Despite a number of studies indicating the importance of integrating nutrition into agricultural and livelihoods programming, there are surprisingly few real world examples of how to do so effectively and to scale.
The USAID-funded Yaajeende project in Senegal, led by NCBA CLUSA in partnership with other local and international organizations, has pioneered a nutrition-led approach to agriculture that has resulted in a 22 percent increase in the number of children receiving a minimum acceptable diet in the most food-insecure regions of Senegal. Launched in 2010, and recently showcased to President Obama and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, Yaajeende is one of the longest-running Feed the Future projects to date. It heavily emphasizes agriculture-nutrition integration from household-level implementation to high-level governmental and private sector coordination, targeting young children under 5 and women of reproductive age for improvements in health and livelihoods.
Papa Sène, NCBA CLUSA’s Senior Technical Advisor and former Chief of Party of the 5-year, $40 million project, provided an overview of the four key approaches that make it a unique initiative – leading with nutrition, focusing on women, integrating research, and fostering a local private sector. This webinar highlighted the private sector aspect, exploring Yaajeende’s innovative Community Based Solution Provider model that is revolutionizing smallholder and household access to both nutritional and agricultural products and services.
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