Quarterly Performance Report: FY 2015-16, January 2016 to March 2016 Feed the Future Bangladesh Livestock Production for Improved Nutrition Project

The project is implemented in partnership with BRAC and The Borlaug Institute, and it focuses on building capacity by facilitating direct linkages between local governments, private actors in the dairy sector, and farmers within the Feed the Future Zone of Influence (FTF ZOI) in southwestern Bangladesh. The project's main objective is to improve utilization of livestock products by rural households, with a focus on building capacity, facilitating, and reinforcing direct linkages between local governments, private actors in the dairy sector, and farmers. The project is expected to directly benefit at least 82,000 rural households in 10 Upazilas and indirectly benefit approximately 579,000 rural households in five Districts within FTF ZOI. The project's theory of change posits that increased livestock productivity, income from sales of livestock products, and awareness of essential hygiene actions will lead to increased demand and consumption of quality milk and meat products and other nutritious foods, resulting in improved household nutrition. The project will influence households to increase utilization and consumption of milk and dairy products through Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) messages tailored to men and women. During the second quarter of FY 2016, major activities included a field visit by the honorable U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), training of Local Service Providers (LSPs) and Village Health Workers (VHWs), establishment of eleven fodder plots, development of training materials and nutrition messages for VHWs and Milk Collectors, and dissemination of no-cost 'Tippy Tap' hand-washing technology. The project's Intermediate Results (IRs) include: * IR 1: Increased Livestock Productivity, which aims to increase livestock productivity through technical assistance in the cultivation of high-yielding pasture crops and improved livestock management practices and technologies. * IR 2: Improved Access of Rural Households to Hygienic, Diverse, and Quality Food, which aims to improve access to hygienic, diverse, and quality food resulting from increased livestock productivity. * IR 3: Improved Nutrition Related Behaviors of Rural Households, which aims to improve nutrition-related behaviors of rural households through enhanced knowledge of nutrition and dietary diversity. The project's activities during the first quarter of FY 2016 included a field visit by the honorable U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, signing of MOU with BLRI, training of LSPs on Animal Healthcare and Nutrition Management and Fodder and Forage Management, and establishment of eleven fodder plots. The project also developed modules for training materials on milk and meat-based products, and trained VHWs and Milk Collectors on hygiene and nutrition-related behaviors.