Integrated Nutrition Investment Framework (INIF)

(An assessment for USAID/Cambodia)

Date: April 2012

In February 2012, a USAID Washington Nutrition team along with SPRING consultants visited USAID/Cambodia to provide strategic planning assistance by conducting an analysis of current U.S. Government nutrition investments, existing nutrition links and gaps between sectors, country needs, and gaps in knowledge, programming, and capacity.  Consultations with partners, Royal Government of Cambodia representatives and other stakeholders, as well as field visits to nutrition and agriculture sites, and a debriefing with USAID/Cambodia informed the development of the following recommendations.

Recommended Investments to address stunting and anemia in Cambodia

• Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) for improving nutrition and hygiene behaviors
• Strengthening Maternal Nutrition Interventions
• Reducing Anemia in children and pregnant and lactating women
• Improving access to and consumption of diverse and quality diet
• Enabling environment for nutrition

The Strengthening Partnerships, Results and Innovations in Nutrition Globally (SPRING) Project is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-11-00031. SPRING is managed by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. This report was prepared by Jenn Cashin, SPRING Local Consultant; Newal Sherif, USAID Global Health; Mellen Tanamly, SPRING Consultant; and Sarah Blanding, USAID Global Health.

Background: Undernutrition threatens the lives of women and children in Cambodia and represents a major barrier to the country’s development.  Results from the 2010 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) indicate that infant and child mortality rates, while remaining unacceptably high, have improved significantly over the past five years.  However, undernutrition and anemia rates in both children and women have not improved substantially and continue to adversely impact health indicators and the development of human capital in the nation.