EXPANDING NUTRITION

ALLEVIATION FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Malnutrition remains one of the most pressing global public health challenges, undermining the well-being of countless children and mothers due to poverty, limited awareness, and poor access to nutritious food.

Recognising this concern and  aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals on Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), a Malnutrition Alleviation Program for Children and Mothers was launched in 2018, the effort that laid the  foundation for Project Rise.

What began as a targeted initiative to support vulnerable families in India has now grown into a multi-regional effort advancing nutritional security across both India and East Africa. From strengthening early childhood nutrition in tribal and rural districts of Maharashtra to delivering life-saving meals and nutritional awareness in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, the programme has evolved into a long-term commitment to improving health outcomes, empowering mothers, and building resilient communities.

1. Malnutrition alleviation program in Mokhada & Govandi (2018)

Location:

Mokhada (Palghar), Govandi (Mumbai)

Key Actions

  • Launched in partnership with Fight Hunger Foundation (Action Against Hunger).
  • Implemented a therapeutic food and malnutrition reduction programme.
  • Provided balanced meals, community kitchen support and nutrition counselling.

Impact

  • Improved dietary intake among children under six and pregnant/lactating women.
  • Supported hundreds of high-risk children in tribal and low-income settlements.

2- Comprehensive Nutrition Support & Mother-Child Health Initiatives 

Implementation Partner
Key actions
Consolidated impact

Implementation Partner

ANNADA (Association for Nutrition and Development Action) & ICDS Department

This multi-regional initiative focuses on eradicating malnutrition, improving maternal health, and strengthening community resilience through a combination of fortified nutritional support and intense health education.

Location:

  • Roha (Raigad District) & Govandi (Mumbai)
  • Nandurbar (Tribal Areas)
  • Jiwati Taluka (Chandrapur District)

Key actions

A . Distribution of Targeted Fortified Nutrition To address specific regional nutritional gaps, the program provides daily fortified meals and ready-to-eat (RTE) supplements tailored to the beneficiaries' needs:

  • Chandrapur (Jiwati): Distribution of Micronutrient Fortified Ladoos, Peanut–Jaggery Ladoos, and Nutritious Khichdi Mixes to 915 beneficiaries (targeting ~685 undernourished mothers and children).
  • Nandurbar: Introduction of millet-based RTE meals specifically designed for pregnant and lactating women.
  • Roha & Govandi: Provision of micronutrient-rich fortified meals across 16 Anganwadi centers.

B . Maternal Health Education & Capacity Building A strong emphasis is placed on educating mothers to ensure long-term behavioral change:

  • "1000 Days" Awareness: Conducting sessions on the critical importance of nutrition during the first 1000 days of a child's life.
  • Dietary Diversity Training: Workshops for mothers on nutrition planning, breastfeeding best practices, and food safety.
  • WASH Education: implementing training on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene to prevent infection-related malnutrition.

C . Healthcare Screenings & Monitoring

  • Regular Screenings: Conducting comprehensive health check-ups and regular screenings to track severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and anemia.
  • System Strengthening: Collaborating closely with district authorities and ICDS to train Anganwadi workers and strengthen the local health delivery system.

Consolidated impact

  • Broad Reach: Directly benefits over 1,600+ vulnerable individuals (mothers and children) annually across tribal and urban slum belts.
  • Health Outcomes: Anganwadi workers have reported measurable improvements in child weight, energy levels, and a reduction in anemia cases.
  • Empowerment: Hundreds of women across tribal villages are now equipped with improved knowledge regarding breastfeeding, hygiene, and dietary diversity.
  • Resilience: The program addresses gaps identified in the NFHS-5 (National Family Health Survey), strengthening resilience in communities dependent on subsistence farming and daily wage labor.

3- Food & Nutrition Support in Africa 

Kenya (Nairobi, Mombasa)
Tanzania (Rufiji,Dar es Salaam, Ilala)
Uganda (Bukasa, Muyenga)

Key Actions

  • Nairobi: Distributed food kits to flood-affected families.
  • Mombasa: Served 825 meals in orphanages and elderly homes.

Impact

  • Reached over 2,200 individuals across East Africa.
  • Strengthened food security and nutritional awareness in crisis-affected communities.

Key Actions

  • Rufiji: Delivered emergency food supplies to displaced families.
  • Dar es Salaam: Served nearly 1200 meals at Mkamba Primary School and Jangwani Girls High School, conducted nutrition awareness sessions, and distributed food packets to vulnerable women in Ilala.

IMPACT

  • Reached over 2,200 individuals across East Africa.
  • Strengthened food security and nutritional awareness in crisis-affected communities.

Key Actions

  • Provided meals to underprivileged families in Bukasa and Muyenga.

IMPACT

  • Reached over 2,200 individuals across East Africa.
  • Strengthened food security and nutritional awareness in crisis-affected communities.
OVERALL IMPACT

2,000+

mothers and children supported across Maharashtra.

915

beneficiaries
in Chandrapur alone receive daily fortified meals.
over

2,200

individuals
in Chandrapur alone receive daily fortified meals.
  • Significant improvement recorded in child weight gain, anaemia reduction, and maternal health across project regions.
  • Ongoing projects continue to uplift underserved and tribal communities with long-term nutrition solutions.
Notable Quotes
Alvin Dsouza, Programme Head, ANNADA
Dr. Wasundhara Joshi, Executive Director, Fight Hunger Foundation.
Alvin D’Souza, Programme Head at ANNADA
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