Utilizing Savings Groups to Improve Maternal and Child Nutrition

1. Utilizing Savings Groups to
Improve Maternal and Child
Nutrition
Nutrition at the Center | January 2013 – December 2017

2. May 24, 2016
1

3. VSLA Membership
Over 500,000
Over 200,000
Over 100,000
Under 75,000
NoVSLAs
BURUNDI
173,222
MALAWI
200,644
ZAMBIA
1,000
ZIMBABWE
152,439
LESOTHO
15,012
SOUTH
AFRICA
13,395
ANGOLA
9,115
1000 Nautical Miles5000
© Copyright Bruce Jones Design Inc. 2004
NIGER
288,564
N. SUDAN
13,602
S. SUDAN
6,512
ETHIOPIA
145,890
ERITREA
4,000
UGANDA
739,158
DRC 65,975
RWANDA
306,933
MALI
143,301
EGYPT
18,947
BENIN
18,254CDI
25,943
LIBERIA
8,701
SIERRA LEONE
49,644
VSLA Membership in Africa
3,657,940
*Data as of June 2013
MADAGASCAR
19,120
TANZANIA
470,362
KENYA
618,161

4. Formative Research Findings:
• Social norms surrounding
foods
o Pregnant women discouraged to
certain foods (peanuts, soy,
eggs)
o Taboo foods for infants:
Plantains, soy, cassava, and
groundnuts
o Reduce consumption during
pregnancy for fear of delivering a
large baby
• Role of older women in
feeding practices
• Men’s decision making roles
Nutrition at the Center in Benin
May 24, 2016
3

5. VSLA platform used to deliver integrated nutrition, food
security, WASH, gender empowerment messages
PLW groups
= 85
Men’s only
groups = 22
Men and
women
groups = 41
Influential
people
groups = 20
May 24, 2016
4
Total VSLA groups = 169

6. How using VSLAs as a platform works
• Trainers: VSLA community facilitator
• VSLA meetings generally every week
• Local NGO facilitators meet with VSLA community
facilitators once a month for training/coaching
• MIS data collection
May 24, 2016
5
Time required in
each meeting
Description of activity
45 mins – 1 hour Regular savings and loan meeting
20-30 minutes Nutrition, health, food security, WASH,
GE participatory learning session
10 minutes Commitments and next steps

7. VSLA Messaging
• Maternal, Infant, Young Child Nutrition
 Optimal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation, breastfeeding and
complementary feeding, iron and folic acid supplements
• Health services
 Antenatal care and postnatal care visits
• Food security
 Homestead gardening, fortification of locally available food
• WASH
 Handwashing, separating children from feces, sanitation practices
• Gender empowerment
 Dialogues around gender social norms
May 24, 2016
6

8. VSLA Attendance Rates
May 24, 2016
7
66%
71%
79%
72% 72%
55%
60%
65%
70%
75%
80%
Men only Women only Influential
People
Mixed (Men
and Women)
All
% Attendance Rates

9. VSLA Drop Out Rates
May 24, 2016
8
8.80%
4.80% 4.70%
2.40%
3.90%
0.00%
1.00%
2.00%
3.00%
4.00%
5.00%
6.00%
7.00%
8.00%
9.00%
10.00%
Men only Women only Influential People Mixed (Men and
Women)
All
% Drop Out Rates

10. VSLA Return on Savings
33%
15%
38%
35%
27%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Men only Women only Influential People Mixed (Men and
Women)
All
% Return on Savings
May 24, 2016
9

11. Testimony from husband
“Before, we didn’t know how to take
care of our children. We thought that
was women’s business. Now that we
know, we can help our wives to make
sure that our children eat right at every
age. But it’s up to us to tell our
families and all of our neighbors
about what we know.”
-Innocent Mentonou
Men’s group member
May 24, 2016
10

12. Testimony from Grandmother
“Since I’ve joined a VSLA, I have become
independent. I make my decisions with my
own money. And now that I’m getting
information about child nutrition, I am also
able to help my daughter feed her baby.
I’m getting the right advice about health, too,
so I can pass it on.”
- Emiline Soumenou
Influential group member
May 24, 2016
11

13. Sustainability of VSLA groups
Influencers affect social norm
change around nutrition
behaviors
VSLAs are an attractive
platform to target those other
than PLW with nutrition-specific
messaging
Influential people and mixed
groups show positive
savings/loan results
Additional incomes increases
household investments in
nutritious foods
Key Observations
May 24, 2016
12

14. Limited time to deliver
messages 20-30 minutes
Reinforce topics in subsequent
meetings
Dual focus on savings and
loans and nutrition, food
security, WASH, gender
empowerment messages
Length of time to establish
VSLA platforms
Time needed to influence
entrenched perceptions and
practices
Challenges
May 24, 2016
13

15. Merci beaucoup!
Thank you!