FHI 360 PROJECT

Alive & Thrive (A&T) Project in Partnership with Life Helpers Initiative (LHI)

Life Helpers Initiative (LHI) partnered with FHI 360 on the Alive & Thrive (A&T) Project to accelerate the scale of Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) interventions in Sokoto State, Nigeria. As sub-grantees, LHI contributed to designing and implementing a comprehensive package of MIYCN activities aimed at reducing anemia, preventing low birth weight, promoting early and exclusive breastfeeding, and addressing wasting and stunting.

Project Strategies and Approaches:

1. Designing Comprehensive MIYCN Interventions: Developed and deployed MIYCN interventions to address key maternal and child nutrition challenges.
2. Government and Organizational Support: Collaborated with the state government and local organizations to ensure sustainable delivery of MIYCN services.
3. Community Engagement: Partnered with community-based organizations to engage stakeholders like mothers, fathers, influential family members, and community leaders, driving increased demand for MIYCN services.

Project Implementation:
In the first year, LHI implemented the A&T Project in Bodinga and Dange Shuni Local Government Areas (LGAs), conducting activities aligned with project objectives. By the second year, LHI expanded its reach and continued capacity-building efforts supported by FHI 360, ensuring effective delivery of project goals.

Key Activities and Achievements:

• Capacity Building: Received training from FHI 360 to enhance organizational capacity for project execution.
• Community Sensitization: Conducted community awareness campaigns through health volunteers to promote exclusive breastfeeding and encourage the use of MIYCN services at health facilities.
• Data Validation Meetings: Actively participated in monthly LGA data validation meetings, contributing to discussions and distributing Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials to health service providers.
• Demand Creation and Mobilization: Facilitated community mobilization in 22 communities (11 in each LGA) to enhance accessibility, reporting, and utilization of MIYCN services.

Impact:
The project leveraged advocacy, interpersonal communication, community mobilization, mass media, and strategic data use to optimize health systems and create a supportive ecosystem for MIYCN innovations. Key outcomes included improved service delivery, increased community awareness, and better access to essential MIYCN interventions.

Through its efforts, LHI has significantly contributed to improving maternal and child nutrition in Sokoto State, aligning with A&T’s overarching objectives to optimize health systems, support MIYCN innovations, and leverage PHC mechanisms for sustainable impact.