ENUFF - Enhancing Nutrition of Upland Farming Families


Despite a sustained economic growth of 7.7% over the last decade of Lao PDR, children under five, nationally, 21% are underweight, 33% are stunted and 9% wasted (2017). Based on initial achievements and lessons learned from phase one, Switzerland, with its leave no one behind value, will provide support for a second and final phase to the government­’s multi-sectoral approach that integrates agriculture, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene. The geographical scope expands to 20 new remote villages and targets women, men and children.

Paese/Regione Tema Periodo Budget
Laos
Agricoltura e sicurezza alimentare
Sviluppo agricolo
Politica agricola
01.07.2020 - 31.12.2024
CHF  8’359’443
Contesto

The economic growth in Lao PDR has contributed to lowering the number of poor people dramatically. Between 2012 and 2017 there was an 11% reduction in stunting, a 6% reduction in underweight prevalence with a 3% increase in wasting[1]. However, children suffering from malnutrition is still high. The ongoing Covid19 crisis might worsen this situation. The Government’s National Nutrition Strategy (2015-2025) and Plan of Action (2016-2020) has adopted a multi-sectoral convergence approach to address malnutrition by proposing a combination of supply-side and demand-side interventions. While a lot of progress has been made at the national level on understanding the problem of malnutrition, along with developing policies and plans to address it, less progress has been made in implementation of those plans at provincial, district and community level. Therefore, malnutrition remains high on the Government’s agenda who is convinced that the continuing multi-sectoral approach will have tremendous impact.

 

[1]     Lao Statistics Bureau. 2018. Lao Social Indicator Survey LSIS II 2017, Survey Findings Report. Vientiane, Lao PDR: Lao Statistics Bureau and UNICEF.

Obiettivi The goal of ENUFF II is to improve family nutrition in remote and ethnically diverse upland farming communities.
Gruppi target

The target group is women, men and Children of rural poor population in remote areas from 8 ethnic minorities;Laoloum, Khmu, Emien, Xingmun, Lue, Hmong, Phouthai and Yang. While the focus is on the whole families, the project uses different interventions for subgroups such as Children Under 2 (CU2), Children Under 5 (CU5) and adolescentsin two provinces in the northern part of Lao PDR: Houaphan and Oudomxay. During this four-year period, the project will continue to work in the two districts of Viengxay and Xiengkhor in Houaphan province and Beng and Nga in Oudomxay province. The project will continue to work intensively in 40 villages “graduating” them as they reach their own stated targets in their convergence planning. Concurrently, ENUFF II will gradually incorporate 20[1] new villages in the current target districts. At the end of Phase II, ENUFF will have worked with 60 out of 283 villages in the four target districts to directly benefit a total of 6,000 households (17’600 women, 18’700 men) Through intensive capacity building support to the District Nutrition Committees neighboring villages and people not directly targeted by the project will also benefit from the project implementation.

 

[1] Recommended by the ENUFF I Mid Term Review- Wageningen University and Research, Sept 2019

Effetti a medio termine

Outcome 1:    Improved infant and young child feeding practices and dietary diversity of households including women of reproductive age, adolescents and infants in target areas; 

Outcome 2:    Improved access to hygiene and sanitation facilities and improved sanitation and hygiene practices in target areas; 

Outcome 3:    Increased access to nutritious food in target areas; 

Outcome 4:    A more conducive policy and institutional framework at the sub-national level for improving nutrition is established and is flexible in its response to the impact of the Covid19 crisis. 

Risultati

Risultati principali attesi:  

-    Increased capacity of village and district level service providers to implement Nutrition social and behaviour change communication; 

-    Increased capacity of Health Centres to work with village nutrition teams; 

-    Improved functioning of resilient water supply; 

-    Increased capacity of service providers to implement water, sanitation and hygiene interventions; 

-    Households have increased capacity to produce and consume nutritious/diverse food; 

-    District Nutrition Committees (DNCs) have improved their capacity to coordinate implementation of Nutrition Sensitive Programming; 

-    Evidence based policy dialogue platform established at the sub-national level.


Risultati fasi precedenti:  

-    Increased awareness of the importance of exclusive breast feeding. The current rate of exclusive breast feeding is 89% which is a significant increase compared to the rate of 53% baseline;

-    The substantial increase in toilet use - less open defecation and a cleaner village - less outbreaks of diarrhea and hence villagers gaining weight. 1’042 toilets constructed, 27 villages declared open defecation free and 80% of household have hand washing stations with soap;

-    There are indications that food habits originating from the traditional food and livelihood systems of different ethnic groups are shifting. 1’067 households (24%) in the target villages have introduced at least 4 new food crops in their farm. A total of 3’223 families (74%) received practical trainings/demonstrations/information to diversify and improve at least one of their production systems; 

-    A clear strategy on advocacy to engage and create momentum in a policy dialogue, needs continuing investment;

-    Market development and income generation as a combined strategy remains a challenge.


Direzione/Ufficio responsabile DSC
Credito Cooperazione allo sviluppo
Partner del progetto Partner contrattuale
ONG internazionale o straniera
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • SDC Field Office


Altri partner
Netherlands Development Organization (SNV)
Coordinamento con altri progetti e attori

SDC projects: LURAS, TABI, SURAFCO, PRF

other actors: EU, WB, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP

Budget Fase in corso Budget Svizzera CHF    8’359’443 Budget svizzero attualmente già speso CHF    7’799’354
Fasi del progetto Fase 2 01.07.2020 - 31.12.2024   (Fase in corso) Fase 1 15.06.2015 - 30.06.2020   (Completed)