Executive Summary
Despite progress in food production and economic growth, maternal and child malnutrition remains a critical challenge in Cambodia. High rates of stunting, micronutrient deficiencies, and poor dietary diversity continue to affect pregnant and lactating women and children under five, particularly in rural and remote areas. These challenges are compounded by climate variability, limited access to diverse foods, and gaps in nutrition knowledge and health services.
This project aims to improve maternal and child nutrition outcomes by integrating nutrition-sensitive agriculture, behavior change communication, and community health interventions. Over 36 months, the project will support smallholder farmers—especially women—to diversify agricultural production, increase access to nutrient-rich foods, strengthen nutrition practices, and improve linkages between agriculture, health, and social protection systems.
The initiative aligns with Cambodia’s National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition, National Nutrition Program, and global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Background and Rationale
Cambodia continues to face a triple burden of malnutrition, characterized by undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising overweight and obesity. Key contributing factors include:
- Heavy reliance on rice-based diets with low dietary diversity
- Limited access to nutrient-dense foods such as vegetables, fruits, eggs, and animal-source foods
- Inadequate maternal nutrition and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices
- Gender inequalities affecting women’s access to resources and decision-making
- Climate-related shocks affecting food availability and income
Evidence shows that agriculture programs that explicitly incorporate nutrition objectives—combined with behavior change and women’s empowerment—can significantly improve nutrition outcomes for mothers and young children.
Project Goal
To improve maternal and child nutrition and health outcomes in Cambodia through nutrition-sensitive, climate-resilient agricultural systems and strengthened community nutrition practices.
Specific Objectives
- Increase availability and consumption of diverse, nutrient-rich foods among target households.
- Improve maternal nutrition and infant and young child feeding practices.
- Strengthen women’s empowerment in agriculture and household nutrition decisions.
- Enhance linkages between agriculture, health, and nutrition services.
- Build community and institutional capacity for sustainable nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
Target Areas and Beneficiaries
- Geographic Focus
- Rural and food-insecure provinces with high malnutrition rates
- Climate-vulnerable farming communities
- Primary Beneficiaries
- Secondary Beneficiaries
- Community health workers and extension agents
- Local health centers and agricultural institutions
Key Project Components and Activities
- Component 1: Nutrition-Sensitive Agricultural Production
- Promote household and community nutrition gardens
- Support diversification into fruits, vegetables, legumes, and small livestock
- Introduce climate-resilient and biofortified crops
- Strengthen access to quality seeds, inputs, and extension services
- Component 2: Behavior Change Communication (BCC) and Nutrition Education
- Deliver community-based nutrition education for mothers and caregivers
- Promote improved maternal diets during pregnancy and lactation
- Strengthen infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices
- Use participatory approaches, cooking demonstrations, and peer learning
- Component 3: Women’s Empowerment and Household Decision-Making
- Support women-led farmer groups and savings groups
- Promote joint household decision-making on food and income
- Improve women’s access to productive resources and training
- Engage men to support maternal and child nutrition
- Component 4: Integration with Health and Social Services
- Strengthen coordination between agricultural extension and health workers
- Link households to antenatal care, growth monitoring, and micronutrient services
- Align interventions with national nutrition and health programs
- Support referral systems for malnourished mothers and children
- Component 5: Climate Resilience, Learning, and Scaling
- Integrate climate-smart agriculture practices
- Build resilience to seasonal food shortages and climate shocks
- Document best practices and lessons learned
- Support policy dialogue and scaling through government systems
Expected Outcomes
- Improved dietary diversity among pregnant women and young children
- Reduced prevalence of stunting and micronutrient deficiencies
- Increased production and consumption of nutrient-rich foods
- Enhanced women’s leadership and decision-making power
- Strengthened coordination between agriculture and nutrition sectors
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
- Baseline and endline nutrition and food security assessments
- Tracking of dietary diversity, IYCF, and maternal nutrition indicators
- Gender- and age-disaggregated data collection
- Participatory monitoring and adaptive learning
Sustainability and Exit Strategy
- Integration with government agriculture and nutrition programs
- Capacity building of local extension and health systems
- Community ownership through farmer and women’s groups
- Policy alignment with national food and nutrition strategies
Alignment with National and Global Priorities
This project aligns with:
- Cambodia’s National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition
- National Nutrition Program
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 3, 5, and 13)
- UNICEF and WHO nutrition frameworks
Indicative Budget and Duration
- Duration: 36 months
- Indicative Budget: USD X–X million (depending on scale and provinces)
Conclusion
Improving maternal and child nutrition in Cambodia requires more than increased food production—it demands nutrition-sensitive, gender-responsive, and climate-resilient approaches. This project offers an integrated pathway to healthier mothers and children by aligning agriculture, nutrition, and community systems for sustainable impact.
