Objective (Description of Work/Services)
Scaling Up Nutrition Learning and Evaluation (SUN LE), a USAID-funded Monitoring, Evaluation, and
Learning (MEL) project, supports the Government of Zambia to reduce childhood stunting (i.e.
growth and development of children due to poor nutrition, health, and care) through generating
program data and information in 30 districts. UNICEF also supports the Government’s nutrition
program in two additional districts.
UNICEF contracted Khulisa to repeat the SUN LE baseline survey and performance assessments in
the two additional districts to create comparable evidence base in these two districts.
Approach
To ensure uniformity and comparability with the previous survey/PAs, Khulisa used the same approaches, tools, analytical methods, dissemination approaches, and staff that were used for the SUN LE survey/PAs for this assignment. This allowed UNICEF to easily compare results in the two districts with those of the other 30 districts.
The baseline survey is comprised of two parts:
(i) a household survey (250 households per district) to establish baseline nutrition values for the 26 indicators, and
(ii) Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with managers and partners at district level to obtain their perspectives around program implementation
The performance audits entail KIIs that assess eight (8) domains with 31 standards that have been documented as fundamental to effective program implementation, services delivery, and achievement of desired program results.
Impact:
The survey findings established baseline data on key nutrition performance indicators against which
program performance can be monitored. The survey findings also identified factors associated with higher or lower stunting rates in children 0-2 years of age.
The performance assessments identified key factors that facilitate or impede program
implementation and the achievement of program goals.
Both the baseline survey and PA findings were used to influence annual planning.