Tuki Association Sunkoshi

SUAAHARA II is a USAID-funded multisectoral nutrition program, being implemented in 42 of Nepal’s 77 districts in 6 out of the 7 provinces from 2016 to 2021. SUAAHARA II builds and follows on the first Suaahara project (i.e., Phase 1) implemented from 2011-15. Helen Keller International (HKI) serves as the prime and lead organization for SUAAHARA II and partners with six consortium organizations to implement the program (CARE, FHI360, Digital Broadcast Initiative Equal Access (DBI EA), Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), Nepali Technical Assistance Group (NTAG), Vijaya Development Resource Center (VDRC)), and Tuki Association Sunkoshi, who implement activities within communities in Sindhupalchowk district. Tuki Association Sunkoshi is implementing its activities in 9 rural municipalities and 3 urban municipalities which incorporated 79 VDCs previously, to improve health and nutritional status of 1000 days mothers and children of those marginalized and backward communities. The core++ activities are intensively implemented in 25 DAG VDCs or 32 Wards according to the new federal system. 

The primary aims of SUAAHARA II are to reduce the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among children under five years of age and to reduce the prevalence of anemia among WRA and children 6-59 months of age. The program uses a multi-sectoral approach across four key intermediate results (IRs) themes: (1) improved household nutrition, sanitation and health behaviors; (2) increased use of quality nutrition and health services by women and children; (3) improved access to diverse and nutrient rich foods by women and children; and (4) accelerated roll-out of the MSNP through strengthened local governance. SUAAHARA II activities span health including family planning (FP), nutrition, agriculture/homestead food production (HFP); water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); and nutrition governance. Diverse social and behavior change communication (SBCC) approaches are used, primarily to generate demand for access to improved services. Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), in part by targeting women and disadvantaged groups (DAGs); public private partnership (PPP) to increase access to services and commodities by encouraging private sector investments; and monitoring, evaluation, and research (MER) for learning are cross-cutting themes for all SUAAHARA II implementation.