Reports

Project Completion Report 

Project Title: Improving Food Security and Nutrition (IFSAN) of Women and Children in Rural Lalitpur

Project Period: 1 April 2022 – 30 September 2025

Funding Partners: Mennonite Central Committee Nepal and Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Canada

1. Project Overview

The project was implemented in six wards of Lalitpur and reached 6,239 participants. It aimed to improve food security, nutrition, health service utilization, and women’s empowerment. Despite climate-related disasters, disease outbreaks, inflation, and migration, the project achieved significant results.

2. Key Results Achieved

2.1 Improved Food Security and Agriculture

• Food-sufficient months increased.

• Average annual income from vegetable farming increased from NPR 17,600 to NPR 186,253.

• 82% of households maintained year-round kitchen gardens.

• Farmers widely adopted improved farming practices, including seed saving, plastic tunnels, IPM, and improved livestock management.

2.2 Improved Nutrition and Hygiene

• Women with adequate dietary diversity increased 

• Malnutrition among children under five decreased 

• Diarrhea among children under five reduced 

• Households used water purification methods and maintained handwashing stations.

2.3 Improved Health Services and Practices

• Regular growth monitoring of children under two increased.

• Twelve outreach clinics were established, increasing growth monitoring centers 

• Institutional deliveries increased 

• Health facility management committees became more active and functional.

2.4 Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality

• Women speaking openly in community meetings increased from 

• Women participating in household financial decisions increased 

• Average annual income of women from income-generating activities increased 

• Revolving fund support benefited 481 women.

• Equal wages for women and men increased 

3. Challenges

Major challenges included floods, landslides, drought, livestock diseases, inflation, and labor migration. These factors affected agricultural production, household income, and access to services.

4. Sustainability and Exit Strategy

Mothers’ groups continue managing revolving funds through local monitoring committees. Local governments, health facilities, FCHVs, and community groups have committed to continuing health, nutrition, and agriculture initiatives. Improved farming practices, growth monitoring, and nutrition education are expected to continue beyond the project period.

5. Conclusion

The IFSAN project successfully improved food security, nutrition, health-seeking behavior, and women’s empowerment in rural Lalitpur. Most project targets were achieved or exceeded, creating a strong foundation for sustainable community development.

* For further details and comprehensive information, please refer to the attached report.

आर्थिक वर्ष २०८१/०८२ को वर्षिक प्रतिवेदन प्रकासन गर्न पाउदा हामी अत्यन्त हर्षित भएका छौं । सरकारका विभिन्न तह, सरोकारवाला, लाभान्वित वर्ग तथा कर्मचारीको प्रभावकारी भूमिकाका कारण संस्थाले परियोजना सफलतापूर्वक सम्पन्न गर्न सकेकामा उहाँहरूप्रति हार्दिक आभार व्यक्त गर्दछु । विभिन्न परियोजनाहरूका लागि आर्थिक तथा प्राविधिक सहयोग गर्ने दातृ निकाय तथा सम्बद्ध कर्मचारीहरूलाई विशेष धन्यवाद दिन चाहन्छु ।

This study assessed contraceptive knowledge among unmarried college students (15–24) in Lalitpur district Nepal using a cross-sectional survey of 503 students. Most had low knowledge (64.2% “poor”), despite recognizing the importance of safe sex. Social stigma, cultural norms, and limited access were key barriers, and students showed low comfort discussing contraception. No significant differences in knowledge were found across demographics. The study highlights the need for improved sexual and reproductive health education, open communication, and targeted interventions to enhance awareness and informed decision-making among youth.

आर्थिक वर्ष २०८०/०८१ को वर्षिक प्रतिवेदन प्रकासन गर्न पाउदा हामी अत्यन्त हर्षित भएका छौं । सरकारका विभिन्न तह, सरोकारवाला, लाभान्वित वर्ग तथा कर्मचारीको प्रभावकारी भूमिकाका कारण संस्थाले परियोजना सफलतापूर्वक सम्पन्न गर्न सकेकामा उहाँहरूप्रति हार्दिक आभार व्यक्त गर्दछु । विभिन्न परियोजनाहरूका लागि आर्थिक तथा प्राविधिक सहयोग गर्ने दातृ निकाय तथा सम्बद्ध कर्मचारीहरूलाई विशेष धन्यवाद दिन चाहन्छु ।

आर्थिक वर्ष २०७९/०८० को वर्षिक प्रतिवेदन प्रकासन गर्न पाउदा हामी अत्यन्त हर्षित भएका छौं । सरकारका विभिन्न तह, सरोकारवाला, लाभान्वित वर्ग तथा कर्मचारीको प्रभावकारी भूमिकाका कारण संस्थाले परियोजना सफलतापूर्वक सम्पन्न गर्न सकेकामा उहाँहरूप्रति हार्दिक आभार व्यक्त गर्दछु । आफ्नो पदावधि सफलतापूर्वक सम्पन्न गरेकामा निवर्तमान कार्यसमितिका पदाधिकारीहरूलाई हार्दिक धन्यवाद व्यक्त गर्दछु । विभिन्न परियोजनाहरूका लागि आर्थिक तथा प्राविधिक सहयोग गर्ने दातृ निकाय तथा सम्बद्ध कर्मचारीहरूलाई विशेष धन्यवाद दिन चाहन्छु ।

As in round 1 (2020-2022), the staff were unable to be exchanged to work in the host countries due to the series of waves of the COVID 19 pandemic. The project staff smoothly implemented activities in the communities for about 4 months and from 29th April 2021 to respond the COVID 19 second wave pandemic Nepal government announced the second lockdown, which ended on 30th August 2021. During the lockdown the medical officer stayed in hospital continuing his service meanwhile. He also suffered from COVID whereas, the public health officer maintained her relation with the mother group and network through telephone to build coordination with the local health institution, local government offices and stakeholders including Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs). Following are the results of the project for the year of 2021. 

Result:

1: Mothers of the target group (pregnant, lactating, and mothers with children under 2 years of age) increase feeding nutritious supplementary food for children from 6-24 months.

2: Pregnant, lactating, and mothers with children U2 will have better practices of ANC, safe delivery, PNC, hand washing and other preventive measures of COVID

3: Partnership jointly established virtual platform for capacity building of health team

RICOD accomplished three years (2016-2019) earthquake response project. During the project period 193 households received top-up support for house construction. 45 masons were trained, 200 households received materials/wages for toilet construction, reconstruction of 6 water systems, 284 farmers received commercial agriculture training with agriculture seeds and materials, 240 farmers received livestock management training and 239 received livestock support, constructed 2 public toilets,  support one rice thresher machine to mother group in Gotikhel. 

The compiled report of Improving Mother and Child Nutrition in Rural Village of Lalitpur that was launched on 1 February 2017 and ended on 31 March 2022. 

This survey was conducted on 2016/017 in Bukhel, Manikhel, Gotikhel, Chandanpur, Kaleswor, Thuladurlung, Gimdi and Ashrang Lalitpur district Nepal. The survey explored nutritional status, maternal health practices antenatal Checkups, Postnatal checkups and institutional delivery, availability of food, food consumption patterns and the role of women in decision-making.