The SUN Business Network (SBN) aims to increase the availability and affordability of safe, nutritious foods to consumers, especially low-income consumers through activities at global and national levels. At a national level, the SBN convenes businesses, assesses technical, financial and other business support service needs for members, and advocates the role of business in addressing nutrition at country level. Read More
The SUN Business Network (SBN) aims to increase the availability and affordability of safe, nutritious foods to consumers, especially low-income consumers through activities at global and national levels. At a national level, the SBN convenes businesses, assesses technical, financial and other business support service needs for members, and advocates the role of business in addressing nutrition at country level. At a global level, the SBN acts as a focal point for engaging multinational businesses in nutrition activities such as making workplace nutrition commitments.Read More
The SUN Business Network (SBN) aims to increase the availability and affordability of safe, nutritious foods to consumers, especially low-income consumers through activities at global and national levels. At a national level, the SBN convenes businesses, assesses technical, financial and other business support service needs for members, and advocates the role of business in addressing nutrition at country level.Read More
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The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Pitch Competition, organised by the SUN Business Network, harnesses innovative solutions for improved nutrition by connecting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets with technical assistance and investment opportunities. The Global SUN Pitch Competition 2020 took place as a virtual event on 30th July 2020, showcasing the top 21 entrepreneurs shortlisted from National SUN Pitch Competitions in 2019. Read More
SMEs are critical in shaping the nutritional outcomes of local food systems; 64% of food consumed in Africa is handled by millions of SMEs along agri-food value chains as input suppliers, off-takers, processors, distributors, or otherwise. They constitute a pull factor, aggregating smallholder farmers into the value chain and upgrading the quality and efficiency of farming, leading to a more sustainable food system. Read More
The success of the SUN Pitch Competition is thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and partners, without whom the competition would not be possible. Our sponsors and partners offer a variety of in-kind and financial contributions to support the national and global pitch competitions, provide mentorship to finalists and increase the visibility of the competition Read More
The Global SUN Pitch Competition brought together 21 innovative SMEs from national pitch competitions in Africa and Asia to pitch their nutrition solution to a panel of high-level judges and an audience of investors for a chance to win cash and technical assistance prizes. Read More
National SUN Pitch Competitions are run by SUN Business Networks in partnership with a local accelerator. All shortlisted applicants selected through National SUN Pitch Competitions compete in an in-person bootcamp focused on nutrition awareness, strategy for scale and soft skills training, culminating in a national pitching event. National SUN Pitch Competitions were held in the following countries throughout 2019:
Bangladesh joined the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement in September 2012 following the commitment to improve nutrition by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Soon after Tthe national chapter began working to develop strong support and engagement. As a result, the SUN Business Network (SBN) Bangladesh was officially launched in 2019 and currently comprises almost 140 members – over half of which are women and a more than a third are Small Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Improving nutrition is critical in Bangladesh.While the Global Nutrition Report states that the country is on-course to meet its targets for reducing child stunting, the rate remains high at 31% - a third higher than the average for the Asia region. Meanwhile, national rates of anaemia in women of reproductive age are at almost 40%, and 27.8% of infants have a low weight at birth. Whilesome progress towards reachingtargets for these has been made, more work needs to be done. Bangladesh, however, shows no progress for some of its other nutrition targets – such as for diabetes, which affects 20% of the adult population. And, although no progress has been made in reducing the rate of obesity and overweight in over-18s (7%), this prevalence is still one of the lowest in the world.
SBN Bangladesh is overseen by the Ministry of Industries (MOLND), with a 29 member inter-ministerial/multi-stakeholder committee. This group advises on and finalises SBN Bangladesh’s strategy and work plan, and collaborates with the SUN Multi-Stakeholder Platforms (MSP) to achieve this.
There is also an operations committee, which is co-convened by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the World Food Programme (WFP), and supports the MOLND in its SBN activities.
In collaboration with the National Association of Small and Cottage Industries Bangladesh (NASCIB), SBN Bangladesh is also in the process of forming five sub-national members-only committees which will cover four districts.
The current strategy for SBN Bangladesh covers the period from 2021-2023, and was drafted jointly by all relevant stakeholders from different government ministries, civil society, United Nations (UN) Agencies, and private sector actors. It primarily focuses on four thematic areas – Food Safety and Hygiene, Food Fortification and Reformulation, Workforce Nutrition, and Market Development for Nutritious and Safe Food.
During this strategic SBN Bangladesh will focus on three core objectives:
