Provincial Municipality of Acobamba - Huancavelica

presents achievements in the Fight Against Chronic

Childhood Malnutrition during the "International Forum of
Leaders and Experts"

The "International Forum of Leaders and Experts: A Strategy To Overcome Poverty And
Childhood Malnutrition” was held on August 26th and 27th, 2010 in Lima, Peru, on the
grounds of the National Museum and Government Palace

The event was organized by the Technical Secretariat of the Inter-ministerial

Commission for Social Affairs (ST-CIAS), and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers
of Peru. These two entities coordinate the National Strategy GROW, a coordinated
strategy to combat and control poverty and childhood malnutrition, which they have
been implementing since 2007.

This significant forum aimed to present successful experiences in Latin America in the
Fight Against Poverty and Chronic Childhood Malnutrition, from an analysis of the joint
processes.

This event was attended by the Premier of the Republic, Dr. Javier Velásquez
Quesquén and Social Development Ministers of Ecuador, Honduras and Paraguay.
Also in attendance were the Ministers of Health, Women and Social Development,
Environment, Agriculture, and Economy and Finance of Peru. Other invited countries
who presented their experiences were: Brazil, who presented the program "Territories of
Citizenship"; Chile, who presented their program "Chile Grows with You"; Colombia
presented their program, "Network to Overcome Extreme Poverty - TOGETHER";
Mexico presented the "Social Program of the Secretariat of Social Development –
SEDESOL”; Ecuador presented the "INTI Strategy – Integral Territorial Nutrition
Intervention and Bolivia presented the program "Zero Malnutrition." The member
institutions of the Initiative Against Childhood Malnutrition in Peru, IDI, also
attended the event. The member institutions of IDI include CARE PERU, ACH, ADRA,
CARITAS, MCLCP, Plan International, PRISMA, FAO, WFP, PAHO, UNICEF, among
others. Additionally, Directors of Social Programs in Regional and Local Governments
in Peru also attended. In total, around 350 people from Latin America attended the
event.

The Technical Secretariat of the Inter-ministerial Commission for Social Affairs, Dr.
Virginia Borra Toledo, was in charge of the presentation of the Peruvian experience. Dr.
Borra Toledo presented the GROW National Strategy and its progress at a national
level. The regional experience was under the charge of Engineer Ernesto Molina,
Regional President of Ayacucho, who presented the GROW WARI Strategy. The local
experience was presented by the Provincial Mayor of Acobamba, Huancavelica, Mr.
Fortunato Tovar Cueto. Peru presented its experience from the standpoint of three
levels of government, which generated very positive comments from the commentators
table represented by Brazil, Chile and Mexico. The three country representatives were
excited about the political empowerment of the GROW strategy in Peru and about
achievements that were so vividly expressed by the Ayacucho and Huancavelica
regions.

We should mention that the Acobamba District, which is a part of the Province of
Acobamba, in the Huancavelica Region, was selected by the ST-CIAS to represent the
country because it had implemented all of the processes of the GROW Strategy and its
three pillars: Human Capacity Development and Respect for Fundamental Rights,
Promotion of Opportunities and Economic Capabilities, and the Establishment of a
Social Safety Net. Additionally, during the period 2007-2009, the region reduced chronic
malnutrition among children younger than 5 years old by 9.3% (from 52.2% to 42.9%),
representing an average annual reduction of 4.65%, according to the 2007-2009
ENDES Family Demographic and Health Surveys.

CARE PERU, from 2007 to date, after having completed the Program “Sustainable
Networks for Food Security” (REDESA 2002-2006), has been carrying out advocacy
and technical assistance in the Acobamba District and four other districts on the
Regional Government level to implement the GROW Strategy, which in the case of
Huancavelica, is called Wiñaypaq Llamkasum (We work together to grow) Grow
Huancavelica. The regional MCLCP (Roundtable for Poverty Reduction) and the
Regional Social Development Management Agency also provide technical assistance to
the local Acobamba government for development of its campaigns.

Finally, the main conclusions of the event noted the progress in Latin America in the
Fight Against Poverty and chronic childhood malnutrition, but the challenges are still
enormous. Partners must continue to strengthen the processes of coordination and
gradually reduce progressive social and economic inequities, which greatly contribute to
increased poverty and chronic malnutrition.