The purpose of the MQSUN+ Toolkit on Multisectoral Planning for Nutrition is to provide guidance and associated resources for countries to carry out the process of multisectoral nutrition planning, based on MQSUN(+)’s experience. The process described herein primarily draws from MQSUN+ experience in supporting multisectoral nutrition planning at the national level, but many of these steps can be adapted to the subnational level based on the country context. The tools and resources stem from established literature, as well as ones developed or adapted by MQSUN(+) over the course of its TA provision. This toolkit can be used to gain an overview of relevant steps within the country-led process, to find guidance on approaches and/or to identify appropriate and useful resources to support the country-led process. The toolkit aims to provide guidance for each step in the process and highlight respective reference documents, country examples and a package of resources for those involved.

The primary audiences for this toolkit are:

  • Policy decision makers and programme designers at the country level, government representatives of planning or sectoral institutions and stakeholders engaging in or seeking to lead a process of multisectoral planning and implementation for nutrition. 
  • The SMS and SUN networks for providing a resource to better understand or advise on the processes herein.
  • TA providers who may support government processes for scaling up nutrition.

All these actors are vital stakeholders in ensuring nutrition is scaled up both at the global and country levels—making the case for why multisectoral nutrition planning is important for overall health and development.


Recognising that all countries have different structures, contexts, capacities and priorities and are at various stages in terms of engaging with multiple actors for a multisectoral approach in scaling up nutrition, this toolkit provides basic information on the various steps in the process of multisectoral planning from which countries can adapt to their own unique circumstances. Planning stages may be different in various countries—for example, some countries first draft a CRF and then a detailed MSNP, while others may do the reverse. The modules in this toolkit are laid out according to MQSUN(+)’s experience, but country approaches may not follow this same process. The tools and resources highlighted in this toolkit are meant to be adapted for various country contexts and can be used at various stages in the planning and implementation process. The modules in this toolkit are accompanied by a glossary of key terms (Annex 1) and three country case studies (Annex 2)—in Afghanistan, Guinea and Yemen—to exemplify the multisectoral planning process in a broader context.

Each module presents an overview of the specific step that it refers to within the multisectoral nutrition planning and implementation process. Within the modules, there are references to various tools and resources that can be used or adapted by countries. These are broken down into three different material types.

Featured tools highlight templates, guidance and other key resources that are helpful to the multisectoral planning process—many developed from MQSUN+’s experience.Country examples feature case studies on how different SUN countries have carried out specific activities or provide samples of their multisectoral planning process.Additional resources provide informative publications, reports and other documents for stakeholders who may be unfamiliar with some aspects of multisectoral planning.

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