Suaahara Impact Evaluation: End-line Survey

The Government of Nepal and development partners have prioritized multi-sectoral (integrated) nutrition as a key development agenda. The Suaahara program funded by the United States Agency for International Development is one of the programs that support the Government of Nepal's multi-sectoral nutrition plan. It aims to reduce maternal and child under-nutrition over a period of ten years, spanning two phases: Suaahara I (2011-2016) and Suaahara II (2016-2021). Initially launched in 20 of 75 districts, the program has scaled-up to 42 of 77 districts that span across Nepal's three agroecological zones of mountains, hills, and terai.

Suaahara I was led by Save the Children International in partnership with Helen Keller International, Johns Hopkins University Center for Communications Programs, Jhpiego, Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH), the National Promotion and Consultancy Service, and the Nepali Technical Assistance Group (NTAG). Suaahara II was led by Helen Keller International in partnership with Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc., Family Health International 360), he Nepali Technical Assistance Group, Digital Broadcast Initiative Equal Access, Environmental and Public Health Organization, and Vijaya Development Resource Center.

Suaahara's primary aim is to reduce the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children under 5 years of age and to reduce the prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age and children 6-59 months of age. For this, the program uses a multi-sectoral approach to achieve four key intermediate results (IRs): 1) improved household nutrition, sanitation, and health behaviors; 2) increased use of quality nutrition and health services by women and children; 3) improved access to diverse and nutrient-rich foods by women and children; and 4) accelerated roll-out of the MSNP through strengthened local governance. Suaahara interventions span health and family planning (FP), nutrition, agriculture/homestead food production (HFP), and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Diverse social and behavior change communication interventions are used, primarily to generate demand for access to improved services and to motivate households to adopt optimal health, nutrition, and WASH practices. All Suaahara interventions are supported by a crosscutting theme of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), in part by targeting women and disadvantaged groups and conducting activities that address GESI-related barriers to optimal health, nutrition, and WASH behaviors. Suaahara's conceptual framework illustrates the paths by which the program activities linked to desired outcomes achieve Suaahara II objectives.

Inclusion criteria

• At the household level, the primary respondents are mothers of children under 5 years of age from the selected households.
• Other survey respondents include a primary male (or female, if male unavailable) household decision-maker, and a grandmother of children under 5 years of age residing in the household.
• The Female Community Health Volunteer and health workers are also Suaahara beneficiaries, as the program explicitly aims to improve their knowledge and skills.

Exclusion criteria

• None.