Knowledge of nutrition should be included in transfer modality of the government’s social safety net programmes to get the best output in terms of achieving poor people’s nutrition, stated a research.
The findings were revealed in a seminar organised by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) at the capital’s Lakeshore Hotel yesterday.
“Scaling up nutrition education in the social safety net programme will be the most effective way to improve food security and child nutrition among very poor families, as 36% of all children under five in Bangladesh are stunted,” said Akhter Ahmed, chief of IFPRI Bangladesh.
The two-year study conducted by the World Food Program (WFP) and the IFPRI observes that whilst the majority of safety net interventions are food-based, cash transfers are becoming increasingly important.
In northwest Bangladesh, cash transfers combined with nutrition education caused significant improvement in children’s nutrition, with a 7.3% point decrease in the proportion of children suffering stunting.
Christa Rader, WFP Bangladesh representative, said the outcomes confirm that with cash transfers combined and nutrition training, a significant reduction in child stunting can be achieved in a short period of time.
