Delegates from the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) showcased nutrition-focused governance solutions at the 18th Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Global Health Conference held at Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 28–31, 2025. Three representatives from the ZFF Nutrition team presented lessons from ZFF’s governance-focused approach to strengthening local nutrition systems during the Global Health Nutrition Parallel Sessions.

Dr. Joyce Viar, Nutrition Director at ZFF, demonstrated nutrition leadership in practice through a governance approach, highlighting how the Pook Malusog Nutrition Governance Program strengthens local leadership and builds resilient nutrition systems. Jennifer Nandu, ZFF Nutrition Project Expert, illustrated how improved governance in Basilan transformed peace gains into better nutrition outcomes, showing how nutrition can serve as a dividend of peace. Rio Fe del Valle, ZFF Nutrition Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Expert, showcased how ZFF’s First 1,000 Days (F1KD) Nutrition Roadmap helps local government units (LGUs) build more coherent, accountable, and functional nutrition systems.

View the presentations:

• Nutrition Leadership in Practice: A Governance Approach through the Pook Malusog Nutrition Governance Program
• From Conflict to Care: Nutrition as a Dividend of Peace through Good Governance in Basilan
• Strengthening Local Nutrition Systems through Governance: Implementation of the F1KD Nutrition Roadmap by the Zuellig Family Foundation
• More knowledge products

These presentations emphasized that nutrition governance relies on building leadership, systems, and structures that drive sustainable change. Strong governance enables LGUs to integrate sectors, use data effectively, safeguard programs across political cycles, and design solutions tailored to local realities. The presenters stressed that sustained improvements in child and maternal nutrition occur only when governance is strong, coordinated, and people-centered.

The ZFF delegates’ contributions complemented broader conference discussions on how interconnected factors—health systems, maternal health, education, mental well-being, climate risks, and community conditions—shape nutrition. Presenters showed how school environments, caregiving practices, and exposure to environmental hazards affect children’s growth and learning. They also highlighted the needs of vulnerable groups and the expanding role of digital tools in promoting food literacy and healthier behaviors among youth.

Overall, the sessions reinforced a key insight: governments and development partners must address malnutrition through a multisectoral, systems-oriented approach that goes beyond feeding programs and accounts for the social, environmental, and health-related factors influencing the well-being of children and families, not only across the Asia-Pacific region, but also globally.

Author: Rio Fe Del Valle, ZFF Nutrition Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Expert

At the 18th Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Global Health Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Rio Fe del Valle, Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) Nutrition Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Expert, explained how ZFF’s First 1,000 Days (F1KD) Nutrition Roadmap helps local government units strengthen their nutrition systems. She showed how the roadmap guides local governments to plan better, stay accountable, and deliver more coordinated services for mothers and young children during the critical early months and years of life.

ZFF Presentation_APRU F1KD Roadmap

At the Evidence and Implementation Summit (EIS) 2025, I represented the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) among global leaders in research, policy, and practice. Held in partnership with the Implementation Science Health Conference Australia (ISHCA), the Summit reminded us that in health, nutrition, and early childhood development, having evidence is not enough—how we translate it into action is what truly makes a difference.

Implementation Science: Turning Knowledge into Practice

Implementation science studies how practitioners can turn evidence-based interventions into routine practice. Its goal is simple but profound: to improve lives by ensuring proven programs reach people, adapt to their needs, and remain effective over time. At ZFF, we live this every day. Our First 1,000 Days (F1KD) Nutrition Roadmap serves as a laboratory of learning. We track what works, address challenges, and translate lessons into actionable guidance for local implementers, policymakers, and partner organizations.

The Summit highlighted that scaling up programs never works perfectly from the start. As Cillian Nolan of J-PAL Europe noted, “Scaling up may open more challenges and problems. Having a model doesn’t mean there’s no room for refinement.” Even for our Nutrition Leadership and Equity Acceleration Program (NutriLEAP), a successful pilot requires continuous adaptation to succeed in different contexts. Challenges do not signal failure, but rather they spark creativity, innovation, and learning.

Early Childhood Care and Development: The Power of Early Stimulation

The Summit also featured the power of early childhood care and development (ECCD). Research shows that the earliest years critically shape brain development, language acquisition, and social-emotional growth. In New Zealand, children as young as 1.5 years old engage in structured learning routines, sound play, storytelling, and early mathematical exercises. These activities improve brain development, language skills, and self-regulation, even for children from low-income families. Singapore’s programs highlight social-emotional skill building, showing that strong early foundations help children thrive academically and socially. For the Philippines, these examples underscore both guidance and urgency: investing in early childhood strengthens the nation’s future.

Engaging Local Government: Context is Everything

During a Special Interest Group session on international development, participants discussed how varying government support affects program implementation. I shared ZFF’s experience collaborating with local government units to strengthen health and nutrition systems. The Philippines’ devolved governance structure offers opportunities for local innovation, but outcomes depend on leaders’ capacity and commitment. This session reinforced a key principle of implementation science: context shapes success. Evidence-based programs succeed only when implementers understand local realities, build strong relationships, and exercise effective leadership.

EIS 2025 reminded me that progress requires persistence, learning, and continuous adaptation—not perfect models. Implementation science provides the framework to bridge evidence and action, while ECCD demonstrates why early, evidence-informed interventions shape healthier, more equitable communities. At ZFF, we implement strategies thoughtfully, document lessons rigorously, and share knowledge widely—ensuring every child, regardless of background, can thrive.

Author: Dr. Joyce Viar, ZFF Nutrition Director

The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) joined the Evidence and Implementation Summit (EIS) 2025, a global event that brought together experts from different regions to share how they use evidence to guide better decisions in public health, social development, and community welfare. ZFF presented its abstract and poster on the First 1,000 Days Roadmap, becoming the only Filipino organization featured in its category.

Turning Evidence into Action

ZFF shared how it applies implementation science to address malnutrition and stunting in the Philippines—challenges that continue to affect children’s growth and development. Through the First 1,000 Days Roadmap, ZFF showed how leadership development, systems thinking, and intersectoral collaboration among local governments and partners strengthen health and nutrition services for families.

ZFF Nutrition Director Dr. Joyce Viar explained that turning evidence into action requires more than technical skills. She noted that collaboration, trust, and a shared understanding of how research improves people’s lives make implementation truly effective.

Sharing the ZFF Pook Malusog Experience

ZFF presented its Nutrition Governance approach through the Pook Malusog Program, which helps local governments strengthen their health and nutrition systems. The program demonstrates how good governance and evidence-based action work together to create lasting change.

Through ZFF’s Pook Malusog Dashboard, local leaders can detect malnutrition early through its automatic calculation of inputted health indicators. The dashboard can be used offline and includes a geo-tagging feature that helps track families needing nutrition support. By consolidating health and nutrition data, it enables timely and informed decisions at the local level.

 

Inspiration from Global Leaders

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon captured the spirit of the event with his message to “make things happen.” He described the summit as truly inspiring, offering practical lessons that can guide continued innovation in health and development.

Several key insights from the sessions resonated with ZFF’s work:

• Balancing speed and strategy in implementing programs recognizing when to move quickly and when to pause for reflection to avoid counterproductive results.
• Ensuring both the quality of evidence and the quality of its use focusing not only on whether research informs policy but also on how effectively it is applied.
• Combining data with compelling storytelling showing that evidence paired with a strong narrative can inspire reforms and motivate stakeholders to act.

Together with organizations from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, ZFF contributed to discussions on how countries adapt and scale solutions that fit their own contexts. By engaging with a global community of practice, ZFF continues to “make things happen” for better health and nutrition outcomes in the Philippines. Addressing stunting and wasting among children must remain a national priority, requiring sustained investments in proven interventions that can be replicated and scaled to maximize impact for future generations.

Author: Samantha Morales, ZFF Nutrition Knowledge Management and Communications Associate; Krizzia Esperanza, ZFF Corporate Communications Associate

Recognizing the critical importance of nutrition during the First 1000 Days of life for a child’s health and development, the Zuellig Family Foundation and Nutritional International commissioned a survey to assess health and nutrition service delivery and outcomes in Puerto Princesa City, Tacurong City, and Tagum City to support their project on developing urban nutrition systems in the Philippines.

ZFF Survey_Nutrition-Tacurong-Tagum-Puerto Princesa

This baseline assessment report evaluates the existing governance measures related to the implementation of first 1,000 days (F1KD) services in Samar, Northern Samar, and Zamboanga del Norte, providing a detailed analysis of current nutrition and governance landscapes and offering strategic recommendations for improvement.

Final_ZFF Baseline Assessment

Building foundations for brighter futures: Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) at the Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC) Conference 2025!

On the second day of ARNEC 2025, July 2, held in Manila, ZFF joined organizations across Asia to share inclusive and innovative approaches to early childhood development (ECD). During a panel on good practices hosted by the Tanoto Foundation, ZFF presented its 10-year journey in Basilan, where it worked with local leaders to improve services for children in their first 1,000 days (F1KD). Through its Bridging Leadership approach and Health Change Model, ZFF helped local governments strengthen systems for health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, and safety—despite the area’s long-standing security challenges.

ZFF’s experience in Basilan demonstrated the value of adaptive, locally-led governance in improving early childhood outcomes, especially in conflict-affected areas. While approaches may differ across countries, inclusive and sustainable ECD begins with collective action rooted in local realities.

Read more insights here

View full presentation here:

ZFF Presentation_ARNEC

The Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) held the 2025 National Nutrition Summit on June 5, 2025 at Dusit Thani Manila, unveiling the results of the 2023 Expanded National Nutrition Survey. Covering 36,703 households and 115,651 individuals nationwide, the survey provides updated, evidence-based insights into the country’s nutrition landscape. 

The findings serve as a critical resource for policymakers, program planners, and implementers, offering timely data to guide national and regional efforts. They highlight both the progress made and the persistent challenges in achieving the Philippines’ health and nutrition goals, reaffirming the urgency of sustained, evidence-based, and locally driven action.

The 2023 Expanded National Nutrition Survey reports that stunting among children under five has declined from 26.7% in 2021 to 23.6% in 2023. However, the burden remains significant, with one in five children still affected. Wasting, an indicator of acute malnutrition, continues to be a concern at 5.6% among children under five and 6.8% among those under two.

These figures point to persistent nutrition gaps, particularly during the critical First 1,000 Days (F1KD) of life. Only 50.4% of infants less than 6 months old are exclusively breastfed, and just 13.9% of children aged 6–23 months receive a minimum acceptable diet. Vitamin A deficiency remains a moderate public health concern, particularly among preschool children aged 6 months to 5 years. Additionally, only 26.6% of infants and preschoolers in this age group meet the recommended energy intake, highlighting significant nutritional gaps in early childhood.

The proportion of nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women has risen to 19.1%, signaling growing concern. While prenatal care coverage is improving, only 22.7% complete the WHO-recommended eight visits for comprehensive care. Alarmingly, just 13.7% of pregnant women meet their recommended daily energy intake.

In addition, three in every ten households experience moderate to severe food insecurity, often forced to reduce meal quality or skip meals altogether. Dietary diversity remains low, particularly among low-income families reliant on staple foods like rice, while food waste is rising, with households discarding an average of 130 grams daily, mostly rice, vegetables, and fish.

These findings call for urgent and coordinated actions. Local Government Units (LGUs) are in a strong position to improve community nutrition. Efforts should focus on the following areas: 

1. Prioritize the F1KD and sustain nutrition through the next 1,000 days (up to age five) by strengthening maternal and child nutrition programs, breastfeeding support, complementary feeding services, and timely micronutrient supplementation.
2. Improve access to quality maternal care by ensuring timely and consistent prenatal visits, comprehensive nutrition counseling, and access to essential supplements such as iron, folic acid, and calcium.
3. Invest in local food systems by promoting household food production, improving access to affordable nutritious food, and regulating local food environments. LGUs should integrate nutrition-sensitive agriculture and livelihood programs to enhance dietary diversity and food security, especially in vulnerable communities.
4. Promote data-driven, multisectoral governance by strengthening local nutrition committees, utilizing data for planning and accountability, and coordinating across health, agriculture, and social services to effectively sustain and scale nutrition interventions at the community level.

Meeting our national and global nutrition targets by 2030 demands empowered local leadership, evidence-based decision-making, and integrated, multisectoral action that begins with coordinated efforts at the community level today.

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The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF)’s Pook Malusog program helps communities support children’s nutrition. Learn more: https://zuelligfoundation.com/programs/nutrition/ 

Author: Rio Fe Del Valle, ZFF Nutrition Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Expert

Once marked by conflict and instability, the Province of Basilan is now making progress in improving health and nutrition outcomes for young children. 

Through strong local leadership and a decade of partnership with the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), Basilan has strengthened systems for maternal and child health, food security, and early childhood care—especially during the critical First 1,000 Days (F1KD) of life.

ZFF shared this experience during the Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC) Conference 2025. Speaking on a panel hosted by the Tanoto Foundation, ZFF presented how their work in Basilan has transformed early childhood outcomes through governance-focused approaches. Using the Foundation’s Bridging Leadership approach and Health Change Model, ZFF helped local leaders address gaps in health and nutrition despite the province’s complex and fragile context.

Related article:

• Municipal Leaders in Basilan Enhance Nutrition Governance through Zuellig Family Foundation Training

The Basilan Assistance Program (BAP), which built on earlier gains from the Provincial Nutrition Governance Program, trained governors and mayors to co-create local solutions, increase community participation, and strengthen service delivery. As part of the program, 255 barangays deployed community health workers to monitor and support pregnant women and malnourished children. Ten of the thirteen mayors underwent leadership and technical training further embedding nutrition priorities in local governance.

Between 2023 and 2024, stunting among children aged 0–2 dropped by 6.26 percentage points—from 16.74% to 10.48%. Wasting rates also declined, reflecting better capacity to prevent and manage acute malnutrition. Nutrition funding rose nearly fourfold, from 7.2 million pesos in 2021 to 27 million pesos in 2024. These improvements directly support brain development, emotional regulation, and school readiness—giving Basilan’s children a stronger start in life.

Basilan’s transformation shows that inclusive, equity-driven, and locally led programs can thrive even in post-conflict settings. “When we had peace, we now have the mental space to plan beyond the day after tomorrow,” said former Basilan Governor, now Vice Governor, Jim Hataman Salliman. 

“We can now be more strategic and focus our investment in health and nutrition, which was not prioritized before.”