USAID’s Improving Nutrition through Community-based Approaches (INCA) Activity

USAID/Bangladesh plans to invest in a three-year activity to improve the nutritional status of women and children in select rural areas of Bhola, Lakshmipur and Noakhali districts. The project will focus on improving nutritional practices during the important “first thousand days of life,” the period from when a woman becomes pregnant through first two years of the resulting child’s life. The activity builds upon successful earlier community-based nutrition interventions and is closely aligned with USAID’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and the Feed the Future (FTF) programs. The activity will be carried out in all seven upazillas of Bhola and adjacent four upazillas of Lakshmipur and Noakhali which have high stunting prevalence among children.The activity will be competitively awarded to a local Bangladeshi organization with experience in public health and nutrition interventions. The anticipated funding level will not exceed $4.5 million for the three-year period.The Mission is seeking assistance in improving nutritional practices for women and children during the first thousand days of life from conception through the second year of life. Improved nutrition practices include proper diet and care for pregnant and lactating women, appropriate feeding and care for children, healthy hygiene practices and utilization of health services. This activity will improve knowledge and related feeding and care practices, strengthen community and family support and provide access to support systems, essential services at community clinics and other health facilities. Poor nutrition during the critical time frame of contraception through the second birthday irreversibly impacts child growth and cognitive development. The specific objective of this activity is to improve nutritional practices during the first thousand days of life to prevent irreversible stunting.The objective will be achieved through two interrelated intermediate results (IRs):● IR1: Improved knowledge of communities on proper nutritional requirements during the first thousand days of life.● IR2: Increased access to and use of health and nutrition services at community based health facilities.