Project profile — Multisectoral Support to Nutrition Activities and Policies in Malawi

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: strengthened stewardship, oversight, and coordination of gender-sensitive nutrition policy and programs at central, district and community level; improved access and utilization of prevention and treatment of malnutrition services in children and anaemia in pregnant and lactating women (including adolescent girls), focussing on the first 1,000 days from pregnancy to 2 year of age, in selected districts in Malawi.

Results achieved as of March 2015 include: (1) a new National Nutrition Policy 2013-18 drafted; (2) a new National Nutrition Strategic Plan 2013-18 drafted; (3) Malawi's first Food and Nutrition Act drafted; (4) a National Nutrition Monitoring and Evaluation System designed and being rolled out; (5) a comprehensive baseline survey of community-based nutrition indicators; (6) information, education and communication materials designed for nation-wide nutrition promotion campaigns targeting households with children under five; (7) 600 front-line health and extension workers trained to deliver nutrition interventions in 7 districts; (8) 262 community care groups established to receive nutrition promotion messages; (9) 147 District Executive Committee officials oriented on nutrition issues; (10) 79 District Nutrition Coordination Committee members in 7 districts trained on coordinating nutrition interventions; (11) 1,470 backyard gardens established; (12) 110,000 people reached with nutrition promotion messages or interventions through community care groups; (13) in seven districts, 28% of children under five properly treated for diarrhoea versus 22% in 2010, and 38% of children receiving minimum dietary diversity versus 29% in 2010. Project Results as of February 2017 (1) National Nutrition Policy 2017-2021 approved); (2) New National Nutrition Strategic Plan 2013-18 drafted; (3) Malawi's first Food and Nutrition Act developed and approved (4) a National Nutrition Monitoring and Evaluation System designed and being rolled out; (5) a comprehensive baseline survey of community-based nutrition indicators; (6) Malawi Demographic and Health Survey, 2016, conducted and report released. (7) Reduction of stunting from 47% in 2010 to 37% in 2016 (Malawi DHS Report 2016). (8) Anemia reduced from 55% in 2009 to 28% in 2016 among preschool children in intervention districts, and in women of reproductive age group has reduced from 32% in 2009 to 28% in 2016. (9) Vitamin A deficiency, which contributes to poor iron status, has reduced from 22% in 2009 to 4% in 2016 – which mean only 4% of children are affected. (10) District Councils through the District Nutrition Coordinating Committee are collaborating on joint planning, monitoring and coordination of nutrition policy. (11) District Councils have owned and roll out web-based M&E system and are reporting on key nutrition indicators to DNHA on a quarterly basis. (12) Over 301,111 (representing 75%) of under 2 children have been reached with monthly minimum package of nutrition services in the intervention districts – this has increased from 27.6% at end March 2015. (13) Percentage of children 6-23 month who receive minimum diet diversity in intervention districts increased from 29% in 2010 to 35.4% by October 2016; These results are contributing to Malawi's progressive roll-out of the global Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) initiative which provides science-based guidance on proven, high-impact interventions designed to reduce under-nutrition and the prevalence of acute malnutrition, stunting, and anaemia among under five children and young women.