USAID Advancing Nutrition develops, curates, packages, and shares multi-sectoral nutrition knowledge to help you stay on top of developments and evidence in global nutrition programming.
Tool and Guide for Reviewing the Nutrition Content of Pre-Service Training Curricula
Publication Date:
Capacity StrengtheningAnemiaBreastfeedingInfant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN)Maternal NutritionMicronutrient InterventionsNutrition Assessment, Counseling, and Support (NACS)Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
These resources can be used to assess and revise nutrition content in pre-service training curricula for health workers who provide frontline nutrition services. It is available in English and Russian.
Effectively Measuring Training: Building Knowledge and Skills for Nutrition Programs
Publication Date:
Capacity StrengtheningBreastfeedingInfant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN)
Using best practices from the capacity strengthening field, this brief series guides program managers and technical staff to assess nutrition training programs. Additional briefs explore the challenges of measuring capacity strengthening activities and illustrate measurement tools and approaches at work in Uganda.
Elevating Nutrition in Pre-Service Training: A Competency-Based Tool to Assess Coverage of Nutrition Content Webinar
Publication Date:
Capacity StrengtheningNutrition and Health SystemsAnemiaBreastfeedingInfant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN)Maternal NutritionNutrition Assessment, Counseling, and Support (NACS)
In this webinar experts from three countries discussed the challenges of integrating nutrition into pre-service training and their experiences using this tool to meet some of those challenges. Panelists also discussed how to advocate for improved nutrition content in pre-service training.
Supporting Integrated Infant and Young Child Nutrition and Early Childhood Development Programming: Ages and Stages Reference Package (Resource Collection)
Publication Date:
Nutrition in Humanitarian ContextsBreastfeedingComplementary FeedingEarly Childhood DevelopmentResilience and Food Security Activity (RFSA)
This package includes four age-specific modules that provide information, at each age/stage, on how children grow and develop, what their feeding and care needs are, and the challenges caregivers face providing optimal care. Each module also provides example activities that programs can do to support targeted nutrition and responsive care and early learning activities at each age/stage.
Fortalecimiento de las Competencias de Consejería en Lactancia Materna: El Diseño de un Programa de Mentoría a Nivel del Establecimiento de Salud en Kenia
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Nutrition and Health SystemsBreastfeeding
A pesar de los esfuerzos para garantizar que los trabajadores de la salud tengan las habilidades necesarias para brindar asesoramiento y apoyo adecuados sobre la lactancia materna a las madres, los trabajadores de la salud pueden tener dificultades para mantener y aplicar estas habilidades en la práctica diaria sin un apoyo continuo.
Strengthening Breastfeeding Counseling Competencies: The Design of a Facility-Based Mentorship Program in Kenya
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Nutrition and Health SystemsBreastfeeding
Despite efforts to ensure health workers have the skills needed to provide proper breastfeeding counseling and support to mothers, health workers may struggle to maintain and apply these skills in daily practice without continual support.
Renforcer les compétences en matière de conseil en allaitement au sein : Conception d’un programme de mentorat en établissement au Kenya
Publication Date:
Nutrition and Health SystemsBreastfeeding
Malgré les efforts pour s’assurer que les agents de santé possèdent les compétences nécessaires pour fournir aux mères des conseils et un soutien adéquat en matière d’allaitement au sein, les agents de santé peuvent avoir du mal à maintenir et à appliquer ces compétences dans la pratique quotidienne sans un soutien continu.
Stronger with Breastmilk Only Initiative in 5 African Countries: Case Study on the Implementation Process and Contribution to the Enabling Environment for Breastfeeding
Publication Date:
Social and Behavior Change and GenderBreastfeeding
The Stronger with Breastmilk Only Initiative has contributed to progress in legislation and policies, coordination, funding, training, program delivery, and research and evaluation.
Peer Counselling as an Approach to Improve Complementary Feeding Practices: A Narrative Review
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Social and Behavior Change and GenderBreastfeedingComplementary FeedingMicronutrient InterventionsWater, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
This review finds that peer counseling was effective for breastfeeding, complementary feeding, minimum meal frequency, and minimum dietary diversity. These findings may inform future programs to extend the length of peer counseling for mothers.
Opportunities and Barriers for Maternal Nutrition Behavior Change: An In-Depth Qualitative Analysis of Pregnant Women and their Families in Uttar Pradesh, India
Publication Date:
Social and Behavior Change and GenderBreastfeedingMaternal NutritionMicronutrient Interventions
This research finds that in India, health worker home visits, convenient transportation, and family support facilitated antenatal care checkups and maternal weight-gain monitoring, but limited motivation and understanding of the importance of checkups represent obstacles to such care.
The Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act Implementation Plan presents priority technical areas in nutrition; the approach USAID will take to coordinate and collaborate internally and with priority countries, other federal agencies, and partners; and accountability mechanisms.
A Guidance Package for Developing Digital Tracking and Decision-Support Tools for Growth Monitoring and Promotion Services
Publication Date:
Nutrition and Health SystemsBehavior Change for NutritionBreastfeedingComplementary FeedingEarly Childhood DevelopmentGrowth Monitoring and PromotionInfant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN)
Given the promise of digital tools to improve the quality of GMP services, we developed this guidance package, to facilitate the development of country-specific digital tools for the delivery and supervision of GMP services; save time and resources; reduce duplication of effort, errors, and inconsistencies; and ensure adherence to global guidance.
Mothers’ Experience Survey: Improving Newborn Care
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Nutrition and Health SystemsBreastfeeding
Survey findings showed that prolonged skin-to-skin contact almost doubled, and breastfeeding counseling increased to almost 100 percent. Findings have led to stronger enforcement of the national Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitute products.
Improving Maternal and Newborn Health and Survival and Reducing Stillbirth— Progress Report 2023
Publication Date:
Nutrition and Health SystemsBreastfeedingCOVID-19GenderMaternal Nutrition
The report highlights global progress on maternal mortality, neonatal mortality, and stillbirths and presents country efforts to meet global targets. Priority actions include encouraging greater investment, political commitment, and community engagement; strengthening service delivery for quality and respectful care; and building stronger data and information systems.
Building the Competency of Health Professionals in the Kyrgyz Republic for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative
Publication Date:
Nutrition and Health SystemsBreastfeedingCOVID-19
In the Kyrgyz Republic, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the implementation of the updated Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative policy and guidance. Gaps in prioritizing, funding, and monitoring breastfeeding counseling and supporting competency building remain. Multi-sectoral advocacy to secure greater commitment and funding within and beyond the health system is critical.
Knowledge ManagementWastingBreastfeedingChild NutritionComplementary FeedingEmergency NutritionFood SafetyFood SystemsGenderInfant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN)Maternal NutritionResilienceWater, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Future investments should include strengthening nutrition as part of primary health care, identifying pathways through which food systems most effectively and efficiently prevent child wasting, improving access to ready-to-use therapeutic food for treatment and specialized nutritious food (SNF) for prevention, supporting the development of sustainable financing strategies for health systems and
Nutrition and Feeding of Children with Feeding Difficulties and Disabilities: Gaps, Progress, and Opportunities
Publication Date:
Knowledge ManagementBreastfeedingChild NutritionInfant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN)
Supporting children with feeding difficulties and disabilities requires strengthening systems to improve the identification, early intervention, and inclusion of children with complex needs in primary health care services and expanding availability of specialized services. Provide support to families to address social determinants and raise awareness of the need and opportunities.
This protocol focuses on identifying and mapping characteristics of food environments that influence food acquisition practices and dietary intake among women of reproductive age, especially pre-conception, during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding.
Promoting and Supporting Breastfeeding in a Protracted Emergency Setting—Caregivers' and Health Workers' Perceptions from North-East Nigeria
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Nutrition in Humanitarian ContextsBreastfeedingEmergency NutritionInfant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN)
Household and contextual factors strongly influenced the practice, promotion, and support of breastfeeding in North-East Nigeria. Breastfeeding promotion and support were well received and contributed to improved practices, but would be more effective if tailored to address specific barriers to exclusive breastfeeding.
Jalal-Abad TV Spotlights Successful Early Childhood Development Story: Inspiring Early Learning and Responsive Care Practices in the Kyrgyz Republic
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Early Childhood DevelopmentBreastfeedingComplementary FeedingInfant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN)Maternal Nutrition
This news segment showcases work that promotes responsive care and early learning, emphasizes efforts to promote good nutrition and feeding practices for mothers and children, and highlights the significance of the critical period from pregnancy through a child’s second birthday to ensure optimal nutrition and growth.