From November 11-15, 2024, delegates from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Laos convened in Lao PDR for the National Information Platforms for Nutrition (NIPN) Country Exchange Visit, a key initiative aimed at fostering collaboration and enhancing knowledge-sharing in the subnational roll-out of NIPN. The visit provided a unique opportunity for participants to exchange insights on strengthening nutrition governance and improving information systems, with a focus on using data to drive better nutrition outcomes at both national and subnational levels.
The visit began with a warm welcome in Vientiane, where the participants were introduced to Lao PDR’s nutrition programs during a courtesy visit to the UNICEF office. The key highlight of the visit, however, came on the second day, when delegates traveled to Salavan Province for a series of field visits designed to offer practical insights into the implementation of NIPN at the local level. One of the key moments of this visit was the courtesy meeting with the Vice Governor of Salavan, which underscored the importance of political leadership and local government engagement in the successful rollout of nutrition information systems. During the meeting, the Vice Governor shared valuable perspectives on the province’s progress with NIPN implementation, emphasizing the critical role of government support in ensuring that nutrition data reaches decision-makers who can take action to improve public health outcomes.
Following the meeting with the Vice Governor, delegates visited several local health facilities to observe how data is collected, managed, and used for nutrition programming. This hands-on experience offered valuable lessons in the practical challenges of gathering accurate data at the provincial and district levels, as well as how that data can be leveraged to inform nutrition interventions. The field visits were complemented by discussions on how to overcome common barriers, such as resource constraints and coordination issues between sectors, to make the most of the available data.
The third day of the exchange focused on interactive dialogues and presentations in Pakse, where the Lao team provided an overview of their NIPN activities, followed by presentations from the Kenyan and Ethiopian teams. These sessions gave participants the chance to reflect on their respective country experiences and share lessons learned from implementing NIPN at subnational levels. Through these exchanges, the delegates gained deeper insights into the challenges and successes faced by each country and identified opportunities to improve their own systems.
On the fourth day, participants engaged in cross-cultural group activities aimed at developing actionable strategies for strengthening subnational NIPN. Mixed teams of delegates from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Laos worked together to identify key bottlenecks and best practices in areas such as decision-making processes, intersectoral collaboration, and advocacy for nutrition. The sessions concluded with presentations of strategies designed to enhance the effectiveness of NIPN, offering a roadmap for future improvements in nutrition governance across all three countries.
The exchange visit, supported by the European Union, UNICEF, and the Lao PDR government, highlighted the importance of international collaboration in addressing global nutrition challenges. By sharing experiences, reflecting on lessons learned, and strengthening relationships between governments and key stakeholders, the visit underscored the critical role of political leadership, such as that demonstrated by the Vice Governor of Salavan, in driving the success of nutrition information systems. The event left participants with a renewed commitment to improving data-driven decision-making and advancing better nutrition outcomes for their people.