Micronutrient Initiative

Published purpose

This project aims to improve the nutritional security of populations living in the Kolda and Kédougou regions by focussing on preventing new cases of malnutrition, especially amongst women and young children. These regions show malnutrition rates significantly higher than the national average, resulting in child mortality rates twice as high as the national average. The project seeks to reduce malnutrition by adopting an integrated approach consisting of the following three components: (1) promote better nutrition practices for vulnerable populations; (2) support communities in the production of more nutritious food; and (3) strengthen the capacity of the government at the local, regional and national levels to deliver nutrition or nutrition-sensitive programmes. Project activities include: (1) train and provide equipment to 1,775 health workers to deliver behaviour change communication messages on appropriate nutritional practices to approximately 35,000 influential in household food consumption decision-making (mainly women); (2) support the development and delivery of community services related to maternal and child nutrition to 31,000 pregnant and lactating women and approximately 50,500 children under five; (3) implement community initiatives to improve the production and distribution of nutrient-rich food by 30,000 households, including training on good agricultural practices and support to the development of local entrepreneurship; and (4) train and provide equipment to local and regional government structures leading to a better inclusion of nutrition issues in the design, implementation, coordination and monitoring of development plans.