This Field Exchange article reviews midline evaluation findings from Swabhimaan, a five-year initiative (2016–2021) under India's National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) and UNICEF. The programme was implemented across Bihar, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh to address undernutrition among women and adolescent girls through women's collectives and microplanning. It employed a dual strategy of community-led action and systems strengthening.
Findings show significant improvements in BMI, MUAC, dietary diversity, access to services, and food security. The programme succeeded in training CRPs, creating nutrition microplans, and linking women to services like PDS, VHSND, and ICDS. It concludes that integrating nutrition interventions into women's livelihood collectives is not only scalable but also effective in addressing gendered nutrition gaps in marginalized communities.
Resource type:
Case studies and tools