Whilst stunting rates have fallen in Malawi over the past two decades (from 47% in 2010 to 37%), the prevalence is still high and well over the regional average of 29% in Southern Africa. The rate of population growth also means that the absolute number of stunted children in Malawi is increasing.
The Power of Nutrition together has brought together partners – the Hilton Foundation, Save the Children and Give Directly, to create a $12million programme which spans five years, addressing the root causes and contributing factors to chronic malnutrition and poor Early Childhood Development (ECD), within two districts of Malawi.
The programme and interventions are organised under three pillars:
Addressing economic barriers to accessing nutritious foods and services by providing households with pregnant women and mothers of children under three years old with monthly cash transfers of either $20 or $35 over the course of 30 months, to enable them access to nutritious food and essential services.
Addressing the cultural, social and environmental barriers to behavioural uptake and service utilisation and demand. Drawing on a rigorous formative research, gender analysis and Social and Behaviour Change, the programme ensures households with children under three years have access to accurate, relevant information and support through community based structures.
We are reaching adolescent girls (and boys) before they become pregnant to delay pregnancy and improve their health and nutrition, whilst also supporting teenage mothers to care for their children and themselves as a priority.
We are focusing on village, district and national structures to help improve access and quality of key health, nutrition and ECD services, improving coordination, use of data, effective planning and budgeting and addressing key bottlenecks to service provision. This pillar will also generate high quality, locally relevant evidence for better practice and linked advocacy activities.
The programme will contribute to a number of significant outcomes in Malawi and beyond, including:
Implementing partners: Save the Children, Give Directly
The Power of Nutrition investors: Hilton Foundation, FCDO