Background
Adamawa State, like many regions in Nigeria, faces significant nutrition challenges, particularly among children under five. Malnutrition remains a critical public health concern, contributing to high rates of stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies. Poor dietary intake, inadequate healthcare access, food insecurity, and low awareness of optimal infant and young child feeding practices have exacerbated the situation.
Despite various interventions, funding for nutrition remains inadequate and inconsistent, limiting the reach and impact of programs aimed at addressing malnutrition. Legislative commitment and sustainable financing strategies are essential to ensure long-term nutrition interventions that can improve health outcomes.
A promising initiative is the Child Nutrition Matching Grant (CNMG), which aims to leverage funds from the state and local governments to support nutrition programs. By investing in this matching grant, Adamawa State can maximize resources from government and a Matching fund by UNICEF, improving nutrition outcomes across the state.

Objectives of the Meeting:
*Increase Awareness: Educate Adamawa State legislators on the current nutrition situation, including malnutrition trends and funding gaps.
*Advocate for Resource Mobilization.
*Encourage lawmakers to prioritize nutrition financing through the state budget and innovative funding mechanisms e.g constituency allowance.
*Promote Investment in the Child Nutrition. *Matching Grant (CNMG) which Highlights the benefits of co-funding nutrition interventions through state and local government partnerships.
*Strengthen Legislative Action to Develop a legislative framework that supports sustainable financing for nutrition programs.
*Develop a Commitment Plan in Securing legislative commitments to increase and release budgetary allocations for nutrition.

Expected Outcomes:
*Enhanced understanding among legislators about the nutrition challenges and opportunities in Adamawa State.
*Increased legislative support for nutrition financing, including commitment to the Child Nutrition Matching Grant.
*Concrete resolutions on increasing and timely releasing nutrition budgets.
*Development of an Action Plan for legislative oversight and accountability on nutrition financing.
*Strengthened partnerships between the State Assembly, Executive, Local Governments, and Development Partners to sustain funding for nutrition programs.