About Us

 Alive & Thrive (A&T) is a 5-year initiative (2009-2013) to improve infant and young child nutrition by increasing rates of exclusive breastfeeding and improving complementary feeding practices. A&T aims to reach more than 16 million children under 2 years old in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Viet Nam.

Lives saved, stunting reduced. The project aims to increase by 1.5 million the number of exclusively breastfed infants under 6 months old and to improve complementary foods and practices. This could save more than 300,000 lives and protect an additional 700,000 children from stunted growth. These estimates are based on evidence of the impact pathway, which links improved infant and young child feeding with improved child micronutrient status, growth, and reduced diarrhea and respiratory infections.

Learning and innovation. Alive & Thrive works through household, community, health facility, and mass media interventions. A&T will identify effective strategies to improve infant and young child nutrition that can then be used to inform policies and programs around the world. With an emphasis on learning and innovation, A & T will explore new partnerships and ways to give families and communities the support they need to provide children with a healthier future.

Immediate and long-term results. By supporting mothers and families through proven, cost-effective interventions, we can prevent child deaths now and improve the lives of families and communities far into the future.

 

Objectives

  • Create delivery models in three distinct learning environments that improve IYCF practices at scale and can be replicated in other parts of the world
  • Document impact, cost, and cost-effectiveness of IYCF interventions
  • Foster innovation through a grants program
  • Disseminate learnings from A&T models, innovations, operations research, and evaluations

 

Consortium of Organizations

Initial funding for Alive & Thrive is provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. A consortium of organizations with broad experience and expertise in supporting health and nutrition implements the program.

  • AED manages the initiative and provides support for communications and private sector activities.
  • BRAC coordinates community-based activities in Bangladesh.
  • GMMB provides advocacy, communications, and public affairs expertise.
  • IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute) is responsible for monitoring and evaluation.
  • Save the Children coordinates community-based activities in Viet Nam.
  • University of California-Davis oversees the small grants program and lends technical support.
  • World Vision conducts operations research of its model for timed and targeted counseling in Ethiopia.

This consortium works with other national and international organizations operating in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Viet Nam, as well as with public and private sector partners.