Nutrition Project Models
The Nutrition Centre of Expertise (NCoE) recommends Nutrition Project Models for World Vision programmes to apply alongside the preventive 7-11 Approach. The NCoE sets standards and provides technical leadership and capacity-building support for World Vision’s Nutrition Project Models.
Positive Deviance/Hearth Model
In communities where many young children are growing poorly, World Vision uses the Positive Deviance/Hearth (PD/Hearth) approach to sustainably rehabilitate underweight children. PD/Hearth empowers families and communities to discover and apply local solutions to child malnutrition. Learn more
Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition Model
In emergencies and areas with high levels of acute malnutrition, World Vision uses the Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) approach to rehabilitate malnourished children. CMAM uses a case-finding and triage approach to match malnourished children with treatment suited to their medical and nutritional needs. Learn more
MICAH
World Vision’s First Nutrition-Focused Programme
Providing food and implementing health interventions have always been part of World Vision’s ministry. Nutrition as a priority focus in World Vision’s development programmes began in 1995 with World Vision Canada’s implementation of a major nutrition-focused programme called MICAH (Micronutrient And Health). The MICAH Programme contributed to improved quality of life for women and children in five African nations over a 10-year period between 1996 and 2005. The programme was conducted in two phases, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), managed by World Vision Canada and implemented by World Vision offices in Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal and Tanzania. The problem of micronutrient deficiencies (vitamin A, iron and iodine) was addressed through integrated strategies and direct interventions that resulted in measurable positive effects. Quantitative and qualitative programme results affirm the contribution of MICAH’s achievements toward the Millennium Development Goals, and global nutrition and health targets.
MICAH aimed to “improve the nutritional and health status of women and children through the most cost-effective and sustainable interventions”. The three key objectives for reaching this goal were 1) increasing intake and bioavailability of micronutrients (iron, iodine and vitamin A); 2) reducing the prevalence of diseases that affect micronutrient status (diarrhoeal, parasitic and vaccine-preventable diseases); and 3) building local capacity for delivery systems to improve micronutrient status.
“The MICAH approach is a good and successful model for the Ministry of Agriculture. Given the right training, people are ready to follow new habits and change traditional attitudes. For example, by eating rabbits and drinking goat milk, MICAH has provided a learning area for agriculture to reduce hunger.” – Mr Bbvumbwe, Malawi
The report below sets out the key results, findings, successes and challenges of an integrated micronutrient and health program in five countries in Africa.
Related Publications
Evaluation of the MICAH programme in International Journal of Epidemiology