USAID Advancing Nutrition Quarterly Report: Year 1, Quarter 3

(JSI), and a diverse group of experienced partners. Launched in September 2018, the project implements nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partners. The project's multi-sectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement, and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition. Committed to using a systems approach, USAID Advancing Nutrition strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change, and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity, and advance development. The project's primary objective is to strengthen the global nutrition investments of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) by providing assistance to USAID Missions and local partners working at local, regional, and national levels to improve nutritional status and health outcomes where the burden of malnutrition is highest. The project targets individuals most at risk of malnutrition, especially young children, their caregivers, and women of reproductive age. USAID Advancing Nutrition supports country-led scale-up of effective, integrated, and sustainable nutrition programs, interventions, and food and health systems. During Quarter 3 of Fiscal Year 2019, the project made significant progress toward fulfilling the project year 1 work plan. Core technical and cross-cutting teams established regular meeting schedules and agendas to share progress toward planned activities and discuss how best to address challenges and capitalize on opportunities. USAID introduced a number of unplanned activities, resulting in opportunities to support the History of Nutrition at USAID event and provide technical assistance (TA) to USAID Rwanda through a short-term buy-in. The project also took advantage of opportunities to share information about USAID Advancing Nutrition through regular participation in meetings, workshops, and conferences in Washington, DC and internationally. USAID Advancing Nutrition staff worked with USAID colleagues to develop a wide range of reporting, abstract, and communication templates. The project also developed the vast majority of operational procedures needed for efficient project implementation, including travel approval, reporting, and deliverable tracking. Several deliverables were completed in the first full quarter of implementation, including a project website and 3 of 4 planned webinars on behalf of the Global Nutrition Coordination Plan. Several of the first-round draft deliverables were shared with USAID for review and comment. However, a number of activities are delayed for various reasons, including identifying Missions to support some of the planned activities that require country participation. The project's progress is measured against the Intermediate Results (IRs) outlined in the project's work plan. IR 1 focuses on the equitable provision and utilization of proven, quality nutrition interventions and services at scale. IR 2 aims to strengthen country commitment and capacity for multi-sectoral nutrition programming. IR 3 focuses on global learning, evidence, and innovative practices generated and applied to nutrition programs. Country Technical Assistance was provided to USAID Rwanda through a short-term buy-in, and ad hoc activities were requested by USAID. Challenges were encountered, including delays in identifying Missions to support some of the planned activities that require country participation. Despite these challenges, the project continues to make progress toward fulfilling the project year 1 work plan.