{"id":2009,"date":"2024-08-14T08:41:42","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T08:41:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidenigeria.org\/?p=2009"},"modified":"2024-08-23T09:30:58","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T09:30:58","slug":"alive-thrives-partnership-with-nigerian-cbos-to-improve-miycan-highlights-impact-of-locally-led-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidenigeria.org\/index.php\/alive-thrives-partnership-with-nigerian-cbos-to-improve-miycan-highlights-impact-of-locally-led-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Alive & Thrive\u2019s partnership with Nigerian CBOs to improve MIYCAN highlights impact of locally led development"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Alive & Thrive\u2019s partnership with Nigerian CBOs to improve MIYCAN highlights impact of locally led development<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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AN ALIVE AND TRIVE SUCCESS STORY<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Locally led development was at the heart of Alive & Thrive\u2019s partnership with community-based organizations (CBOs) working to strengthen maternal, infant, young child and adolescent nutrition (MIYCAN) in seven states in Nigeria.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Alive & Thrive provided 21 CBOs in Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Borno, Bauchi, Yobe and Lagos with technical assistance, training and capacity strengthening in six key areas\u00a0 (see graphic). Before launching the capacity-strengthening program, Alive & Thrive identified and reviewed more than 100 CBOs. The 21 finalists then underwent an in-depth, collaborative capacity <\/span>assessment and <\/span>strategy development process<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

CBOs are critical to fostering long-term sustainable change because they possess local knowledge that helps tailor broad recommendations to the specific needs of their communities. Based in the areas where they operate, CBOs are part of the decision-making process in their communities and have a clear understanding of local norms, culture and language.<\/p>

Existing relationships with local governments also\u00a0help CBOs generate government buy-in for their work and operate through existing infrastructure to build more sustainable interventions.<\/p>

Alive & Thrive\u2019s efforts to strengthen CBO capacity\u2014which have been\u00a0recognized by the Nigerian media<\/a> and commended by CBOs<\/a>\u2014aim to enhance the sustainability of nutrition programming across Nigeria.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cTo continue to make progress in MIYCAN, local actors must be engaged and supported,\u201d said Victor Ogbodo, director of Alive & Thrive\u2019s Nigeria country program. \u201cOrganizations such as the CBOs we collaborated with play an important role in locally-led development. We are generating a culture of sustainability.\u201d<\/p>

The capacity-strengthening program reflects the commitment of Alive & Thrive and FHI 360 to foster sustainable results through locally-led development. The goal of Alive & Thrive\u2019s capacity- building support is to help equip governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), communities and other stakeholders with the resources and processes they need to strengthen MIYCAN themselves over the long term. For the 21 CBOs, Alive & Thrive\u2019s training on\u00a0grant\/proposal writing and finding funding opportunities has been critical to this approach. \u201cSustainable funding from donors and government is an important aspect of locally-led\u00a0development,\u201d Ogbodo said. \u201cThis will help the CBOs sustain themselves financially and continue their good work.\u201d<\/p>

Building on the support from Alive & Thrive, the CBOs are having an impact. In Lagos, the Chamagne Foundation partners with communities and health care facilities to encourage pregnant women to give birth at primary health care centers instead of going to traditional healers. In one recent case, the CBO\u2019s work with mothers, fathers and community leaders helped increase the number of women attending antenatal care (ANC) at the IIado primary health care facility from as low as eight to 65 within a month. The Chamagne Foundation\u2019s strategy includes \u201ccontinuous sensitization on how unsafe cultural practices can lead to maternal mortality and how all of these can be avoided\u201d by using the primary health care\u00a0centers, said Alabi Adekemi, the CBO\u2019s program coordinator. \u201cOur maternal, infant, and young child nutrition support groups across all our project sites were riddled with myths and harmful cultural practices around pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding,\u201d she noted. \u201cOur constant monthly engagements with them have helped dispel most of the myths, and we are able to support members\u201d from pregnancy through the complementary feeding stage, Adekemi said, adding that the CBO also helps ensure that mothers get their children immunized.<\/p>

Another CBO in Lagos, the Neo Child Initiative for Africa (TNCI), expanded its focus from solely children and caregivers to families, health care workers and community members. Recognizing the \u201cinterconnectedness\u201d of factors that affect nutrition, TNCI conducted a needs assessment with support from community stakeholders and primary health care facilities in the local government areas of Epe and Shomolu. \u201cWe needed to understand how nutritional practices of pregnant and lactating mothers are influenced by factors such as family dynamics, community support, religion and access to health care,\u201d said Esther Nwaiwu, TNCI\u2019s senior program coordinator. As a result, TNCI now reaches fathers, mothers-in-law and extended family members, along with health care workers and community gatekeepers such as community and religious leaders, youth leaders and market leaders. \u201cCommunities are often the first line of support for children and their caregivers, and involving them in this initiative would enhance its effectiveness and sustainability,\u201d Nwaiwu said. For example, during World Breastfeeding Week last year, TNCI partnered with government officials in Shomolu to conduct outreach in two local markets, reaching more than 300 women and their families with messages about the\u00a0importance of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding. \u201cInvolving families, health care workers and community members in this initiative’s activities brought about and also promoted ownership and collaboration, leading to better outcomes for mothers and\u00a0children,\u201d Nwaiwu said.<\/p>

The Good Women Association (GWA), also in Lagos, has made reaching more adolescents and vulnerable girls a priority. Adolescents and vulnerable girls often face unique challenges such as poverty, gender-based violence, lack of access to education and limited opportunities for\u00a0personal development. \u201cInvesting in the well-being and empowerment of adolescents and vulnerable girls is essential for breaking the cycle of poverty and promoting gender equality,\u201d said Biola O. Ibiefo, GWA\u2019s executive director. The CBO provides vocational training;\u00a0empowerment workshops on topics including self-esteem, reproductive health, life skills and financial literacy; and one-on-one mentorship and counseling sessions to support girls facing challenges such as early marriage, teenage pregnancy or abuse. GWA collaborates closely with local schools, community centers and other organizations to reach more adolescents and\u00a0vulnerable girls. It also networks with NGOs, government agencies and grassroots organizations working in similar areas to share resources and best practices. \u201cSupporting adolescents and\u00a0vulnerable girls aligns with broader goals of sustainable development, as empowered girls are more likely to become agents of change in their communities,\u201d Ibiefo said.<\/p>

Because of the rising cost of meat, the iDevPro-African Institute in Kano is raising community awareness about nutritious locally available alternatives, such as beans and moringa. \u201cBy highlighting the nutritional benefits and affordability of locally available foods, we aim to empower communities to make informed choices and adopt sustainable food practices that promote their overall well-being,\u201d said Dr. Mansur Tukur, iDevPro\u2019s executive director. After conducting community needs assessments to understand local preferences, dietary habits and knowledge gaps, iDevPro conducts community outreach, workshops and training sessions to educate community members about the benefits of beans and moringa. The CBO partners with local influencers, community leaders and religious leaders to endorse and promote the alternative food sources. \u201cEngaging community leaders and influencers helps spread the message effectively,\u201d Tukur noted. Community members have started incorporating a variety of local ingredients into their meals\u2014including moringa, which iDevPro has promoted as an affordable superfood, he said. \u201cThis leads to more diverse and balanced diets.\u201d<\/p>

Through the capacity-strengthening program, Alive & Thrive has helped the CBOs strengthen locally-led development and lay a solid foundation for sustainability. \u201cThe CBOs are just getting started,\u201d Ogbodo said. \u201cWe are excited about what they will accomplish.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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