This article presents midline findings from the Swabhimaan program, a five-year multisector nutrition initiative implemented through India’s National Rural Livelihoods Mission across Bihar, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. The program mobilizes women’s collectives to deliver a package of 18 integrated nutrition-specific and -sensitive interventions targeting adolescent girls, pregnant women, and mothers of children under two years. It also strengthens access to health, agriculture, and WASH services.
Midline evaluation results demonstrate significant improvements: reduced adolescent thinness, enhanced MUAC in pregnant women, and better uptake of government services. The report emphasizes that engaging women-led federations with local planning, training, and incentives enables impactful delivery. The findings validate the feasibility and effectiveness of using women's collectives to address maternal nutrition holistically, linking empowerment, service delivery, and community accountability.
Resource type:
Case studies and tools