Episode 19: Brieuc Pont. N4D @ N4G

“Nutrition has a branding issue – it’s about so much more than nutrition - I’d rather call it ‘super development’, the art of bringing together different areas of expertise for a tailor made policy for a given problem in a given context.”

Listen to fascinating ‘behind-the-scene’ insights from Brieuc Pont, Special Envoy on Nutrition and Secretary General of the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit to be held on 28-29 March in Paris, France. 

Career diplomat and Secretary General of the N4G Summit Brieuc Pont shares his challenging journey to ‘peak summit’, in this latest podcast in our “More - and better - financing for nutrition” series. How has he been making the case for ambitious policy and financial commitments and action from political leaders ahead of N4G 2025? 

 “Diplomats act as bridge-builders – we need to understand the technicalities of a particular issue after discussions with experts, then package this as a political process and bring it to a decision-making level”. 

 N4D’s directors ask Brieuc about:

• his hopes and expectations for the summit;
• the positive experiences and challenges he has experienced in the summit build-up;
• which arguments have worked in convincing decision-makers to prioritise nutrition investment in such challenging times; 
• what are the financing alternatives in the light of USAID’s suspended budgets;
• and how the sector can keep momentum going in between summits?

Tune in to hear Brieuc’s views on what the nutrition sector needs to do to improve its “branding” – as the most cost-effective development policy, with the highest return of $23 for every $1 invested. Adapting to new realities at a time when many high income countries are reducing aid means mobilising new investment partners – including development banks, such as the Asian Development Bank that pledged US$3 billion at COP26.

“We need to push for integrating nutrition at the highest political level among national institutions. N4G 2025 is an opportunity for raising the profile of nutrition among politicians and for transforming the way we ‘do’ development.”

Please join the debate! 

Credits: Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co

Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz

© N4D Group 2025

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