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Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized National Nutrition Mission/ POSHANAbhiyaan Mission/ Nutrition National Undernutrition tofight Drive India’s India: Lighthouse Lighthouse India - 2019 at a glance OBJECTIVE: To facilitate cross learning among countries on nutrition PARTICIPATION: >300 participants • Country delegates • Policy makers • Key government ministries • Scientific community • Development partners • World Bank representatives COUNTRIES REPRESENTED: 13 1. Nepal 2. Bangladesh 3. Mexico 4. Madagascar 5. Afghanistan 6. Gambia 7. Laos 8. Uganda 9. Indonesia 10. Malawi 11. Brazil 12. Myanmar 13. India INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES: 43 Introduction Launched in December 2017 by the Government The event aimed at facilitating cross learning among of India (GoI), the POSHAN Abhiyaan (National countries that face the undernutrition challenge. It focused Nutrition Mission) aims to address the high burden on creating a platform for different country governments of undernutrition in the country. Adopting a life-cycle, to exchange ideas and knowledge based on innovations convergent and results oriented approach to nutrition, implemented by them and for India to share its experience it makes the long-awaited shift in programmatic focus with the POSHAN Abhiyaan. With an emphasis on the use on the critical first 1000-day window for nutrition. of technology, innovations to bring about behaviour change To achieve its goals, it focuses on four main pillars and multi-sector convergence in frontline delivery systems as - use of information technology (IT), Behaviour a means to rapidly expand and improve nutrition and health Change Communication (BCC), incremental learning service delivery, the discussions were geared towards the for community nutrition workers, convergence and “how to” and “what it takes to deliver” dimensions of performance incentives. the program. Till date, the POSHAN Abhiyaan has reached about The four-day event, organised in Jaipur and Delhi from 26 crore people through its communication campaign, February 1-2 and February 4-5, 2019 respectively, was rolled out a mobile-based monitoring and management planned as a mix of field visits and interactive sessions. The tool (known as the Integrated Child Development main objective of the event was to help countries learn and Services Common Application Software or ICDS-CAS) exchange knowledge on potential pathways to implement to approximately 1.2 lakh workers, and institutionalized nutrition programs at scale for improving nutrition an innovative training methodology for the ICDS outcomes. Discussions were centred on four thematic areas functionaries called the Incremental Learning Approach of nutrition service delivery: (ILA), among various other initiatives. While it is early to assess the impact on outcomes, the lessons learnt in (i) Leveraging technology to manage and monitor large the first year of implementation have the potential to scale nutrition programs; provide valuable lessons to other countries implementing (ii) Sustainable mechanisms for building health worker skills, similar nutrition programs and interventions. It is on this capacity and motivation; premise that the Government of India, in partnership (iii) Making Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) a core with the World Bank, planned and organised a knowledge strategy of nutrition programs; and exchange event – Lighthouse India: A drive to (iv) Facilitating convergence for nutrition. fight undernutrition. DAY 1 Plenary Session I The plenary session of the event helped set the context, with presenters sharing the objective of the Lighthouse India event, providing an overview of India’s flagship program, the POSHAN Abhiyaan, and placing it within the context of a global overview of what works to improve nutrition outcomes. The session started with a welcome address by Ms. Gayatri Rathore, Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD), Government of Rajasthan who urged that the forum be converted into a larger platform for continuous experience sharing. Dr. Rekha Menon, Practice Manager, Health Nutrition by involving multiple sectors. Citing examples from Population, South Asia Region, World Bank shared countries such as Peru and Senegal, Dr. Shekar the objectives of the Lighthouse India event and threw light on the factors that resulted in impressive highlighted that ‘knowledge not shared was knowledge reductions in stunting. These included - political wasted’. She hoped that the exchange of viewpoints alignment with the nutrition agenda, strong leadership and country specific interventions among participants and commitment, multi-sector strategy, and financing would help bring out elements of ‘what works’ and for nutrition. She also brought attention to the ‘what doesn’t’ for nutrition programming globally. innovative strategies being implemented from around the globe such as the ICDS-CAS in India, multi- Dr. Meera Shekar, Global Lead, Nutrition, sectoral score cards in Tanzania and Indonesia, Social World Bank provided an insightful global review of Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) approach nutrition outcomes and innovations. She began by in Bangladesh and Madagascar and incentivisation setting the context for the need to address overall models for nutrition improvement in India and malnutrition, particularly stunting, by investing in the Madagascar. She concluded her presentation by first 1000 days. She stressed on the importance of bringing the focus of the audience on the emergence ‘thinking multi-sectorally, but acting sectorally’ and of newer challenges in terms of the increasing highlighted the criticality of incorporating nutrition prevalence of overweight and obesity in low-middle- sensitive actions into overall nutrition programming income countries. Key pillars and interventions under POSHAN Abhiyaan in a large country like India and laid emphasis on the impact of malnutrition on the physical as well Pillar I: Technology for effective service delivery human capital of a country. Dr. Kumar shared • Information Comunication Technology (ICT) India’s experience of community mobilisation and or mobile based Management Information System highlighted the achievements of the Jan Andolan, [ICDS-CAS] or people’s movement, in reaching beneficiaries • Web and call centre based grievance and communities through a Behaviour Change redressal system Communication campaign implemented jointly with various ministries, towards a common goal of Pillar 2: Convergence improving nutrition outcomes. • Innovations • Convergence Nutrition Action Plan Sh. Ajay Tirkey, Additional Secretary, MWCD, Government of India spoke about four impeding Pillar 3: Capacity building factors that led to the evolution of the POSHAN • Incremental Learning Approach (ILA) Abhiyaan - (i) poor positioning of nutrition in the Indian governance structure - lack of political will Pillar 4: Jan Andolan - BCC and Community and commitment from the top leadership; (ii) lack mobilisation of focus on the first 1000 days; (iii) poor quality of • Community Based Events (CBEs) services; (iv) inability to bring in convergence. He • Mass and mid-media re-emphasised the holistic approach adopted by the government to roll out the POSHAN Abhiyaan, and Pillar 5: Performance Incentives highlighted the highest level of political commitment, • Performance based incentives for field through the involvement of the Honourable Prime functionaries & the States Minister, which has brought about the much needed focus on nutrition in the country. He concluded by stressing upon the need for cross learning between Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Joint Secretary and Mission the countries through a platform like Lighthouse Director, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Ministry of Women India to enable governments to regularly exchange and Child Development (MWCD), Government knowledge as well as experiences. of India, provided a snapshot of the evolution of the POSHAN Abhiyaan being implemented in the Following the plenary session, panel discussions country. He highlighted its coverage, key pillars, were held around the four thematic areas. interventions and the major milestones achieved so far. He spoke about the importance of the Abhiyaan Panel I: Multi Sectoral Nutrition Convergence The session focused on convergence between different sectors which is critical in ensuring that both nutrition specific and sensitive actions are considered while planning for nutrition. Chaired bySh. Ajay Tirkey and facilitated by Dr. Rekha Menon, presenters in this session spoke about (a) existing strategies for facilitating convergence on nutrition; (b) challenges in implementing these strategies; and (c) outcomes and key lessons learnt. Dr. Kiran Rupakhetee, Joint Secretary, National Planning Commission, Nepal presented the role of Priority interventions identified by Laos: Multi-Sector Nutrition Planning (MSNP) in reducing stunting levels in the country from 57% (2001) to 36% (2016). This included a series of steps taken by the Government of Nepal, such as the formation • Micronutrient supplementation and fortification of the National Nutrition Policy (2004), the • Deworming development of the National Plan of Action (2007) • Nutrition surveillance and joining the SUN¹ movement in 2011, followed • Management of SAM and MAM by the implementation of MSNP 1 (2013-17) and • BCC MSNP II (2018-22). The MSNP included all key • WASH- education & infrastructure ministries/departments that have direct or indirect • Growth Monitoring

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