I. HISTORY OF FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT

The Center for Nutrition Information, Education and Communication was established in 1999 by Decision of the Ministry of Health, the predecessor of the "Nutrition Information, Education and Communication" Unit (1996 - 1999) and the "Nutrition Education" Group (1985 - 1996). In the early period, the "Nutrition Education" Group belonged to the Department of Applied Nutrition, led by PhD. Truong But, the unit carried out propaganda and education activities on nutrition, integrated into the primary health care program. In 1996, the "Nutrition Education and Communication Information" Unit was established under Decision No. 132/QD-TC, dated December 31, 1996, led by PhD Candidate. Cao Thi Hau, Deputy Head of the Department of Applied Nutrition, with a total of five staff. Nutrition and health education activities from this period were one of the key activities and solutions to implement the National Plan of Action on Nutrition (1995-2000), and subsequently the National Nutrition Strategy.

It can be state that from the beginning, nutrition education and communication work has received have received significant attention from successive leaders of the Institute, with the guidance of outstanding predecessors in the field of education and communication such as Professor Tu Giay, the founding Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, he was the former Editor-in-Chief of the Vui Song newspaper (the hygiene promotion organ of the Military Medical Department, Ministry of National Defense, the "Vui Song" newspaper was published during the resistance war against France), and Doctor Truong But, who made substantial contributions to research and implementation of nutrition education activities in the community. Over the past four decades of establishment and development, generations of staff working in the field of nutrition education and communication have contributed their efforts and intellect  to gradually transform the unit into a Center for Nutrition Information, Education and Communication as it is today.

II. PERSONNEL AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

The center currently has 6 staff, including 03 master’s and 03 bachelors, with professional capacity and experience in the fields of nutrition education and communication including behavioral research, production of communication materials, data management and application of 4.0 technology.

Staff of the Center for Nutrition Information, Education and Communication in 2025

III. FUNCTIONS AND TASKS

1. Functions

The Center for Nutrition Information, Education and Communication is the focal point of the National Institute of Nutrition in researching, organizing and implementing communication, and education activities related to nutrition and food, while also utilizing information technology to support the Institute's professional activities.

2. Main tasks

- Conduct research and dietary behavior change communication interventions for the Vietnamese people, utilizing the findings to develop tailored communication messages for each target group.

- Compile and publish 10 Tips on proper nutrition through stages along with nutrition communication messages tailored for specific target groups.

- Compile, publish and distribute communication materials on nutrition and food; collaborate with other units in the Institute to develope communication materials for various activities, programs and projects.

- Serve as the focal point for organizing nationwide communication campaigns in observance to Micronutrient Day (June 1-2), Nutrition and Development Week (October 16-23), as well as health-related days and events following to the Ministry of Health's Communication Plan and other communication programs as required by topics and projects.

- Serve as the primary liaison for working with the press collaborator system in coordinating the dissemination of nutrition information and propaganda on mass media.

- Participate in training human resources, building networks and directing lines in the field of nutrition communication.

- Maintain and develop electronic information platform, develope electronic libraries, create specialized software, and manage the storage data of the Institute.

- Act as the designated spokesperson for the National Institute of Nutrition on nutrition-related issues as assigned.

- Provide professional services on information, education, and communication according to meet the societal needs.

- Perform other tasks as assigned by the Director of the Institute.

IV. DEVELOPMENT ORIENTATION

In the context of nutrition and food environment transformation, the shift in nutritional behavior along with changes in people's access to information, and the process of digital transformation on a large scale, nutrition education and communication work requires comprehensive innovation. To carry out the key tasks of the National Nutrition Strategy, National Target Programs, and meet social needs, the development orientation of communication activities is as follows:

- Enhance research on food consumption behavior and influencing factors within the context of the food environment; conduct intervention studies aimed at dietary behavior change, particularly for adolescents.

- Diversify communication content and forms, strengthen mass communication combined with direct communication forms, promote the advantages of communication forms with regional cultural identity.

- Strengthen communication on digital platforms; develop communication materials and support tools for nutrition communication and education on the 4.0 technology platform.

- Strengthen communication for Ten tips on proper nutrition and Nutrition Pyramid to 2030.

- Strengthen coordination with the network of press collaborators. Focusing on risk management, handling misinformation and communication crises.

- Effectively utilize domestic and foreign resources to improve the quality and socialization communication activities.

- Strengthen training and improve professional capacity for staff working in nutrition communication and education throughout the system.

- Develop communication, training and consultation services according to social needs.

V. SOME PICTURES OF THE CENTER'S ACTIVITIES

Conference to provide information to the press on the occasion of Micronutrient Day 1-2/6/2025

Publishing leaflets and posters under the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction 2025

Publishing Nutrition Pyramid for different age groups to support the communication activities for implementing the National Nutrition Strategy for the 2021 – 2030 period, with a vision to 2045

  Publishing Ten tips on proper nutrition through the stages