The Youth Grant (SUN), funded under the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, was a youth-led initiative piloted in the districts of Nkhotakota and Balaka. The project aimed to amplify youth voices in community nutrition platforms and increase their visibility and participation in structures that shape local nutrition outcomes. By targeting key nutrition committees such as the Area and Village Nutrition Coordinating Committees (ANCC and VNCC) as well as Community and Area Community Liaison and Advocacy Networks (CLAN and ACLAN), the project worked to bridge the gap between youth networks and formal nutrition governance spaces.

CSONA implemented the project with the goal of ensuring that young people are not only represented but are also active drivers of change within their communities. As a result of the initiative, youth were successfully incorporated into CLAN and ACLAN structures, while stronger linkages were established between youth clubs and VNCCs. These connections were critical in elevating youth-led actions such as the promotion of backyard gardens and the facilitation of community-based cooking demonstrations, which emphasized practical nutrition knowledge and behavior change.

At the district level, the project facilitated engagement meetings with key stakeholders including the District Planning Director (DPD), District Nutrition Coordination Committee (DNCC), District Youth Officer (DYO), and Principal Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Officer (PNAHO). These engagements created room for cross-sectoral dialogue on how best to institutionalize youth participation within the wider nutrition ecosystem. In the communities, the project conducted awareness sessions for nutrition committees while also training youth clubs and youth network structures to better understand their roles in promoting nutrition.

Despite its impact, the project faced notable challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the implementation timeline, particularly due to transport cost hikes and restrictions on meetings with stakeholders. Financial constraints also limited the scope of activities, and in some areas, weak community nutrition structures posed a barrier to sustaining youth visibility and influence. Additionally, it was observed that while many organizations focus on training community promoters, the broader nutrition committees, especially those that include youth, are often left out of capacity-building initiatives.

Nonetheless, the project marked an important step toward creating an enabling environment for youth participation in nutrition and highlighted the need for sustained investment in inclusive governance of food and nutrition systems.