Cross-Cutting Elements

Tufts University leads the Learning Agenda, which builds and expands on what was learned in the USAID's prior ENGINE project and other relevant activities such as the Tufts-led Nutrition Innovation Lab (NIL) and AKLDP project. Learning activities will be designed to provide evidence on an on-going, timely basis to allow for improvements or adjustments in implementation of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, and inform the National Nutrition Programme (NNP) and ONE WASH National Programme (OWNP). Areas of focus will emphasize technical areas critical to achievement of Strategic Objectives (SO) and Intermediate Results (IR), as well as research priorities identified by Government of Ethiopia (GoE) partners and USAID.

Project monitoring and evaluations are led by Save the Children. All partners monitor and report on their own activities while Save the Children manages the functionality of M&E systems and ensures the quality of all data collected and reported. M&E for Growth through Nutrition will be guided by a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan.

Gender equality is at the foundation of healthy relationships between men and women in society and is vital for sustainable progress on malnutrition in Ethiopia. Save the Children and its partners are committed to addressing the immediate barriers women face in accessing and using quality nutrition and WASH services, and the long-term needs of women—increased decision-making power, equal division of labor in the household, increased access to and control over resources, and the skills and knowledge to participate fully and take on leadership positions in their communities, in equal partnership with men.

The aim is to identify areas with likely geographic overlap and discuss strategies for convergent technical approaches to maximize benefits to target communities, leveraging the relative strengths of each partner.

Recurrent droughts, floods and other shocks can quickly lead to nutrition emergencies and undermine investment and development gains. Given the existing vulnerability and susceptibility of the population to these hazards, robust monitoring and early warning mechanisms enabling early action are essential. Growth through Nutrition will establish a crisis modifier fund to enable rapid initiation of emergency response activities when the situation on the ground warrants.

Building capacity of and working through government systems ensures that project implementation strengthens the structures that are accountable for delivering services.