South Asian Policy Leadership for Improved Nutrition and Growth (SAPLING)

The South Asian Policy Leadership for Improved Nutrition and Growth (SAPLING) is a dynamic regional platform convened by the World Bank with support from the Gates Foundation and other partners. It is dedicated to driving transformative change in nutrition-focused and resilient agri-food systems across South Asia.

SAPLING fosters cross-sectoral collaboration by bringing together policymakers, researchers, civil society practitioners, private sector leaders, innovators, and development partners to exchange knowledge, promote dialogue, and inspire action. As the region grapples with challenges like food insecurity, malnutrition, and the impacts of climate change, SAPLING serves as a vital conduit for evidence-based policy solutions and leadership. By addressing these interconnected issues, SAPLING aims to strengthen food systems, enhance nutritional outcomes, and build the resilience needed to support sustainable development and improve lives across South Asia.

SAPLING advances its mission through three interlinked pillars and core themes –

Pillars:

• Policy Dialogue – In-country and regional forums for learning, exchange, and collaboration
• Technology Solutions – Scaling emerging innovations and best practices across borders
• Government Support – Embedding a food systems and nutrition lens into policy and development investments

Themes:

• Food Loss and Waste (FLW): Addressing inefficiencies and losses in the food supply chain after harvest, which directly impact food availability, farmer incomes, and sustainability.
• Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA): Promoting agricultural practices that are resilient to climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance productivity and food security.
• Food Safety Standards: Strengthening food safety systems to ensure public health, support trade, and build consumer trust in food systems.

SAPLING actively leverages knowledge-building, dialogue, and dissemination as tools to bridge the gap between research and action.

In partnership with a growing network of allies and collaborators, SAPLING curates and shares knowledge through:

• Policy dialogues on food systems challenges that are at the heart of the nutrition dilemma in South Asia
• Evidence-based insights that draw on cutting edge research, tailored for policymakers and practitioners
• Active spotlighting of innovations and scalable solutions from across the region

In 2025, SAPLING is partnering with the Nexus of Food Systems, Nutrition and Climate Change in South Asia – a Knowledge Exchange Series (KES) jointly organized by FAO and the World Bank. NEXUS KES has been successfully fostering dialogue between different stakeholders, shared best practices, and advocated for integrated, scalable solutions in South Asia's agrifood system.

For more information contact us: nexus@worldbank.org

SAPLING convenes high-impact events that inform policy, support local innovations, and connect decision-makers across the region. These multi-sectoral exchanges help drive momentum for continued dialogue and learning.

 SAPLING at World Food India, 2024

 At this landmark event hosted by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, SAPLING brought together stakeholders from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan to reflect on shared challenges and opportunities in food systems. Across three dynamic panels, the following themes were explored:

• Moving from cereal-centricity to diversification
• Leadership of women and youth in sustainable food production and healthier consumption
• Intergenerational nutrition outcomes as an urgent policy priority

See here for event highlights

Learning Lab at the Delivering for Nutrition (D4N) Conference, 2024

At the IFPRI-hosted D4N conference, SAPLING led a session on Unlocking Opportunities for Policy Wins, focusing on how evidence-based policymaking can drive nutrition-sensitive outcomes. Eminent panelists from government, academia, and civil society across the region emphasized:

• The need for an emphatic shift from food security to nutrition security
• The urgency for credible, timely evidence to inform policy decisions
• The role of strategic communication and multi-sectoral partnerships to connect the dots between evidence and policy

The Learning Lab, at a glimpse

World Soil Day 2024: Healthy Soils, Livable Planet, 2024

In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, SAPLING co-hosted an international workshop to elevate soil health as a national policy priority. The workshop highlighted:

• The importance of soil health in fostering resilient, nutrition-oriented food systems
• A shift in knowledge and practice towards climate-sensitive farming
• The role of agricultural extension workers, community institutions and farming communities in shaping transformative action at scale

SAPLING engages a broad spectrum of stakeholders across South Asia, including:

• Country governments
• Regional cooperation bodies such as SAARC and BIMSTEC
• Private sector actors, including national and regional associations, chambers, and social entrepreneurs
• Development partners, youth organizations, NGOs/CSOs, and media, including international media and INGOs focused on nutrition and agrifood systems
• Think tanks, academic and research institutions, and foundations

Fostering partnerships across a diverse ecosystem of researchers, practitioners and innovators, SAPLING helps bridge silos and builds collective capacity to shape forward-looking policies for food systems transformation in South Asia.

In addition, SAPLING serves as a strategic knowledge and engagement platform for the World Bank’s internal stakeholders, supporting cross-sectoral alignment on food and nutrition security goals and furthering the Bank’s Knowledge Compact and Global Challenges Program.

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Email: sapling@worldbank.org