Given the mounting evidence that malnutrition in all its forms, including overweight and obesity and nutrition-related NCDs, is a serious global problem with devastating consequences, governments, donors, and development practitioners are increasingly adopting goals and targets for improving people’s nutrition.

Meeting agreed global nutrition and NCD targets requires converting global and national-level targets into clear commitments and actions for which governments can be held accountable.

The Global Nutrition Report, an independent accountability mechanism for progress and action on nutrition, has worked with a panel of expert stakeholders to develop a guide to making SMART commitments to nutrition, and is calling on all actors to make SMART Commitments to Nutrition Action — that is, commitments that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time bound.

A SMART commitment is

S = Specific

M = Measurable

A = Achievable

R = Relevant

T = Time bound 

Commitments that are SMART will make it easier to track progress at the national and global level. Given the many initiatives countries are undertaking at different levels, SMART Commitments to Action can also help avoid redundant efforts and facilitate the alignment of different processes (such as the SDGs, the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), Global Nutrition Report and WHA Nutrition and NCD targets). SMART commitments will allow for focus and unified clarity around key issues for nutrition.