This study assessed the effects of incorporating social franchising on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) counseling facilities and services.

Lays out Alive & Thrive’s comprehensive approach for scale and impact through four components: advocacy, interpersonal communication and community mobilization, mass communication, and strategic use of data.

Describes Alive & Thrive’s strategic use of data to inform program design, shape advocacy messages, and improve program implementation and management; the distinctive features of the approach; and the results and lessons in 3 countries.

Discusses the negative effects of stunting on survival, childhood and adult health, learning capacity, and productivity; outlines interventions to prevent stunting.

Reviews available evidence on whether infection diminishes the positive impact of nutrition interventions on child growth and whether improved nutrition limits the negative impact of infections on child growth.

Reviews evidence of the effect of undernutrition from conception through the first two years of life on brain development and on the short-term and long-term development of cognitive, motor, and socio-emotional skills.