Abstract
Despite progress in reducing hunger and malnutrition since the 1990s, many still suffer from undernutrition and food insecurity, particularly women and young children, resulting in preterm birth, low birthweight and stunting, among other conditions. Helen Keller International (HKI) has addressed malnutrition and household food insecurity through implementation of an Enhanced Homestead Food Production (EHFP) programme that increases year‐round availability and intake of diverse micronutrient‐rich foods and promotes optimal nutrition and hygiene practices among poor households. This paper reviews the evolution and impact of HKI's EHFP programme and identifies core components of the model that address the underlying determinants of stunting. To date, evaluations of EHFP have shown impact on food production, consumption by women and children and household food security. Sale of surplus produce has increased household income, and the use of a transformative gender approach has empowered women. EHFP has also realized nutrition improvements in many project sites. Results from a randomized control trial (RCT) in Baitadi district, Nepal showed a significant improvement in a range of practices known to impact child growth, although no impact on stunting. Additional non‐RCT evaluations in Kailali district of Nepal, demonstrated a 10.5% reduction in stunting and in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh, revealed an 18% decrease in stunting. Based on evidence, the EHFP has evolved into an integrated package that includes agriculture, nutrition, water/hygiene/sanitation, linkages to health care, women's empowerment, income generation and advocacy. Closing the stunting gap requires long‐term exposure to targeted multi‐sectoral solutions and rigorous evaluation to optimize impact.
Highlights
Despite progress in reducing global hunger and malnutrition over the past 25 years, factors such as food price increases, sporadic social and political unrest and increasing inequity have resulted in a stagnation of this progress with many people still suffering from hunger, malnutrition and household food insecurity
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 842 million people in the world still do not have enough to eat, with most of those living in Asia
Undernutrition is responsible for 45% of all under five child deaths or 2.6 million child deaths each year (WHO 2014; Black et al 2013)
Summary
Despite progress in reducing global hunger and malnutrition over the past 25 years, factors such as food price increases, sporadic social and political unrest and increasing inequity have resulted in a stagnation of this progress with many people still suffering from hunger, malnutrition and household food insecurity. Integrated nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific programmes, such as HKI’s Enhanced Homestead Food Production, can impact stunting by addressing its underlying determinants, including: supporting optimal nutrition, care and health practices among disadvantaged women of reproductive age and infants and young children, reducing food insecurity, empowering women and improving water, sanitation and hygiene.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
