SNAP SHOT SERIES #2
Three Stones works to drive learning to scale. Thus, when technical assistance was requested by the Rwandan National Early Child Development Program (NECDP) to help with national training package revisions, we invested internal funds to help support the process.
For the last several months, Three Stones has been developing animal source food (ASF) social behavior change materials for a two-district research project funded by RTI International. This project is part of the Enhancing Milk Quality and Consumption for Improved Income and Nutrition in Rwanda study supported and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems.
During the ASF material development process, our team worked closely with the target communities including performing field testing. Materials were then adapted to improve visual clarity and message comprehension. Concurrently, we sought buy-in and consistency with NECDP and ongoing behavior change projects.
In the beginning of 2019, NECDP led the National Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) tools revision with technical input and collaboration from donors, partners and other members of the Food, Nutrition and WASH technical working group. Given our work on ASF and gender, we were invited to provide technical assistance.
The revision effort started with a workshop to produce draft documents of the current tools and the inclusion of new categories. To make a more comprehensive package, it was agreed to include counseling materials for ASF consumption and early childhood development, as well as breastfeeding in special circumstances and how to introduce complementary feeding.
In collaboration with the revision team, Three Stones provided technical expertise to help refine the ASF materials in line with the national package. We also provided guidance on gender, specifically male engagement, and translation and administrative support. The participatory approach and leadership by NECDP ensured a quality product of the inputs.
A special acknowledgement to NECDP and the revision team; RTI International and International Livestock Research Institute International Grant for funding the two district ASF materials; the JSI team from Advancing Nutrition Program who provided access to the infant and young child feeding Image Bank; USAID and Feed the Future; and the tireless Three Stones team.