Supporting the to Integrated Fight Against Chronic Malnutrition in Mali

This project aims to improve the nutritional status of children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women in the Kayes and Sikasso regions. The project addresses 3 major causes of chronic malnutrition: access to adequate care healthy environment and appropriate nutrition. Project activities include: (1) developing and implementing behavioural change strategies with communities to promote access to sexual and reproductive health services for women and adolescent girls; (2) training approximately 150 health workers (including 66% of women) in sexual and reproductive health family planning early childhood feeding and nutrition and respect for the rights of women and adolescent girls; (3) rehabilitating or building approximately 40 water points and 60 family or school latrines taking into account the specific needs of women and girls; and (4) providing women's groups with inputs and equipment for processing storing and marketing high nutritional value products. The project aims to benefit an estimated 728 000 people including 52.7 % women and adolescent girls and 46.9 % children under 5 years of age and indirectly benefit the entire population of the 4 target districts i.e. more than 2 088 000 people.

The expected outcomes for this project include : (1) increased utilization of primary health and sexual and reproductive health services by women and adolescent girls including for their children in the health districts of Bafoulabé Kayes Kita and Sikasso; (2) sustained adoption of adequate hygiene sanitation and nutrition practices particularly for women and girls in the targeted health districts; (3) increased autonomy decision-making power and economic resilience of women producers processors and traders of high nutritional value agricultural products in the targeted health districts.