This impact study aims to deliver robust results that help Plan International deliver a ‘proof of concept’ that the Healthy Village (HV) approach is effective in improving nutrition and reducing stunting in children under two.
The HV programme aims to reduce stunting through a multi-sectoral approach across four intervention areas:
- Food and nutrition security
- Hygiene and sanitation
- Water and multiple-use systems
- Entrepreneurship and access to finance
It also addresses the cross-cutting areas of gender and climate change resilience.
The programme is implemented via three pillars:
- the HV pillar implementing the multi-sectoral approach described above
- the evidence and learning pillar to produce learning and aid course correction of this innovative approach
- engagement with government at all levels to support programme uptake
Our role
We are providing evidence on the HV programmes’ impact on stunting whilst also being aware of the difficulty of past impact studies – of relatively short-term programmes (3-4 years) – to detect a significant difference in stunting prevalence amongst the target population (children under two).
In response, we proposed an approach that assesses both effects on stunting among children under two as well as on other major and more direct programme outcomes.
In light of the complexity of implementing a multi-sectoral programme such as the HV programme, our evaluation will also seek to understand how best and most effectively to implement such a programme in practice and how it is perceived by care takers and extension staff.
Methods and approaches
We are using a mixed-method design with a focus on quantitative data collection and analysis, using qualitative data to complement and interpret the quantitative findings related to the effectiveness of the multi-sectoral programme approach.
Outcomes and impact
A key aim of the HV programme is to contribute evidence on ‘what works to the innovation phase of the Seqota road map.
The HV programme is conceptualised as a ‘speed boat’ programme; it is expected to feed into ‘tanker’ programmes such as large-scale government programmes. In this context, the overarching objectives of the impact study is to provide a baseline assessment against water, sanitation and nutrition and food security indicators as well as robust evidence on the effectiveness of the multi-sectorial HVP on reducing undernutrition and the incidence of water-borne diseases in children below the age of two years.
The hope is that the study results will be used to advocate for the approach with key Ethiopian stakeholders implementing the Seqota declaration. Results will also be used to produce an academic publication.
