Giving Compass' Take:

• The Center for High Impact Philanthropy has identified the Care Group model as an impactful intervention to improve global nutrition. 

• What areas most need nutrition interventions? Does this model apply in places where nutrition is threatened by war and instability? 

• The UN put together the TEEBAgriFood Report to understand the global food system. 

Under-nutrition contributes to the death of over three million children each year. Poor nutrition early in life can permanently affect a child’s ability to learn, grow, and provide for his or her family in the future. One way to improve health outcomes in poor communities is through the Care Group model. Care Groups mobilize mothers and local leaders to share information about healthy practices for good hygiene, nutrition, and childcare. They also help increase use of proven health interventions like insecticide-treated bed nets for malaria and oral rehydration solution for diarrhea. Here’s one example of a Care Group in Mozambique.

Food for the Hungry is a faith-based group that works in more than 20 countries providing resources such as clean water, medical aid, food, education, and vocational training. Since 1997, its Child Survival Program in Mozambique has promoted healthy practices such as breastfeeding and treating malaria through Care Groups made up of 10 to 15 women volunteers. The groups meet twice a month with a paid health promoter for lessons on topics such as nutrition, water treatment, and sanitation. Each Care Group member then meets and shares information with her own cohort of 10 to 15 beneficiary mothers, relaying health information in a culturally sensitive way.

Read more about global nutrition at The Center for High Impact Philanthropy.