FANTA has developed and field-tested a comprehensive, step-by-step manual for facilitating country-level nutrition advocacy planning using the PROFILES advocacy tool and nutrition costing. PROFILES consists of a set of computer-based models that calculate consequences if malnutrition does not improve over a defined time period, as well as the benefits of improved nutrition over the same time period, including lives saved, disabilities averted, human capital gains, and economic productivity gains.

To strengthen the skills of USAID-priority countries in using PROFILES for nutrition advocacy as a means to strengthen nutrition governance, FANTA conducted two regional, three-day workshops for government stakeholders, USAID Mission counterparts, and implementing partners. The first workshop was held April 24–26 in Bangkok, Thailand, and the second on May 15–17 in Entebbe, Uganda. Workshop attendees came from many countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Timor-Leste, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, and Ethiopia. Participants found the tool useful for developing country-level outcome estimates for use in nutrition advocacy.

The PROFILES training workshops arm nutrition advocates with a tool that can create estimates of potential return on nutrition investments, providing powerful evidence to support country-level nutrition advocacy.