FUNDED RESEARCH

Summary: Building Capacity for Sustainable Livelihoods and Health through Public-Private Linkages in Agriculture and Health Systems in Upper Manya Krobo District Project (Nutrition Links) was a collaborative 5-year development and research initiative undertaken by University of Ghana, McGill University, World Vision, Canada, Heifer Project International-Ghana in partnership local institutions in the Upper Manya Krobo District (UMKD). With primary funding from Global Affairs, Canada, the objectives of the project were to: improve the quality of services provided by district institutions improve the health, social, and economic well-being of the most vulnerable populations, including infants and young children. The project had two (2) major intervention components that targeted households with young children and households with girls in early adolescence (starting at age 9 years).The interventions were complimented by:

1. Integrated capacity building training activities targeting district level institutional staff and community members
2. Longitudinal data system for better institutional level planning and to facilitate monitoring and evaluation of project activities.

Interventions targeting households with young children: These interventions, targeting caregivers with children under 5 years, were aimed at improving household access to and use of nutrient dense foods to enhance dietary intakes and nutritional status of young children. Intervention components included i) horticultural inputs and training for home gardens promoting nutrient dense dark green leafy vegetables (Amaranth [Alefu], Kontomire etc.) and orange-flesh sweet potatoes; ii) inputs and training for poultry husbandry for egg production; and iii) facilities interactive nutrition education sessions focused on optimal child feeding and use of garden vegetables and eggs to enhance quality of household and children’s diets. These interventions also contributed to livelihoods of the households as excess produce could be sold for income.

Interventions with girls in early adolescence: These interventions, targeting pre- and early adolescent girls (9 to 13 years), were aimed at reaching young girls before they drop out of school or become pregnant and providing them with financial literacy training (savings and budgeting); small cash transfer (cedi equivalent of USD15.00) that they could directly manage; weekly girls’ club mentoring (with nutrition, health, hygiene and family planning education); and another small cash transfer if they remain in school after the first year.

Capacity development at institutional and community levels: This project component was aimed improving knowledge and skills of institutional personnel delivering agriculture, nutrition, health, social support and financial services to communities in the district as well as knowledge and skills of community members to enhance their own well-being. Using a variety of training methods including participatory workshops and demonstrations, institutional level staff participated in capacity development for counseling on infant and young child feeding, community-based growth promotion, formation of mother-to-mother groups, gender and diversity, lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) methodology and mainstreaming nutrition into different sectors (agriculture and rural banks). Focal areas for capacity development of community members included gender and diversity, mother-to-mother group formation, health and nutrition, food demonstration sessions, and radio-based nutrition education

Key Outcomes: In households that received the integrated horticulture, poultry and nutrition education intervention, there was increased cultivation of nutrient dense vegetables, improved quality of children’s diets (egg consumption and diet diversity), and improved child growth (reduced stunting). The adolescents the project engaged with, largely stayed in school, had increased financial literacy, and saved money for school. Knowledge and skills relative to child health and gender awareness increased among personnel of local institutions as well as community members. The Nutrition Links project also engender mutlisectoral engagement and decision-making through the institution of a multi-stakeholder steering committee. Efforts to integrate key Nutrition Links project concepts and activities into permanent local institutions is contributing to sustainability of the achievements of the project in the district.

11 MAY 2020 | NRTC