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TERMS OF REFERENCE INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT Policy Landscape Analysis and Action Framework Development on Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) as part of Maternal Nutrition Services in Bangladesh 1. ABOUT GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR IMPROVED NUTRITION (GAIN) The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. GAIN’s purpose is to advance nutrition outcomes by improving the consumption of nutritious and safe food for all people, especially the most vulnerable to malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, GAIN aims to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people. GAIN has a proven record of facilitating practical solutions that increase the nutritional value and safety of foods in ways that work for consumers, businesses, and governments. For more details, please visit: www.gainhealth.org 2. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE Bangladesh has made enormous progress in different health and nutrition indicators over the past decade. However, the burden of low birth weight, micronutrient deficiencies particularly during pregnancy remains a big challenge. The recent national survey indicates that 24% of women aged 15-19 years are undernourished (BMI < 18.5 kg/m²). According to Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2014, 13% of women have short stature (height < 145 cm). The non-pregnant and non-lactating (NPNL) women are suffering significantly from various micronutrient deficiencies (Bangladesh National Micronutrient Survey 2011-12) National Low Birth Weight Survey 2015 says that the country has a significant prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) children in the world at 22.6%. A woman of poor nutritional status indicated by micronutrient deficiencies has a heightened risk of having a baby with low birth weight. The National Nutrition Services (NNS), Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) of Bangladesh has put an initiative to improve maternal nutrition through a demonstration programme including the use of maternal multiple micronutrient supplements through public health ANC platforms. In collaboration with UNICEF, this programme aims to increase the coverage of the set minimum package for maternal nutrition interventions as defined by GoB through the public health ANC platform. In addition to that demonstration programme, under the leadership of NNS/IPHN, GAIN will do another demonstration programme following a market-based model for enhancing access to maternal nutrition services using private sector ANC platform to achieve the outcome of addressing low birth weight. This demonstration programme will be implemented under the guidance of the National Technical Committee (NTC) in terms of technical and strategic direction to design and implement the programme and advocate policymakers for the inclusion of MMS in various policies and guidelines in Bangladesh. |
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