The GTWG for Wasting was formed in early 2020. Four priority workstreams have been identified: Management of Wasting according to risk, Management of wasting for Community Health Workers (CHWs), Programming in the absence of therapeutic products, and Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) national protocol revision. The 'wasting according to risk' workstream has responded to several technical questions with respect to wasting in the context of COVID-19.
It currently has 23 members from a wide range of organisations and holds a regular weekly call in light of COVID-19. The sub-working group has, to date, responded to 29 escalated questions, which have been answered either through the updated UNICEF/ WHO guidance on ‘Wasting in the context of COVID-19’ or through five information notes on programme adaptations to wasting. Responses to these questions are found in the Programmatic Adaptations document.
Currently, the group is chaired by ENN and UNICEF. In June, a prevention workstream was incorporated into the Wasting GTWG, which is currently chaired by WFP and FAO.