UK-SEA Research Partnership

Overview

In 2024, this foundational collaborative project brought together the University of Leeds (UoL), ILSI Southeast Asia Region, the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM), and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to examine nutrition policies, action plans, and programmes in Malaysia related to the prevention of the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) among school-age children. The project played a key role in strengthening the UK–SEA research partnership and laid the groundwork for the establishment of the UK–SEA ChAN Network in August, 2025.

Why It Matters

DBM remains a major challenge among children and adolescents in Malaysia and across the region. This project strengthened the evidence base needed to inform more effective and scalable strategies, while creating a platform for shared learning and future regional collaboration.

Objectives

  • Review existing nutrition and food security policies, national action plans, and programmes related to school-age children in Malaysia
  • Identify implementation gaps, barriers, and opportunities across policy and programme delivery
  • Develop informed recommendations to address DBM through coordinated, evidence-based approaches
  • Strengthen UK–SEA collaboration and support future regional networking

Key Components

The project used an integrative mixed-methods design comprising:

  • Document review
  • Key informant interviews (KII) and focus group discussions (FGD)
  • A strategy review workshop using participatory approaches

Contribution to UK–SEA ChAN Network

This project directly informed the formation of the UK–SEA ChAN Network by:

  • Building cross-institutional collaboration
  • Creating a shared platform for policy dialogue
  • Identifying priority actions for future work
  • Advancing regional networking for child and adolescent nutrition

Highlighted Insights

The project identified both barriers and enablers for DBM prevention, including fragmented efforts, limited resources, weak enforcement, and monitoring gaps, while highlighting the importance of sufficient funding, strong leadership, inter-agency collaboration, and community engagement.

Partners

  • University of LeedsUnited Kingdom · Lead Institution
  • ILSI Southeast Asia RegionRegional Nutrition Organization
  • Nutrition Society of MalaysiaMalaysia · National Professional Body
  • Universiti Putra MalaysiaMalaysia · Academic Partner

Content to be added: final project outputs, downloadable summary, event report, photos, or policy brief

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