Duration

2021-2023

Key Partners

Government of Assam, Private Sector and Civil society

Funder

USAID

Impact

50,000 COVID-19 impacted women, adolescent girls, and children

The USAID Advancing Nutrition project was a global effort to address the root cause of malnutrition. In India, the project was led by JSIPL and worked closely with communities, governments, the private sector, and other local and international organizations in Assam. It provided technical and training support for marginalized populations whose livelihoods and nutritional status were potentially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The implementation sites included three districts of Assam, viz. Tinsukia, Goalpara, and Barpeta. The intervention’s unique aspect benefits vulnerable communities in various geographies like riverine areas, tea gardens, hilly tracts, and tribal pockets. The communities were supported to tap into available natural resources and enabled the Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) to earn better income from farming and marketing their products, as well as ensuring a variety of nutritious foods in their household diet.

Gaps and Challenges Addressed

Prevailing norms and behaviors in the community had the potential to impact their diet and nutrition. Also, there are gender barriers that came in the way of meeting women’s nutritional outcomes and their economic freedom.
There was a greater need for collaboration and exchange of learnings among stakeholders. This was aimed to maximize impact and help in optimum utilization of resources.

Key Objectives

To strengthen women-led nutrition-sensitive agriculture practices and business opportunities.

To build and add value to partnerships among multisectoral and multi-interest nutrition stakeholders to implement nutrition-sensitive agriculture activities.

To document lessons learnt and best practices and to disseminate them through appropriate learning platforms.

JSIPL's Role in Implementing the Project

In India, JSIPL led the project coordination and oversight. The Assam-based local NGO partner, the Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA), undertook the project on the ground with support from JSIPL.

Considering the complexity of the approach, JSIPL worked on strategic collaborations among different stakeholders like multiple departments of the Government of Assam (GoAS), private sector organizations, and civil society members to ensure convergence. A stakeholder workshop was held to initiate the project by bringing all key stakeholders together on one platform.

Distinguishing features of the project

Multisectoral approach for pooling in resources and expertise of different government departments and partners.
Looking at the state-specific scenario and building on Assam’s riverine wealth by creating economic opportunities primarily related to aquaculture and horticulture.
Technical assistance to the private sector and government partners to demonstrate the potential for community-led nutrition-sensitive agriculture to achieve improved diet and nutrition outcomes.
Engagement with potential private sector partners to identify partnership pathways for sustainable, scalable actions.

Advancing Nutrition In India

Gaps and Challenges Addressed

JSIPL's Role in Implementing the Project

Distinguishing features of the project