Sustainable Change Achieved through Linking Nutrition and Governance (SCALING) was funded by the Delegation of the European Union in Laos and co-funded by Agence Française de Développement through the Projet d’Amélioration de la Nutrition (PNP).
SCALING and PNP aimed at improving the nutrition and health status of children under 2 years, mothers, lactating women, women in reproductive age and adolescent girls in Northern Laos, including 80 villages in Phongsaly province.
The closing event took place on 27th October 2022 in Phongsaly Province with the participation of the representative of Phongsaly Governor, Phongsaly Health Departement; representatives of the 3 Districts of implementation and CCL by its Country Director.
The TV-news video of the event is available on our Facebook page.
For which results ? Despite the Covid-19 impacts on the projets’ activities and the many challenges facing the villagers, very positive results have been achieved :
- the prevalence of stunting for children under 5 years has dropped by 15.4% (from 47,8 à 32,4% of children, while the national average was 33% in 2017 – LSIS II)
- the prevalence of wasting for children under 5 years has been reduced from 4,4% to 2 % and even 0% in Phongsaly District
- the nutrition status of women has been extraordinary been improved (66% meet the minimum diversity score; compared to only 15% at the beginning of the project).
Beyond theses indicators, key major progresses have been acknowledged by the SCALING/PNP partners. Among others :
- 13 water supply systems have been built, with a tap and a water meter installed at each household of the related villages
- the hygiene facilities have been rehabilitated in the 16 lower secondary schools and most of the health centers of the 3 Districts
- all health centers have been equipped, trained on several topics (growth monitoring, family planning, etc.) and also supported, equipped and trained in order to manage the Covid-19 outbreak and the vaccination campaigns
- 28 Village Saving and Loans groups of women have been formed and trained, they are now completely autonomous and are still growing, offering therefore a key support to the households to face the current economic crisis at least to buy the basic items and some food
- Nutrition Governance has been improved, local capacities strenghtened. The 3 District Nutrition Comittees are now created and operational.
SCALING/PNP was implemented in 4 provinces, including 3 Districts (Boun Neua, Nyot Ou and Phongsaly) in Phongsaly Province, by a consortium of 4 INGOs (CCL for Phongsaly Province, CARE International for Luang Namtha, Save the Children for Luang Prabang and ChildFund in Huaphan). In Phongsaly, 80 villages were targeted , for a total of 40 409 beneficiaries (19 717 women).
What is next ?
SCALING/PNP exit strategy has been built in a participatory approach and is based on the capacity building and the ownership of the partners. The villages, the VSLAs, the water management committees, the schools and the Government partners have all drawn an action plan and are committed to sustain the results.
CCL strategy is based on a long-term approach and Phongsaly is the key Province of CCL intervention and strategy. SCALING/PNP are now closed but, of course, CCL will still continue to provide its support to the villages and the local Government of the Province.
