Dhaka, August 5, 2009 ─ Twenty-one civil society organizations from across South Asia won grants today from a $840,000 award pool funded by the South Asia Region Development Marketplace (DM). The winners received up to $40,000 each to implement innovative ideas on how to improve nutrition in their respective countries. Four proposals from Nepal were amongst the winners. “Undernutrition is one of the most challenging issues facing South Asia,” said Isabel Guerrero, World Bank’s Vice President, South Asia Region, at the opening ceremony today in Dhaka. “Poor nutrition robs a child of a chance to succeed and live a healthy, productive life. And yet, an investment in nutrition is one of the social policy interventions that has the highest impact for each dollar spent, in improving this child’s future.”
Amongst the innovative ideas recognized today was a proposal from Vijaya Development Resource Center to improve young children feeding practices through micronutrient supplements. Equal Access Nepal was recognized for its proposal to enhance birth weight and survival of infants, and MaxPro Pvt. Ltd. won for its idea to develop a community based distribution network for iodized salt. Another winning innovation from Nepal was from the Helen Keller International Inc., to reduce malnutrition in children less than two years old. “We believe that by integrating health and agriculture we can lead to better nutrition outcomes. This event has given us a platform to learn about how the processes of behavior change happen when you combine household food security and essential nutrition action,” said Pooja Pandey Rana from the Helen Keller International Inc. With the funds awarded today, the winners will have up to 18 months to carry out and implement their innovative projects. India was the most represented country among winners, with 9 out of the 21 winning proposals. Bangladesh and Nepal tied in second place with four winners each. Pakistan followed with two winners. Sri Lanka and Afghanistan had one winning proposal each. Titled “Family and Community Approaches to Improve Infant and Young Child Nutrition.” the competition was designed to identify some of the most innovative ideas to improve nutrition, focusing especially on children under two years of age and pregnant women. It drew nearly 1000 applications from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and through a vigorous assessment process by international development experts, the applicants were narrowed down to 60 finalists, who showcased their ideas today in Dhaka. “All of the finalists gathered here today are winners,” said Ms. Guerrero, during her opening remarks, emphasizing that the greatest outcome of the Development Marketplace is precisely the learning that comes from the exchange of ideas and experiences between all the participants. Dr. A F M Ruhal Haque, Bangladesh’s Minister for Health and Family Welfare inaugurated the opening ceremony extending a warm welcome to all participants and praising the initiative. Mr. Abul Maal Muhit, Bangladesh’s Miniser for Finance handed over the certificates to winners during the closing ceremony.
A Bangladeshi proposal to promote nutritional status of malnourished children of commercial sex workers and families of people living with HIV/AIDS won the People’s Choice Award, following popular voting by visitors who attended the Development Marketplace today in Dhaka. The South Asia Regional Development Marketplace was sponsored by UNICEF, World Food Programme, PepsiCo, the Micronutrient Initiative (MI), GTZ (Germany), and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). For more information about the South Asia development Marketplace, visit: www.worldbank.org/nutritiondm2009 For more information about the World Bank’s work in South Asia, please visit http://www.worldbank.org/sar
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