FY16 – Q3 Performance Report

The program aims to improve the nutritional status of women of reproductive age and children under five years of age in Rwanda, with a focus on the 1,000-day window of opportunity from pregnancy until a child's second birthday. The program is funded by USAID and is aligned with the Government of Rwanda's (GoR) efforts to combat malnutrition. The program's results framework captures the goal, strategic objectives, intermediate results, and key outcomes. The program's theory of change is based on the idea that if the GoR's community-based programs are fully implemented at district, sector, and community levels by skilled and equipped district staff and volunteers, if civil society contributes to these programs in complementary, coordinated, and sustainable ways, and if each household member participates fully and equally in promoting positive nutrition and hygiene behaviors, then sustained demand for nutritious, diverse, and fortified foods, as well as hygiene and sanitation supplies and materials, will be high enough to attract broad-based community mobilization and private sector investment. In the reporting period, the program conducted several key activities, including the completion of a Knowledge Skills Practice and Incentive (KSPI) assessment, the development of a concept note for WASH mobile reporting, and the official launch of the program. The program also supported the Ministry of Health in conducting trainings on length for age and organized a Simple Measurement Indicators Learning Evidence-based Reports (SMILER) workshop. Additionally, the program completed a gender analysis study and developed a Gikuriro training tracking tool. The program faced several challenges during the reporting period, including a government directive that required the program to go through MINALOC to invite district staff for activities outside their area. The program suggested a solution of early planning and expedited turnaround time from MINALOC, with a long-term goal of requesting a waiver. The program also faced a lack of coordination and communication between the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Health, which resulted in the former proposing the replacement of urban districts by rural districts in western province. The program suggested a solution of discussing with USAID and the Ministry of Health to explain how Gikuriro districts were selected with the involvement of the Ministry of Health. The program's quarterly achievements included the official launch of the program, the selection of new local partners, and the completion of several key activities. The program's executive summary noted that the project was keen to roll out Gikuriro activities with vigor following a strong investment in community entry both at national and district levels. The program's activities were focused on start-up to lay ground for capacity building of service providers and fast-track local sub-partners recruitment process in readiness for community-level activities. The program's geographic coverage includes eight districts in Rwanda: Nyarugenge, Kicukiro, Rwamagana, Kayonza, Ngoma, Nyabihu, Ruhango, and Nyanza. The program's reporting period was from April 1st to June 30th, 2016. The program's implementing partner is CRS, and the cooperation agreement number is AID-696-A-16-0000I. The program's name is Gikuriro – Integrated Nutrition and Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Activity.