Understanding Stakeholder Networks for Nutrition Policy: Lessons from a Network Analysis Study in India
Authors: Cyriac Shruthi , Kohli Neha , Aberman Noora‐Lisa , Pradhan Mamata , Avula Rasmi , Menon Purnima 
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives

India has a decentralized governance setting but there is limited data on how decentralization impacts nutrition policy. Policy actors and their networks are central to the process of decision‐making for policy but little is known about the spread and connectedness of diverse actors in the nutrition landscape in India and its multiple states. This research aimed to identify the complex set of inter‐connected stakeholders and understand how their interactions influence maternal and child health policy and program decisions related to nutrition. It also aimed to test the use of a participatory network mapping tool to identify policy actors and the scale and scope of actor networks in a nutrition policy space.

Methods

Net‐Map, a participatory interview technique that combines social network analysis, stakeholder mapping and power mapping was used for this research. It aided in understanding, visualizing, and discussing situations in which various actors influence outcomes. Group interviews of expert actors (an average of 15 interviewees per group) who work on nutrition were conducted at the national level and in four states in India: Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar, Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Odisha. Respondents were led through a facilitated process that aimed to identify and map the actors, specify the linkages (flow of information, technical evidence, advocacy, funding) among them, and assess actor influence on maternal and child nutrition policy. The net‐maps were analyzed using quantitative social network analysis techniques and discussion notes from the mapping process were analyzed using qualitative methods.

Results

The national nutrition net‐map had high centralization i.e., a few actors had many links while most had few, and not all were connected to each‐other. Mapping of information flows showed that highly influential actors were not always accessible to the broader nutrition community. Mapping of technical evidence flows showed a sizeable disconnect between research organizations and policymakers. The state level net‐maps showed more variation; some net‐maps had actors who did not fully agree on the nature of undernutrition problems or the necessary solutions to tackle it (UP), other net‐maps had actors who supported each other and collaborated actively to move the nutrition agenda forward in their state (Odisha, Bihar). Core actors varied in different net‐maps with the key ones being government ministries (National and Odisha), development partners (Bihar) or civil society organizations(MP).

Conclusions

The stakeholder mapping exercise generated a detailed depiction of the important and commonly perceived actors and interactions, and helped to identify a distinct set of stakeholders in India who could be engaged with to mobilize knowledge and evidence about nutrition at both the national and state level. The Net‐Map process was feasible to administer and delivered critical insights on the complex multi‐actor, multi‐sector network of policy actors.

Support or Funding Information

Financial support for this research was provided by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, through Partnerships and Opportunities to Strengthen and Harmonize Actions for Nutrition in India (POSHAN), managed by the International Food Policy Research Institute