This document outlines an approach called INGENAES for integrating nutrition within agricultural extension systems. INGENAES works in multiple countries to help extension services better address nutrition. It provides a competency framework to help extension workers improve nutrition knowledge, attitudes and skills. It also offers a "menu of options" including reflection frameworks, tip sheets, and case studies that extension services and workers can use to strengthen their nutrition programming. The goal is to help extension services improve diets, food security and nutrition outcomes in a sustainable way.

1. INGENAES
Approach to
Integrating
Nutrition within
Agricultural
Extension Systems
Photo credit: CGAP

2. What we stand for
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Integrating
Gender and
Nutrition
within Agricultural
Extension
Services
IN
GE
N
A
E
S

3. Outline
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• Agricultural extension & nutrition:
–Overview of the need & the global
context
• The INGENAES response
• INGENAES competency framework
• A “menu of options”
• Institutional commitment

4. Dialogue
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• How can community health workers
and agriculture extension staff support
each other’s nutrition-sensitive efforts?
• How to improve diets and food
systems without overburdening staff,
systems?

5. Agricultural Extension Services
(AES 101)
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• AES staff forge strong trust relationships
in the communities where they work
• AES influence production and
management decisions, support farmer
association
The “old” model:
• male agents advise male farmers on how
to grow more staples and/or cash crops
• Agents have introduced crops that have
displaced crops traditionally grown
and/or marketed by women, may be less
nutritious

6. Why INGENAES?
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• Women comprise 43% of the global agricultural
labor force, yet:
– In most countries, women are underrepresented
in AES staff
– Women farmers are infrequently reached by AES
– Services are not tailored to the unique needs of
women farmers

7. Why INGENAES?
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• Despite decades of investment, agricultural
development has not improved nutrition at the micro
level.
– Agricultural interventions often negatively impact
nutrition
– Agricultural projects positively impact child
nutrition when:
• nutrition is planned for,
• women are empowered, and
• nutrition education/SBCC is an integral component

8. How INGENAES Operates
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• Activities underway in Bangladesh, Zambia,
Nepal, and Honduras (Tajikistan, Uganda,
Sierra Leone & Guatemala coming soon)
• Demand-driven:
– in-country partners are engaged to understand
what we can offer,
– plan to address local needs created in partnership
with local partners
• Context-specific, addressing pluralistic
extension

9. Competency Framework
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Competency
Content Area
Competency
Description
Include type of
competency
(knowledge, attitude,
skill), level in Bloom
taxonomy, and 2-3
sentences describing
the competency
Learning
Changes in skills,
knowledge and
attitudes that happen
during a learning event
and can be assessed
during the event.
(Achievement-Based
Objectives)
Transfer
Specific, expected
actions that will be
practiced/tried in
work. Transfer points
form the basis for
supportive supervision
Impact
Longer-term or
ultimate changes that
will occur within the
organization or
community as a result
of practicing this
competency or this
one along with others

10. Nutrition Promotion in INGENAES: the What
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• Support year-round food &
nutrition security: all the food
groups all year round for all the
household
• Diversify consumption
• Improve postharvest handling for
home and for market
Throughout:
• Empower
women and
engage men
• Create demand
for healthy
diets
• Adult learning
principles
Competency Framework

11. Nutrition Promotion in INGENAES: the What
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• WASH as it’s impacted by agriculture
– Hygiene in food preparation
– Irrigation risks
– Livestock, related sanitation & hygiene
• Promote appropriate agricultural practices
relevant to nutrition:
– Responsible agrochemical use (in pregnancy,
to reduce LBW)
– Rest/care esp. for perinatal & lactating
women
• Market-oriented advisory services
– Create demand for nutritious products:
partnerships w/ industry, health sector…
Throughout:
• Empower
women and
engage men
• Create demand
for healthy
diets
• Adult learning
principles
Competency Framework

12. The INGENAES Menu:
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• Nutrition Institutional Reflection Framework
– Guided process for evaluating how nutrition
connects to core principles
– Goal: elicit institutional commitment to nutrition
• Tip/Fact/Activity Sheets
– For frontline workers with and without training
• Technical notes, discussion papers and case
studies
– For policymakers, donors, program managers

14. DISCLAIMER:This presentation was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the
United States Agency for International Development, USAID.The contents are the responsibility of the author(s) and
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Dialogue!