ACCELERATING NUTRITION RESULTS IN NIGERIA (ANRIN) PROJECT
HSCL is one of the 2 Non-State Actors implementing the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project in Abia State. ANRiN is a 5-year performance-based intervention led by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGoN) and aimed at addressing chronic malnutrition among the vulnerable population (pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, and children under five years of age) within the communities in 12 states, including Abia for increased access to a community-based Basic Package of Nutrition Services (BPNS).
In Abia State, HSCL is providing this community based BPNS to beneficiaries in 9 of its 17 LGAs (Aba South, Aba North, Isiala Ngwa South, Isiala Ngwa South, Obingwa, Osisioma, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa West and Ukwa East).
Key developments
Within the period under review, the project was able to provide BPNS to the eligible beneficiaries in the 9 LGAS as follows:
| Basic Package Nutrition Services | Number of Beneficiaries |
|---|---|
| Caregivers | 775 |
| Children under 5 | 411,002 |
| Lactating women | 32,117 |
| Pregnant and lactating women | 52,041 |
| Pregnant women | 141,086 |
Successes recorded
The project recorded increased stakeholder participation, building in responsive feedback mechanisms including periodic joint reviews with stakeholders allowing for cross-learning, ensuring quality and effectiveness in service delivery.
To further enhance outreach, wives of traditional leaders were brought on board to coordinate women's groups, promoting essential services like micronutrient powder (MNP), maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN), minimum acceptable dietary practice for mothers and children, and adolescent health initiatives.
Also, a three-pronged quality assurance strategy was adopted to ensure continuous improvement. This included desk reviews through direct calls to beneficiaries, implementation site visits, and feedback learning sessions with critical stakeholders. This allowed for open communication, identifying challenges and areas for improvement, ultimately leading to a more efficient and impactful service delivery system.