The Community Action for Nutrition (CAN) is a novel approach, which combines strengthening of government systems through active community participation, with improvement in household nutrition practices, to tackle the issue of malnutrition in Maharashtra. SATHI implemented this project as part of the ‘Nutrition Rights Coalition-Maharashtra’ — the State Nodal Agency.
The Tribal Development Department of the state of Maharashtra supports Community Action for Nutrition in 420 villages/habitations from 10 blocks of 7 tribal districts in Maharashtra — Nandurbar, Gadchiroli, Palghar, Nashik, Thane, Raigad and Pune.
Key processes are as follows–
BackgroundThis project aims to address undernutrition through intervention specifically focused on synergy between systems strengthening approach as well as improved household nutrition practices based on food diversity and follow up of undernourished children approach while ensuring community involvement. In this project we have included systematic orientation about health & nutrition services; improvement in household nutrition practices; promotion and revival of food diversity; ensuring follow up and appropriate treatment of under six children in nearby health facilities by ASHA/Arogya-Poshan Saheli (village workers) with active involvement of mothers/caregivers of young children. Conducting community consultations for system strengthening is also an important strategy of this project. Which will help in addressing undernutrition among under six children.
Outcomes
Output
Background
SATHI proposes to address the challenge of pervasive malnutrition in Maharashtra, specifically targeting the tribal communities. While the preceding sections have clearly established that fully addressing malnutrition requires a comprehensive multi-sectoral approach, SATHI is proposing to contribute to reducing malnutrition among pregnant and lactating women and children up to six years of age in tribal communities by focusing on the core interventions of direct nutrition services and immediately related health care services.
SATHI will focus its efforts on two components of AAY, namely the nutritional services and the public health care services necessary to complement towards improving the nutritional status of women and children. To work on both aspects simultaneously will be too much for the short period for which initial funding support is being requested. So, SATHI is finally proposing that the full project concept is implemented in two distinct yet related phases.
The Objectives of this project will be in two phases-
Phase 1 Improving the delivery of direct nutrition services
Phase 2 Ensuring Core Public Health Services needed to Complement Nutrition Services
A description of the proposed activities, organized in four components, is detailed below.
Component 1 Documenting the Public Finance Management Issues underlying Service Delivery Gaps of AAY- To support the work of the CBOs and UAngWon the ground, SATHI will also carry-out a detailed documentation and analysis of AAY to understand the fiscal aspects of AAY underlying the service delivery gaps and unpack the blockages in its effective implementation.
Component 2 Generating Evidence and Feedback on AAY using the CBMP Approach- Adopting the CBMP Approach, SATHI will collaborate with CBOs to spread awareness on AAY entitlements among the tribal communities, particularly focusing on empowering the Village Nutrition Committees.
Component 3 Analyzing and disseminating Study Findings to the Community to Inform Social Action- SATHI will conduct a workshop to analyze the findings of the study. At this workshop, participants will agree on the major findings and recommendations for action at each tier of the implementation of the AAY.
Component 4 Discussing with Agency Group to plan Phase II- While this proposal focuses only on Phase 1 which addresses the delivery of direct nutrition services for tribal women and children, Phase 2 will focus on the core health care services to complement the nutrition services.
Geographical area with collaborating organizations- District Block Name of Community Based organizations
Background
The programme strives to make nutrition services accountable and responsive, through community based monitoring and planning, generation of appropriate knowledge and reshaping relevant policies and programmes. The programme was implemented by a consortium of civil society organizations and SATHI was the nodal agency for the programme responsible overall coordination and monitoring.
Goal
Institutionalization of the emerging model of Community accountability and participation, for improving child nutrition in Maharashtra
Objectives
Key Activities of the project –
Link for past projects http//www.sathicehat.org/index.php/our-projects/past-projects/nutrition-rights-programme
Background
Keeping in view the continued problem of child malnutrition in tribal areas of Maharashtra, as well as the positive experiences of the pilot phase of Community monitoring and action for child nutrition, now the NRC would undertake a large state level project in collaboration with the Tribal Development Department and UNICEF on ‘Developing Community Action for Nutrition (CAN) to improve child nutrition services and practices in Tribal areas of Maharashtra’.
In this context, certain pre-project activities are being proposed to Rajmata Jijau Mission to ensure preparation of an appropriate proposal for a large scale project on community action to address child nutrition, to be implemented across all tribal districts of Maharashtra.
ObjectiveTo develop an evidence-based and socially anchored project proposal, with effective and realistic strategies for community accountability and action related to nutrition, which could lead to significant positive impact on nutrition of tribal children across Maharashtra.
Background
It is an accepted fact that nutrition is one of the most important determinants of health and well being of any population. This fact is especially relevant in the Indian context, not only in less developed states, but also in ‘developed’ states characterized by major inequities like Maharashtra where it has become clear thatMaharashtra’s human development is not corresponding with its economic growth.
A broad and comprehensive approach to malnutrition is needed for identifying not only immediate but also intermediate, underlying and fundamental causes, and hence the need for major changes at multiple levels including large scale socioeconomic changes.
It is also imperative that whatever nutritional services Government is offering to tackle malnourishment should be accountable to the community if at all they should be effective.
General Objectives
To create an enabling environment for the reduction of malnutrition in Maharashtra through making nutrition services accountable and responsive, through generation of appropriate knowledge, reshaping relevant policies and programs, and promotion of the Community monitoring approach for improving health and nutrition services.
Specific Objectives
Accountability
Critical knowledge generation and Research
Advocacy
Promoting CBMP as an approach to health and social services