Preamble
The SQ-LNS Task Force was formed to catalyze efforts to scale-up SQ-LNS for the prevention of undernutrition among children 6-23 months of age in nutritionally vulnerable settings. The SQ-LNS Task Force is comprised of a Steering Committee and the following five Working Groups: 1) Advocacy; 2) Cost and cost-effectiveness; 3) Operational Guidance; 4) Operational Research; 5) Supply and regulatory issues. The Secretariat of the SQ-LNS Task Force is based at the University of California Davis. 

The following Principles of Engagement were developed to guide the Task Force’s approach to funding. They were developed with input from organizations represented on the Steering Committee. Additional principles pertaining to membership are currently under development. 

The following principles guide the Task Force’s approach to communication, interaction and engagement:

  • Throughout all interactions and engagements, the Task Force and its Secretariat shall maintain objectivity, integrity, independence, and impartiality.
  • All interactions between the SQ-LNS Task Force and others shall be based primarily on: i) sound, evidence-based, public health nutrition science and practice; and ii) the potential to advance the mission of the SQ-LNS Task Force.
  • The pursuit of the goal to improve child nutrition in vulnerable settings shall take precedence over any individual stakeholder's interests in the Task Force.
  • The Task Force shall not grant any unfair competitive advantage to any stakeholder and shall safeguard a level playing field for all.

  • Participation in the Task Force does not imply or provide endorsement of or preference for any individual organization, its products, or services by the Task Force.

     

Types of engagement
Financial support

  • The SQ-LNS Task Force will not accept funding from private sector entities that produce or sell alcohol, tobacco, armaments, adult content; entities involved in gambling or coal extraction; or producers or retailers of breast milk substitutes, as defined in the WHO Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes; or manufacturers and/or retailers of complementary food that don’t comply with World Health Assembly Resolution 69.9. It will also not accept funding from private sector entities that produce or sell unhealthy food or beverages1, nor from any entities that produce or sell LNS products. The Task Force will also not accept funding from non-private sector entities representing the interests of the private sector engaged in any of the activities described above.
  • Potential funders that are not clearly excluded on the basis of the above criteria will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis, if such funding has the potential to provide meaningful added value to the advancement of the collective SQ-LNS Task Force agenda. The review process will assess whether an organization’s work and services:
    • Are in alignment with the goals of the SQ-LNS Task Force;
    • Do not present any undue risks to the Task Force's ability to execute its mission or to the Task Force's reputation.
      • Examples of the kinds of risk that the review process might consider include, but are not limited to:
        • The risk that an entity’s activities may be deemed incompatible with the advancement of good public health practice,
        • The risk that the entity may not be able to fulfill its obligations under the terms of stakeholder engagement,
        • The risk that an entity’s reputation may seriously impede the Task Force’s ability to maintain membership and/or execute its strategic or operation plan.
    • A due diligence process regarding potential financial support will be developed using a checklist of questions developed by the Secretariat. UC Davis will take the lead on the due diligence assessment but the Secretariat will ask the other organizations represented on the Steering Committee to assist with collecting information on candidate donors, as necessary. A report describing the information collected will be provided to the Steering Committee. Unanimous agreement (i.e. no opposition) amongst all organizations represented on the Steering Committee will be required to accept funding (one vote per organization). At present there are 9 organizations (i.e. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Eleanor Crook Foundation, Helen Keller Intl, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), University of California (Davis, San Francisco), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Bank Group, World Food Programme (WFP)).
    • Financial support that is approved for the SQ-LNS Task Force and the Working Groups will be managed by the Secretariat in accordance with the approved use for the funds. Financial support will be acknowledged on the SQ-LNS Task Force website without use of logos. In addition, the website will include a statement explaining that decisions of the Steering Committee to accept funding should not be taken to represent the views of any constituent organization in the Task Force.

1 Foods or beverages high in free sugars, artificial sweeteners, salt, saturated or trans fats.