Utilizing Savings Groups to Improve Maternal and Child Nutrition Nutrition at the Center | January 2013 – December 2017

May 24, 2016

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VSLA Membership

Over 500,000

Over 200,000

Over 100,000

Under 75,000

No VSLAs

BURUNDI 173,222

MALAWI 200,644

ZAMBIA 1,000

ZIMBABWE 152,439

LESOTHO 15,012

SOUTH AFRICA 13,395

ANGOLA 9,115

1000 Nautical Miles 500 0

© Copyright Bruce Jones Design Inc. 2004

NIGER 288,564

N. SUDAN 13,602 S. SUDAN 6,512

ETHIOPIA 145,890

ERITREA 4,000

UGANDA 739,158

DRC 65,975 RWANDA 306,933

MALI 143,301

EGYPT 18,947

BENIN 18,254 CDI

25,943

LIBERIA 8,701

SIERRA LEONE 49,644

VSLA Membership in Africa 3,657,940

*Data as of June 2013

MADAGASCAR 19,120

TANZANIA 470,362

KENYA 618,161

Formative Research Findings: • Social norms surrounding

foods o Pregnant women discouraged to

certain foods (peanuts, soy, eggs)

o Taboo foods for infants: Plantains, soy, cassava, and groundnuts

o Reduce consumption during pregnancy for fear of delivering a large baby

• Role of older women in feeding practices

• Men’s decision making roles

Nutrition at the Center in Benin

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VSLA platform used to deliver integrated nutrition, food security, WASH, gender empowerment messages

PLW groups = 85

Men’s only groups = 22

Men and women

groups = 41

Influential people

groups = 20

May 24, 2016

4 Total VSLA groups = 169

How using VSLAs as a platform works

• Trainers: VSLA community facilitator • VSLA meetings generally every week

• Local NGO facilitators meet with VSLA community facilitators once a month for training/coaching

• MIS data collection

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Time required in each meeting

Description of activity

45 mins – 1 hour Regular savings and loan meeting 20-30 minutes Nutrition, health, food security, WASH,

GE participatory learning session 10 minutes Commitments and next steps

VSLA Messaging

• Maternal, Infant, Young Child Nutrition Optimal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation, breastfeeding and

complementary feeding, iron and folic acid supplements

• Health services Antenatal care and postnatal care visits

• Food security Homestead gardening, fortification of locally available food

• WASH Handwashing, separating children from feces, sanitation practices

• Gender empowerment Dialogues around gender social norms

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VSLA Attendance Rates

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66%

71%

79%

72% 72%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

80%

Men only Women only InfluentialPeople

Mixed (Menand Women)

All

% Attendance Rates

VSLA Drop Out Rates

May 24, 2016

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8.80%

4.80% 4.70%

2.40%

3.90%

0.00%

1.00%

2.00%

3.00%

4.00%

5.00%

6.00%

7.00%

8.00%

9.00%

10.00%

Men only Women only Influential People Mixed (Men andWomen)

All

% Drop Out Rates

VSLA Return on Savings

33%

15%

38% 35%

27%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Men only Women only Influential People Mixed (Men andWomen)

All

% Return on Savings

May 24, 2016

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Testimony from husband

“Before, we didn’t know how to take care of our children. We thought that was women’s business. Now that we know, we can help our wives to make sure that our children eat right at every age. But it’s up to us to tell our families and all of our neighbors about what we know.” -Innocent Mentonou Men’s group member

May 24, 2016

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Testimony from Grandmother

“Since I’ve joined a VSLA, I have become independent. I make my decisions with my own money. And now that I’m getting information about child nutrition, I am also able to help my daughter feed her baby. I’m getting the right advice about health, too, so I can pass it on.” - Emiline Soumenou Influential group member

May 24, 2016

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Sustainability of VSLA groups Influencers affect social norm change around nutrition behaviors VSLAs are an attractive platform to target those other than PLW with nutrition-specific messaging Influential people and mixed groups show positive savings/loan results Additional incomes increases household investments in nutritious foods

Key Observations

May 24, 2016

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Limited time to deliver messages 20-30 minutes Reinforce topics in subsequent meetings Dual focus on savings and loans and nutrition, food security, WASH, gender empowerment messages Length of time to establish VSLA platforms Time needed to influence

entrenched perceptions and practices

Challenges

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Merci beaucoup! Thank you!