What Influences the Implementation and Sustainability of Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Interventions? A Case Study from Southern Bangladesh

Indu K. Sharma, Dirk Essink, Victoria Fumado, Malay Kanti Mridha, Lalita Bhattacharjee and Jacqueline E. W. Broerse
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Indu K. Sharma: Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Dirk Essink: Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Victoria Fumado: Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), University of Barcelona; 08007 Barcelona, Spain
Malay Kanti Mridha: Center for Non-Communicable Diseases and Nutrition, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh
Lalita Bhattacharjee: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Representation in Bangladesh, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh
Jacqueline E. W. Broerse: Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-20

Abstract: Nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) provides a promising pathway for addressing malnutrition. Fulfilling this promise needs a better understanding of the implementation and sustainability of NSA interventions because of their highly complex nature. This study aimed to explore the factors affecting the implementation and sustainability of NSA interventions. A case study design was employed using two focus group discussions with beneficiaries ( n = 15), semi-structured interviews with beneficiaries ( n = 13), and actors involved in implementation ( n = 18). Factors were thematically analyzed using both deductive and inductive approaches adapting the consolidated framework for implementation research. A complex interaction of the factors across the five domains was found: outer setting—nutrition sensitivity of policies, institutional framework; inner setting—culture, social and economic environment, biophysical environment, local capacity, other programs or projects; characteristics of actors—beneficiaries, family members, household capacity, implementers; intervention characteristics—adaptability, design quality, cost of interventions; and, implementation process—fit-to-context, integration and multisectoral collaboration, continuous motivation through engagement, monitoring. Implementing and sustaining NSA needs consideration of multiple factors, with careful analysis of the absorptive capacities of local institutions and beneficiary households. Future studies should explore which mechanisms created for adoption can be continued beyond the project funding cycle, and how.

Keywords: multisector nutrition; factors; scaling-up; case study; qualitative study; food system; facilitator; barrier (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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