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
Emerging networks are in SUN Countries where the government has made a commitment to ending malnutrition through a multi-stakeholder approach and private sector companies have begun to mobilise their support for a multistakeholder, multisectoral approach to improving nutrition. Read More
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Following a letter of commitment from Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka joined the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement in October 2012. The country’s SUN Business Network (SBN) was launched in March 2019 with the support of WFP Sri Lanka, and currently has 36 Private Sector Members.
Sri Lanka faces a persistent triple burden of malnutrition, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis. Undernutrition remains a public health concern among vulnerable groups, especially under-five children. Simultaneously, overweight and obesity are rising across all ages, contributing to the growing prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Micronutrient deficiencies, the third aspect of malnutrition, weaken immunity, impair sensory and cognitive functions, and reduce productivity. Furthermore, malnutrition impairs workforce productivity, increases healthcare expenses, hampers child development, and imposes an economic burden on families. It stunts national economic growth, undermines global competitiveness, and threatens social stability. The generational effects of malnutrition perpetuate cycles of poverty and underdevelopment. Therefore, effectively managing nutritional issues is more critical than ever to restore Sri Lanka's economy and set it back on the path to recovery.
In Sri Lanka, SUN Business Network is convened by the United Nations World Food Programme. Since the time of the launch in 2019 March, 44 businesses and 100+ SMEs have signed up as SUN Business Network Sri Lanka members. There is a Steering Committee consisting of seven private sector organizations representatives guiding and supporting the implementation of the SBN strategy in Sri Lanka coordinating and collaborating with the United Nations World Food Programme Sri Lanka country office.
All SBN members are encouraged to participate in one or more of four SBN SL thematic focus areas that drive the strategy of the network: Advocacy and networking, Education and Behaviour Change, Nutrition value chain and enabling environment through markets which specifically focus on the areas of Promoting Nutritious Foods, Producing Nutritious Foods, Workplace Nutrition and Wellbeing and SMEs development.
In Sri Lanka, the SBN’s overarching aim is to bring together, assess and advocate the private sector with regards to nutrition and nutrition-led initiatives – with a goal of reaching 60 members, comprising actors at both national and sub-national levels, in the coming years.
In light of this expansion, SBN Sri Lanka has four focal points of activity:
This year, under the theme ‘Accelerating Progress at SDG Halftime’, the United Nations Day was celebrated in Sri Lanka by providing a platform to showcase the progress made towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Sri Lanka. This year, the celebration featured a variety of exhibition stalls, providing a platform for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and projects supported by the UN System in Sri Lanka to showcase their impactful work.
World Food Programme’s stall spotlighted the SUN Business Network and we had 4 SMEs onboard with us on this day. DNS Food Products – brings you organic herbal porridge, YANC Natural Blend – brings you Sri Lankan Spices and Cargills Ceylon’s ‘Lak Bojun’ – a SBN partnership with Cargills Ceylon which promotes healthy meal options to consumers at an affordable rate, were the SMEs spotlighted.
SBN has provided support these SMEs in repositioning their business models through Business Coaching Programmes, Products Branding & Designing, Certification Assistance etc
Celebrating 2023 United Nations Day in Sri Lanka
SUN Business Network Bi-Annual Gathering was successfully held on Friday, March 24, 2023. The participants who have joined us were the SUN Business Network Private Sector Members, SUN Business Network SME Members, Development Partners, Representatives from the Government, Diplomatic Missions, and other UN Agencies in Sri Lanka. Special Invitees of the event were Dr.Sulakshana Jayawardena – Additional Secretary to the President/ Director General – Partnership Secretariat for WFP Cooperation at the Presidential Secretariat & Dr. Susie Perera – Deputy Director General Public Health Services II at the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka. Mr. Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, Country Director / Representative of the UN World Food Programme in Sri Lanka started the event with opening remarks and highlighted the importance of SBN and WFP’s support to SBN as its current convener.
Dr. Susie Perera, Deputy Director General – Public Health Services II at the Ministry of Health delivered a special address on “Emergency Nutrition Action Plan and the progress of Implementation” as few SBN Private Sector members contributed & made commitments to the Emergency Nutrition Action Plan. Dr Sulakshana Jayawardena, Additional Secretary to the President /Director General – Partnership Secretariat for WFP Cooperation at the Presidential Secretariat then delivered a special address on “Country Food Security Situation and the Government’s Response”.
Dialog Axiata PLC, one of the SBN Members in Sri Lanka delivered a presentation on “Digital Interventions for Securing Nutrition” and highlighted member commitments as a SBN SL member who was active since the launch of the network in 2019. Event was followed by another special address by Mr. Ajith D Perera from FCCISL as he highlighted the importance of SBN and the successful partnership FCCISL had with SBN during its first pilot project “Implementation of Soft Skills Development in the SMEs Sector”. The event also highlighted WFP’s continuous operations in fighting hunger worldwide as it celebrated its anniversary – WFP AT 60.
SUN Business Network together with Family Health Bureau of the Ministry of Health organized an advocacy workshop themed ‘Breastfeeding at work’ for SBN Members (Private Sector) on 29th August 2023 at the FHB auditorium premises. This advocacy workshop was organized to commemorate World Breastfeeding Week 2023 as this year’s World Breastfeeding Week was celebrated with the theme “Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work!” providing a strategic opportunity to advocate for essential maternity rights that support breastfeeding at work. Breastfeeding at workplace falls under promotion of ‘Workplace Nutrition and Well-being’, one of the three main areas of SBN’s work in Sri Lanka.
