OVERVIEW

The goal of USAID’s Initiative for Hygiene, Sanitation and Nutrition (IHSAN) project is to improve the nutritional status of women of reproductive age and children less than five years old, with a focus on the first 1,000 days (conception to 24 months of age). The expected outcomes of the IHSAN are to decrease stunting by at least 5 percent over five years, and reduce anemia among women of reproductive age by at least 10 percent. The objectives of IHSAN are:

• Capacity to institutionalize nutrition programs enhanced.
• Adoption of optimal nutrition and hygiene behaviors at community and household levels increased.
• Availability of nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation services and products increased.

ACTIVITIES

• Host-Country System Strengthening: To ensure greater sustainability and host-country ownership, the project will work within the existing systems, including those of the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, the Independent Directorate of Local Governance, NGOs, existing nutrition education institutions, community systems and the private sector. The overall nutrition enabling environment will be strengthened by operationalizing existing multi-sectoral policies and frameworks, specifically the Afghanistan Food Security and Nutrition Agenda, Nutrition Action Framework, and Water Sanitation and Hygiene Policy, as well as turning the Nutrition and Water Sector Coordination bodies into effectively functioning bodies.
• Responding to the Socio-Cultural and Economic Context of Afghanistan: Tailored strategies and activities to address barriers that hinder optimal nutrition will be based on a deep understanding of that context, in order to reach lactating/pregnant women and children less than two years old in both rural and urban areas.
• Gender, Equality, and Female Empowerment: Project success will rely on sensitive outreach and broad engagement of the larger community in support of increasing women’s decision-making in family nutrition.
• Science, Technology, and Innovations: The project aims to develop a strong partnership with the private sector, bolstering adaptation of scientific and low-cost technological advances that promote hygiene and sanitation and optimal nutrition for pregnant women, infants, and young children.
• Program Learning: Through a rigorous learning agenda, the project will support the gathering of evidence on how to best link hygiene and sanitation activities with nutrition activities to decrease stunting.

EXPECTED RESULTS

• Five percent reduction in stunting in children under five.
• Ten percent reduction in anemia in women of reproductive age.
• Nutrition governance and national ownership of activities and results strengthened.
• Sustainable Government of Afghanistan capacity for nutrition and WASH service delivery at national and provincial levels strengthened.
• Women’s empowerment and gender equality strengthened.
• Core capacities of Basic Package of Health Services NGOs and frontline service providers strengthened to deliver facility- and community-based nutrition and WASH services.
• Monitoring, evaluation and robust learning agenda to inform decision-making improved.