for better nutrition. We would be grateful if you would answer the following questions to help us better understand how you perceive and use Nutrition Connect, and how it can be improved to better support you in your work.
Question 1: The review found that Nutrition Connect found the following; Do you strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree?
- Nutrition Connect is a highly comprehensive and credible source of information on PPE and related issues, with substantive and robust resources.
- PPE is a useful framing that has strong potential to reduce barriers across sectors and build trust that may not be possible through formalised PPPs.
- Selection of information and positioning of the site is quite balanced and representative of a variety of stakeholder perspectives across sectors, geographies and resource types.
Do you have any other comments on the findings from the review of Nutrition Connect?
Question 2: Based on the review, GAIN has decided to prioritise three areas for improvement. Do you strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree with this approach?
- Review and update content to reflect even greater diversity.
- Make clearer the ways users can engage with Nutrition Connect.
- Review the search functionality in the Resource Centre.
Are there any other areas of Nutrition Connect you feel require improvement?
Question 3: Please share any additional feedback on Nutrition Connect that you may have. For example, is there any other information you wish to share related to Nutrition Connect, its content, navigation, functionality, usability,? Do you like or dislike the way something works? Do you find any particular content helpful or unhelpful? Is there something more you would like to see?
