Addressing the core challenge of child malnutrition through egg procurement across 6,162 AWCs, decentralized supplementary nutrition delivery, community management of acute malnutrition, and increased coverage of IFA supplements across Meghalaya.
Nutrition Crisis in Meghalaya
The Nutrition Component addresses the core challenge of improving child nutrition outcomes across Meghalaya, where stunting rates (46.5%) remain significantly higher than the national average. The component works to increase the average height of children through effective exclusive breastfeeding support, decentralization of Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP), and increased coverage of Iron Folic Acid (IFA) supplements for antenatal and postnatal mothers and adolescent girls.
Through a combination of direct nutrition delivery (egg procurement), community-led governance models (SNP decentralization), and protocol-based malnutrition management through the Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Protocol, the component ensures that nutrition interventions reach every child across both AWC-covered and uncovered villages. The approach emphasizes local food systems, community ownership, and systematic identification and treatment of acute malnutrition.
Strategic Focus Areas
- Egg Procurement & Supply across 6,162 AWCs and 1,307 uncovered villages
- SNP Decentralization through Village Nutrition Committees and Village Organisations
- Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Protocol at AWC level
- IFA supplement coverage for mothers and adolescent girls
The Challenge
Stunting Rate
vs 35.5% national average
Child Anaemia
Children aged 6–59 months
Underweight
vs 32.1% national average
Meghalaya Nutrition Survey
May 2023 - October 2024
A state-level community-led nutrition assessment implemented across all 7 tribal districts to generate district-level evidence for decentralized nutrition planning.
The survey combined SHG-led field data collection, institutional partnerships, technical sampling support, digital tools, and quality checks to produce district factsheets for programme planning.
Overview
- State-level community-led nutrition assessment
- Implemented across all 7 tribal districts
- Designed to generate district-level evidence for decentralized planning
Coverage Statistics
Households
Clusters
Children under 2 years
Children 2-5 years
Implementation Model
- SHG-led data collection
- Community sensitization before data collection
- Institutional support from MSRLS, Meghalaya Legislative Research Fellowship, Meghalaya Society for Social Audit & Transparency, and Social Welfare Department
Technical Architecture
- Sampling design by IIPS
- Training of Trainers by IIPH
- CAPI tool developed by Viewzen Labs
- Real-time monitoring and quality checks
- Spot checks and field supervision
Data Analysis
- Conducted by Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), Delhi
- District factsheets prepared
Recognition
- Presented at Delivering for Nutrition in South Asia (D4N 2025), Kathmandu, Nepal, 2-4 Dec 2025
- Session: Data Systems at Scale: Strengthening Infrastructure, Quality & Use
- Awarded Best Presentation of the Session
SNP (Hot Cooked Meals) Decentralization Pilot
April 2024 - Ongoing
A phased pilot to decentralize Hot Cooked Meals procurement and delivery through locally adaptable menus, community institutions, and strengthened food safety practices.
The pilot tests VHC-led and VO-led engagement models, connects community consultation to model design, and currently covers 1,926 beneficiaries across 20 AWCs.
Phase 1: Community Consultations (April-August 2024)
- FGDs in Laitkroh, Ranikor, and Samanda
- Findings presented at District Nutrition Challenge Workshop
Phase 2: Model Design
- 6-day locally adaptable menu
- Eggs thrice weekly
- VHC engagement in Laitkroh and VO engagement in Samanda
Phase 3: Capacity Building (Nov-Dec 2024)
- Training on menu, procurement, food safety, and monitoring
Phase 4: Pilot Rollout (Feb 2025)
- 10 AWCs in Khatarshnong Laitkroh
- 10 AWCs in Samanda
- Total: 20 AWCs
Phase 5: Food Safety Strengthening (May-June 2025)
- 92 AWWs, helpers, and community members trained
- Participants certified as Food Safety Supervisors
AWCs in pilot rollout
Food Safety Supervisors trained
Current beneficiaries
Strengthening Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) through Health Spoken Tutorial Initiative (IIT Bombay)
July 2024 - Ongoing
A standardized MIYCN strengthening initiative focused on the first 1,000 days and implemented through convergence between Health, ICDS, and MSRLS.
The initiative uses familiarization tests, screening tests, face-to-face training, and mother-baby dyad follow-up to institutionalize nutrition practices across the lifecycle.
Objectives
- Focus on first 1,000 days
- Strengthen convergence: Health + ICDS + MSRLS
- Institutionalize standardized nutrition practices
Training Focus
- Breastfeeding positioning
- Early initiation
- Infant weight gain understanding
- Addressing misconceptions
- Maternal nutrition
- Complementary feeding
Implementation Model
- Mother-Baby Dyad follow-up with 8-15 dyads per participant
- Region-wise roll-out
- Lifecycle approach
District-level stakeholders trained
Familiarization tests completed
Screening tests completed
Participants in 4-day F2F training
Poshan Maah Training - CMAM for Lady Supervisors
September 2024 - Ongoing
A state-wide CMAM training intervention for 200+ Lady Supervisors aligned with the National Protocol for Management of Malnutrition in Children.
The training strengthens early identification, growth faltering monitoring, counselling, referral protocols, and cluster-based cascade learning for SAM and MAM management.
Post-Training Strengthening
- Early identification
- Growth faltering monitoring
- Improved counselling
Cascade Model
- Cluster Learning Sessions
- Case-based learning
- Standardised follow-up and referral
- SAM/MAM identification
- Nutritional management
- Counselling
- Referral protocols
Lady Supervisors trained
District Nutrition Leadership Programme (DNLP) with IFPRI
A district nutrition leadership strengthening programme focused on evidence-based planning and development of district-wise action plans.
The programme supports district teams to use evidence for nutrition planning, prioritize interventions, and translate findings into District-wise Action Plans.
- Leadership strengthening
- District-level evidence-based planning
- District-wise Action Plans developed
District-wise Food Mapping & Context-Specific Planning
August 2025 - Ongoing
A district-wise food mapping and planning exercise documenting local foods, traditional recipes, and district factsheets to support nutrition programming.
The exercise included a 2-day training led by The George Institute for Global Health, New Delhi, structured FGDs, recipe compilation, and implementation across 380+ villages.
- Free listing of local foods and traditional recipes
- District factsheets available for 8 districts
- 2-day training held on 4-5 Aug 2025
- Structured FGDs conducted
- Recipe compilation completed
District factsheets
Villages completed
Training led by The George Institute
Gallery
Partners & Collaborators
