Impact Evaluation of the DFID Programme to Accelerate Improved Nutrition for the Extreme Poor in Bangladesh: Final Report

This document describes a comprehensive evaluation of various livelihood and nutrition interventions in Bangladesh, funded by DFID and implemented by organizations such as PATH and Concern Worldwide. The interventions aimed to improve nutrition outcomes, particularly for young children, pregnant and lactating mothers, and adolescent girls, by integrating nutrition-specific programs with livelihood support. A mixed-method approach, including household surveys, endline surveys, and qualitative studies, was used to assess the impact on nutritional status, dietary practices, child anthropometry, women's health indicators, and decision-making within households. The evaluations revealed limited improvements in Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices, child anthropometry, and women's health indicators. Challenges included the ratio of community nutrition workers to households, training intensity, program duration, and the translation of increased nutrition knowledge into practice. Some positive impacts were observed, such as improved knowledge of iron supplementation and increased consumption of iron-rich foods, but these did not translate into significant changes in dietary diversity, meal frequency, or women's BMI. The interventions also had limited effects on women's decision-making and mobility, although there were some improvements in antenatal care and economic well-being. Recommendations for future programs include increasing the intensity and adaptability of nutrition worker practice, community mobilization, empowering mothers, and prioritizing child diet. The evaluations suggest that while interventions were widely implemented, their impact on beneficiaries' lives varied, and there is a need for more effective coordination between livelihood and nutrition interventions to achieve better outcomes. **This summary was written by an AI model and therefore should not be considered a definitive summary of the report. If you are aware of inaccuracies, please email evaluation.registry@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.**

Description

• Lead department: Closed organisation: Department for International Development
• Evaluation stage: A complete evaluation report
• Other departments: No other departments listed
• Evaluation types: Value for money evaluation; Impact evaluation; Process evaluation
• Impact methods: Randomised control trial (RCT)
• RCT methods: No RCT methods listed
• Process methods: Focus groups or group interviews; Individual interviews; Surveys and polling
• Value for money methods: Cost-effectiveness analysis
• Grant information: This intervention is not distributing funding via a grant
• Government Major Project information: This intervention is not a major project
• Policies: No policies provided

Event Dates

• Event Name: Publication of final results
• Event date: June 2016

Evaluation Costs

• Cost: Not provided

Evaluation sharing

• Link(s) to published report(s): Yes
• Links to evaluation plans: No link provided
• Findings: Not provided
• Permission to share confirmed: Yes