Bangladesh: JANO – Joint Action for Nutrition Outcome – BGD910

JANO will replicate proven best practices, and take to scale innovative local governance models for better nutrition. The project will work with the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) at the national, regional and local levels, to support the effective implementation of the National Plan of Action for Nutrition (NPAN).

The project has intentionally selected Rangpur and Nilphamari as its implementation districts. Both districts fall under the Rangpur division, which has been identified as one of the two most vulnerable divisions in Bangladesh, with a stunting rate of 42.1 percent, according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey of Bangladesh (2012-2013).

The project intends to impact on several of the core challenges faced by Nilphamari and Rangpur districts. Knowledge and awareness will be raised and strengthened within communities in areas including appropriate feeding practices and care of infants, young children, and Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLW); appropriate hygiene behaviour; and adoption of nutrition-sensitive and climate-smart-agriculture techniques. Government structures at the local and regional levels will be key partners, where JANO will work with the Nutrition Coordination Committees such that they implement effective nutritional programmes within their regions, which are inclusive of all citizens, and accountable to their citizens. The private sector is also seen as a major systemic partner, where JANO will motivate and encourage businesses to invest in local markets, where they consider local populations as a part of their “core” business. Information systems will feature prominently in JANO, where the project will work closely with the government to make the National Nutrition Information System more accessible and easy to use.
Throughout JANO’s activities, women and girls will be central. All activities will follow a gender-transformational approach, to develop capacity of women and girls to be better producers and income earners, yet at the same time carefully considering a more equitable balance of workloads within their households to ensure that women do not become overly burdened.

Overall Objective

The Overall Objective of JANO is to “contribute in ending malnutrition of children under five-years of age, together with addressing the nutritional needs of Pregnant and Lactating Women and adolescent girls.”  

Strategic Objective

To “improve maternal and child nutrition through implementation of multi-sectoral approaches and strengthened nutritional governance in Nilphamari and Rangpur districts of Northwest Bangladesh.”

Expected Results

ER1: Women and adolescent girls in communities, through Community Support Groups, are empowered to demand and utilise both nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific services

ER2: Coordinated and resourced sub-national and local government structures recognise, respond to, and are accountable to the demand of poor and marginalised communities

ER3: Increased productivity and income growth, through nutrition-sensitive value chains and affordable access of households, to nutritious products and services

ER4: Government departments, both vertically and horizontally, are connected through effective ICT platforms leading to better planning, coordination, monitoring and accountability

Main Activities

• Conduct Situation Analysis, at each targeted union, incorporating gender and diversity approaches.
• Train 621 existing village level Community Support Groups, within Government Community Clinics, to strengthen their capacity to effectively engage with local level Nutrition Action Plans, using gender and diversity approaches.
• Train teachers across 330 primary and secondary schools, to effectively teach topics on gender equitable and resilient health, hygiene and nutrition, as part of the school curriculum; and implement 330 school gardens growing nutritious crops through climate-smart-agriculture techniques.
• Inform the public about nutrition issues through street theatres and other communication activities.
• Assist in the activation, and capacity building, of Nutrition Coordination Committees, at the district and upazila levels, and the Union Development Coordination Committee.
• Assist in the development of multi-level Nutrition Action Plans.
• Assist in the implementation and monitoring of multi-level Nutrition Action Plans.
• Strengthen complimentary role of the private sector and government extension systems in agriculture and livestock, for nutrition focused productivity and income growth.
• Facilitate knowledge and skill building of relevant government and private extension workers in the areas of nutrition-sensitive and climate-smart-agriculture.
• Facilitate Private Sector Engagement to produce nutrition focused and climate-smart products, needed by the base of the pyramid population, and recalibrate the last mile distribution.
• Strengthen existing government MIS, to ensure effective vertical and horizontal information flow.
• Digitalize all records and incorporate automated alerts into the system.
• Develop easy-to-use mobile phone based ICT (information and communication technology) tools enabling communities to access nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific information on demand.

Location

Rangpur and Nilphamari districts

Final Beneficiaries

275,415 pregnant and lactating women and married adolescent girls aged 15 to 49 years old
190,322 under five-years old children
421,425 unmarried adolescent girls and boys aged 10 to 19 years
9,907 community members

Duration

01.09.2018 – 31.08.2023