CRS Rwanda Integrated approach as a strategic …The integrated approach is a flexible, effective...
Transcript of CRS Rwanda Integrated approach as a strategic …The integrated approach is a flexible, effective...
Introduction
•In Rwanda, chronic under-nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies remain important public health issues. DHS 2015 found
38% prevalence of chronic malnutrition. Among the complex underlying causes are lack of diverse diet, limited knowledge
about nutrition principles and appropriate complementary feeding practices, small plot sizes, and lack of financial resources to
purchase nutritious foods.
•Through its EKN project, CRS/Rwanda is applying the integrated approach to address these interlinked challenges in support
of the Government of Rwanda’s national priority to eliminate malnutrition. The integrated approach is a flexible, effective
methodology which CRS has applied in programs including KGM Coffee Livelihoods and Higa Ubeho, which targeted,
respectively, smallholder coffee growers, and OVCs and pregnant and lactating women and children under five.
•During the first year of EKN, a series of activities were implemented in collaboration with government counterparts to set up
multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms, build capacity of service providers, improve BCC, and implement activities to
improve food security and resilience for vulnerable households with children under two and pregnant and lactating women.
EKN activities were written into district officials’ performance contracts, and this facilitated collaboration between CRS and
government stakeholders, a critical component of project success.
Abstract
One of Rwanda’s biggest development challenges is to secure sufficient and healthy food for all, especially for children under
two years and to do so in an environmentally sustainable manner. This review explores the interrelationships of food, health,
and environment, and their role in addressing chronic malnutrition, or stunting. CRS has scaled up its integrated approach
aiming at improved diet diversity and incomes to reach household level. Sustainability of the integrated approach to reduce
stunting depends upon community ownership and support of local leaders.
Methods
EKN interventions were implemented through the
CRS/Rwanda integrated approach, which includes the
combination of nutrition through Village Nutrition Schools
(VNS), agriculture and food security through Farmer Field
Learning Schools (FFLS), and economic strengthening
through savings and internal lending communities (SILC).
Groups are led by volunteers linked to government
extension services.
FFLS is a participatory learning-by-doing approach by
which 20-30 beneficiaries learn through field observations
and experimentation of improved bio-intensive agricultural
techniques (BIAT) to increase household crop production
even on small plots.
CRS developed Village Nutrition Schools (VNS) as a
community-based approach built on the Positive Deviance
Hearth (PD/H) methodology to increase group members’
knowledge to quickly rehabilitate malnourished children and
prevent future cases of malnutrition.
To address stunting, CRS Rwanda applied PD/Hearth, a
globally recognized methodology for identifying positive
deviant practices found for recuperating children who are
moderately malnourished. As VNS seeks to sustain nutrition
gains through socio-economic changes, this approach
encompasses nutrition activities, such as growth monitoring
and nutrition education, along with agriculture and financial
education and savings. Applying BIAT will improve
productivity, while SILC is a mechanism for increasing
household access to income and assets.
•Activities under VNS focus on improving nutrition during
the first “1,000 days of life, a window of opportunity”
through promotion of locally available, culturally
appropriate, and affordable food products while at once
promoting behavior changes including hygiene, dietary
practices, and health care.
Author: Odette Uwera Kamanzi, CRS – Rwanda, EKN Project Director
CRS – Rwanda Integrated approach as a strategic support to reduce stunting
Districts targeted in the CRS integrated
approach through EKN-funded project
Cooking demonstration session
Growth Monitoring session
Farmer Field Learning Schools (Learning by doing)
Feeding practices session
Example of food processing: soya into milk by mothers
Promotion of hygiene practices/handwashing
The final step of implementation of EKN project is to measure the percentage of
beneficiaries who adopt practices learned from FFLS, VNS and SILC in their
household.
CRS - RWANDA Theory of Change
Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILCs) are a type of
community-based savings groups promoted by CRS and its partners
and provides a safe place for its members to save and obtain credit
for small businesses.
= Household
adoption
Findings
CRS’ experiences with the adoption of integrated approach activities at household level has led to
the following results.
The May 2015 KGM final evaluation found that among 3,600 small-scale coffee producing
households:
• Household income from non-coffee IGA increased from $66 to $213.2.
• Vulnerable smallholder HHs increased food security from 7.3 months to 9.9 months
• Households increased dietary diversity scores from 2.9 to 4.5
• Farmers increased production of food crops per household from 241kgs to 708kgs
• Vulnerable households increased in good sanitation from 56% to 79.8%
The Higa Ubeho final evaluation (2008-2013) found that:
• 51% of beneficiaries initiated IGA and 50% of them purchased health insurance
• 98% of household retained more than one small animal
• 99% of households had a year-round kitchen garden
The EKN nutrition project is currently in its second year and uptake at HH level is ongoing. Its
2014 annual report showed that:
• 859 FFLS groups established (98.8%) and received vegetable seeds, bio-fortified crops and
agriculture tools
• 859 VNS groups established (98.8%) and received cooking demonstrations kits
• 859 SILC groups created (98.8%) and are functional
• 40% have adopted BIAT, nutrition best practices and SILC in their households
Discussion and Conclusions
When best practices from BIAT, VNS and SILC are adopted at household level, good nutritional
practices, income and crop production increase at household level. Close collaboration with
government structures at all levels contributes to achieving project results and longer-term community
commitment to ending malnutrition.
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements and sincere appreciation to Bridget Kimball, CRS – Rwanda and Burundi Head
of Programs, and Grace Funnell, CRS - Nutrition Regional Advisor, who have generously
contributed to the development of this poster. We are sincerely grateful!
Catholic Relief Services – Rwanda gratefully acknowledges the generosity and support of the
Government of Rwanda, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, UNICEF as donors who
have supported CRS to provide services to vulnerable people in Muhanga and Karongi districts. We
appreciatively acknowledge their generosity.