Providing Data and Analysis for Nutrition Policies and Programmes
The POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission - NNM) adopts a comprehensive approach to achieve rapid improvements in nutritional levels in India. Specifically, the POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) and reduce low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum, respectively.
This programmatic strategy seeks convergence across multiple sectors and programmes (such as Anganwadi services, National Health Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, Public Distribution System etc), with an emphasis on community-level engagement and implementing robust ICT-based monitoring systems. Systematic analysis and evidence-based decision making on the programmatic data and scientific research is a major area for technical engagements.
To help the government achieve the goals of the POSHAN Abhiyaan, a Statement of Intent (SOI) was executed on May 17, 2018. This SOI underlines the collaboration between the Tata Trusts and the NITI Aayog for strengthening and supporting the functioning of Monitoring and Data Analytics Cell of the Technical Support Unit (TSU) constituted within Women and Child Development (WCD) Division of the NITI Aayog, the policy think tank of the Government of India.
The specific objectives of the research and analytical support provided by the Tata Trusts are:
- Supporting monitoring and assessment of NNM programmatic indicators and key governance parameters using administrative data, nationally representative household survey data and research studies
- Regular data analysis and reports to monitor achievements, progress and priorities across states, districts, villages and wards (using multiple data sources like National Family Health Survey (NFHS), National Sample Survey (NSS), Health Management Information System (HMIS), ICDS-Common Application Software (CAS)
- Research and analysis support to comprehend priority areas for sectoral and programmatic convergence and for improving community engagement
- Preparing of policy-relevant knowledge products with rigorous analysis of existing data, while working with NITI Aayog and other Ministries on providing support to answering specific questions for better programming
- Identifying new policy-relevant research areas with a goal to advancing scientific knowledge as well as strengthening existing government systems on programme monitoring