Nutrition Program Design Assistant: A Tool for Program Planners, V.2

The Nutrition Program Design Assistant is a tool to help organizations design the nutrition component of their community-based maternal and child health, food security, or other development program. The tool focuses on prevention and also provides guidance on recuperative approaches that are needed when there is a high prevalence of acute malnutrition. The tool has two components: (1) a reference guide for understanding the nutrition situation and identifying and selecting program approaches, and (2) a workbook to record information, decisions, and decision-making rationale. The workbook is available as a pdf or Word file, and includes a separate Excel file with adaptable templates to use as needed for data collection and developing a Logical Framework.

 The 2015 updated version reflects several changes in the nutrition programming landscape, including:

• New initiatives such as the 1,000 days and Scaling Up Nutrition movements
• New research/best practices, including revisions to World Health Organization micronutrient guidelines, the 2013 Lancet series on maternal and child nutrition, and guidelines on treatment of moderate acute malnutrition
• New programming guidance from donors

The creation of the tool was a highly collaborative effort coordinated by FANTA, Save the Children (including the Technical and Operational Performance Support Program), and the CORE Group's Nutrition Working Group.