Nutrition programme for Afghan refugees and host community in selected provinces of Iran

The project in brief

The project was implemented by UNICEF and Relief International with the financial contribution of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and UNICEF’s regular resources. It began in 2022 and ended in 2023.

UNICEF has promoted infant & young child feeding through establishment of a baby friendly corner and supported growth monitoring through provision of equipment and dietary supplements to prevent and treat malnutrition in the service delivery points in the settlements and the host community.

The project aimed to enhance nutritional status of children under five as well as pregnant & lactating women.

Main activities of the Good Practice

A baby friendly corner was established in Fariman Camp in the southeast of Razavi Khorsan province to address the need for a safe space for breastfeeding and enable mothers to breastfeed their children. As it was equipped with toys, young children can play there while their mothers are nursing their siblings.

To strengthen the capacity of the PHC in early detection of malnourished children, weight scales and stadiometers for children under two and older were provided to 140 service delivery points. Moreover, three thousand children and 1000 pregnant and lactating women have benefited from routine dietary supplements offered in the PHC and nutritional status of 910 children have been enhanced through provision of therapeutic dietary supplements in settlements as well as the host community in seven provinces namely; Razavi Khorasan, Yazd, Sistan & Balouchestan, Kerman, Markazi, Semnan and Khouzestan provinces. Therapeutic infant formulas including F-100 & F-75 were distributed among relevant medical universities to support inpatient treatment of wasted children.

Elements which helped facilitate the implementation of the good practice

Provision of inclusive health and nutrition services in the primary health care system (PHC) in a way that both refugees and the host community could benefit from the nutrition programme

Partners involved

This programme was implemented through our partnership with Relief International with the financial contribution of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and UNICEF’s regular resources.

Results of the Good Practice

Nutritional status of children under five as well as pregnant & lactating women were enhanced.

In what way does the good practice meet one or more of the four objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees?

Objective 1: Ease the pressures on host countries

Provision of inclusive health and nutrition services in the primary health care system (PHC) in a way that both refugees and the host community could benefit from the nutrition programme.