CARE Bangladesh has officially entered into a groundbreaking five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN) and National Nutrition Services (NNS) on January 18, 2024. This strategic collaboration sets the stage for a concerted effort to fortify community health systems, enhance household nutrition and health behaviors, and elevate leadership and governance for improved nutrition outcomes. The tripartite MoU aligns with the objectives of USAID’s Community Nutrition and Health Activity (CNHA), dedicated to positively impacting the nutrition and health outcomes of women and children during their crucial first 1000 days.
Key figures behind this initiative, including Professor Dr. Shah Golam Nabi (Director, IPHN), Professor Dr. Mijanur Rahman (Line Director, NNS), and Dr. Ikhtiar Uddin Khandaker (Acting Deputy Country Director and Director-Health and Nutrition, CARE Bangladesh), signed the MoU, solidifying their commitment to the collaborative effort.
Dr. Shah Golam Nabi expressed optimism, anticipating that the MoU will foster collaboration between CARE and IPHN, generating the necessary evidence to inform nutrition-related policymaking in Bangladesh.
“NNS stands ready to support CNHA in implementing the program and translating national strategies into action through effective coordination at the national and local levels,” stated Professor Dr. Mijanur Rahman, emphasizing the readiness of National Nutrition Services to contribute to the initiative.
Highlighting the significance of this agreement, Dr. Ikhtiar Uddin Khandaker from CARE Bangladesh emphasized, “CNHA presents ample opportunities to identify bottlenecks and challenges, formulating evidence-based solutions to achieve our nutrition goals.”
The MoU signing ceremony saw the presence of esteemed individuals, including Dr. Md. Mofijul Islam Bulbul (Program Manager, NNS), Dr. Mohammad Shoayeb (Assistant Director, IPHN), representatives from CNHA’s consortium partners (icddr,b, Jhpiego, VISCOM, and mPower), and CARE staff members.
CNHA, with a focus on 14 selected districts in Bangladesh, aims to directly impact around 4 million people during its operations. CARE, founded in 1945, stands as a leading humanitarian organization working globally to combat poverty, with a particular emphasis on empowering girls and women. In Bangladesh, CARE’s programs encompass Women and Youth Empowerment, Health and Nutrition, Humanitarian and Climate Action, and Food and Agricultural Systems. In FY23, CARE in Bangladesh directly reached out to 5.3 million people through 48+ projects/initiatives. Learn more at www.care.org and www.carebangladesh.org.
