Where We Work
The Alive & Thrive (A&T) initiative begins with a focus on Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Viet Nam. The aim is to create program models that can be replicated throughout the world.
Bangladesh: Using multiple platforms for change in the context of high malnutrition
- National advocacy including a fellowship and mentoring program for journalists
- Multimedia communications strategy
- Household visits and community-based activities implemented primarily through BRAC, a large NGO with an extensive network of frontline workers
- Promotion and distribution of a micronutrient powder through BRAC’s frontline workers
- Partnerships focused on handwashing linked with complementary feeding, IYCF education in public and private academic institutions, and engagement of professional associations
One of the innovations in the Bangladesh program is incentives for community volunteers based on improvements in IYCF practices and their sales of a subsidized micronutrient powder. The Bangladesh model has applications for countries with a dynamic NGO sector and mass media penetration in rural and urban areas.
Ethiopia: Moving from nutrition crisis to nutrition security
- Advocacy activities encouraging parliamentarians, government officials, and journalists to promote accelerated stunting reduction strategies
- Outreach by the Government of Ethiopia’s Health Extension Program
- Family-oriented conversations organized by community-based women's associations and faith-based organizations
- Male-focused mass media campaign (predominantly radio)
- Testing of interventions to prevent malnutrition by integrating IYCF practices into safety net and nutrition rehabilitation programs
The Ethiopia model will provide lessons for other African countries with largely rural populations, networks of community frontline workers, and social safety net and/or emergency nutrition treatment programs.
Viet Nam: Ensuring nutrition benefits along with economic growth
- Franchise model to deliver high quality IYCF counseling services (one-on-one and group) in urban and rural settings in health facilities
- IYCF support groups in ethnic minority areas
- Community-based events, mass media, and telephone and web counseling services
- Advocacy and outreach services through the Women’s Union network
- Provincial advocacy and planning for IYCF
- Alliances to strengthen monitoring and compliance of the code of marketing of breastmilk substitutes
- Facilitating partnerships for micronutrient powders and workplace support programs for lactating women
This program will be particularly relevant to other countries in economic transition with strong, yet decentralized health systems, networks of private providers, and growing threats to traditional breastfeeding practices from extensive marketing of infant formula.
For more information on the country models, click on the attachment below.
