1. Lessons learned from Enhanced Homestead Food Production (E-HFP) to improve household food security and nutrition in Nepal Pooja Pandey Rana Helen Keller International /Nepal IFPRI Technical Workshop 15th November 2011 Kathmandu, Nepal

2. Describe HKIs Homestead Food Production (HFP) model Share lessons learned for future program design of HFP model USAID funded Action Against Malnutrition through Agriculture (AAMA) Project in Nepal Outline 3. Objective: improve nutritional status of vulnerable members of low income households through home production of micronutrient (MN) rich crops and small animals, poultry Nutritional focus now broadened to include child growth and not just micronutrient deficiencies Emphasis on year round production of local micronutrient rich crops and animal source foods Focus on improving local farming practices to extent possible HKIs HFP Program 4. HKIs HFP Program Four primary pathways to achieve impact on nutrition: 1. Increased availability of micronutrient-rich foods through increased household production of these foods. 2. Increased knowledge and adoption of optimal nutrition practices including consumption of micronutrient-rich foods. 3. Increased income through the sale of surplus production. 4. Linkages established with local health services. 5. Where? Since 1990, now in four countries in Asia: Bangladesh, Nepal, Cambodia and Philippines. Just launched in Africa in Burkina Faso (w/ IFPRI) and Tanzania Coverage? Cumulatively more than 5 million people directly reached (950,000 families with majority in Bangladesh) Who? Primarily target women farmers from poorer households HKIs HFP Program 6. HKIs HFP Program HKI partners with government field agents and local NGOs for 3 year cycle Establish Village Model Farms Provide seeds, saplings and chicks Provide agricultural training in optimal techniques for crops and raising small animals and fowl Provide links to health services and nutrition education (behavior change) Make market linkages when needed 7. 7 Some results 8. Consistently improve: Household production of micronutrient-rich foods Household consumption of micronutrient-rich foods Consumption of micronutrient-rich foods among mothers and children Knowledge on key nutrition behaviors esp. on IYCF Some evidence that they improve: Income (especially under womens control) Womens empowerment (HH decision-making) Inconsistent evidence that they improve: Nutritional status outcomes (anemia, child growth) Some results 9. family food production alone is not enough to improve nutrition Lessons learned program design 10. Human, Economic, and Institutional Resources Nutritional Status HealthDiet Household Food Security Potential Resources Ecological Conditions Care of Mother and Child Environ. Health, Hygiene & Sanitation Political and Ideological Structure Root Causes Manifestations Immediate Causes Underlying Causes Adapted from UNICEF Conceptual Framework of Undernutrition FOOD CARE HEALTH Lessons learned program design 11. Stronger links with local health services Greater focus on Essential Nutrition Actions and behavior change (now named Enhanced HFP) Adequate attention on hygiene, water and sanitation for improved nutrition outcomes Lessons learned program design 12. Use equity lens Social mapping is key during community entry Special strategies needed to reach the unreached leasing of community land, poultry for the landless, VMF should be promoted as a social enterprise Use gender lens Design programs to empower women Do no harm approach Lessons learned program design 13. 13 Key role of women in nutrition and agriculture 14. 14 What more can we do to leverage agriculture for nutrition? Need to look at who can do what at key points in the agricultural cycle (inputs & pre-production, production, harvest, marketing, etc...) Lessons learned program design 15. Primary Beneficiaries Mothers and children under 2 yrs of age (~13000 HHs) Community Health Volunteers (~1500 FCHVs) Government Counterparts Program Goals: To improve household food security and nutritional status of children under 2 years and their mothers in the Baitadi, Kailali, Bajura districts To improve governance capacity within the MOAC and MOHP to strengthen multi-sectoral coordination for the joint identification and planning of nutrition and food security activities in 9 districts Mothers meet at the Village Model Farm to discuss Homestead Food Production and Essential Nutrition Actions. Action Against Malnutrition through Agriculture(AAMA) (2008-2012) 16. Improved-breed chickens are reared to focus on egg consumption. Chickens are brooded for 8 weeks, vaccinated and then distributed. 1. Homestead Food Production (HFP) Village Model Farms Homestead gardens (incld.poultry) 2. Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA) IYCF and Maternal nutrition Nutrition for sick child Linking to national programs 3. Behavior Change Communication Formative research, IEC Counseling /negotiations skills Follow-up visits for priority behaviors AAMA Program Interventions 4. Multisectoral governance 17. Impact Supportive supervision Project Monitoring and Evaluation Input Process Outputs Outcomes HKI, NTAG, NNSWA, SMJK, DHO, DADO, DOLS HKI partners with local NGOs and government Village Model Farms (VMF) established Small animal production established Increased production of nutrient-rich fruits & vegetables HFPB groups established Linkages to VMF, FCHVs and health services Agriculture inputs including seeds, saplings and poultry Improved and developed gardens established Increased Income Beneficiaries understand & adopt ENA messages and use health facilities Improved child care and feeding practices Beneficiaries understand agriculture training Increased animal source food production Increased household consumption Improved maternal and child health and nutritional status Agriculture- related training Process/Outputindicators Outcomeindicators Impactindicators Program Impact Pathways Essential Nutrition Actions using behavior change FOOD CARE & HEALTH Program Impact Pathways 18. HKI gratefully acknowledges support from: USAID OFDA CIDA Irish Aid NOVIB Partner NGOs European Union NHF DANIDA IFPRI www.hki.org 19. Acknowledgements: Dr. Victoria Quinn, HKI