Accomplished Learning Visit by Efforts for Rural Advancement (ERA) team to RICOD

Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (NOREC) funded project, "Mutual Learning for Improving Health and Nutrition Scenario" works with the coordinating partner Efforts for Rural Advancement (ERA), Bangladesh. For a learning visit from November 28^th- 4^th December, 2022, the five staffs from ERA visited RICOD and the project areas; Chapagaon, Gotikhel and Bhattedanda. RICOD developed the detail schedule for the field visit, the team worked accordingly. The ERA team met mothers' group network formed by RICOD and have interaction with them. The network described and outlined how they are formed and their roles and responsibilities towards their respective community. Then the team next visited Shree Mahankaal Secondary School Gotikhel and interacted with the school principal on how RICOD has been involved in conducting the nutrition sessions and how the organization has helped the school students to consume less junk food. The team also visited Bhattedanda (proposed areas for 2023-2025) on the way back to Chapagon to get a better understanding about the geography of the new proposed areas. The visit was concluded through the debriefing meeting followed by a dinner.  In the debriefing, they noted that they were quite glad to meet the mothers' network and appreciated the idea of network establishment, its responsibilities, and also Nepal government's one-nurse-per-school policy. They continued by urging to advocate their Bangladesh government to provide school nurses. Additionally, they stated that they were knowledgeable and were aware about the costs associated with travel for upcoming project participants since the project areas are far from the RICOD office Chapagaon (where the participants are supposed to live).