DOMSPARK

COMPLETED PROJECT · 2022–2025

Reducing Child
Malnutrition

Supporting healthier children and stronger families in Tharaka Nithi through nutrition, livelihoods, food production, community support and disability inclusion.

Connecting mothers, health workers, community structures and government services around child nutrition and family resilience.

Food production and household garden
PROJECT PERIOD2022–2025
LOCATIONTharaka Nithi County, Kenya
FOCUSNutrition · Livelihoods · Health · Inclusion

Improving child nutrition starts with strengthening the conditions around the child.

In communities of Tharaka Nithi, families faced challenges linked to poverty, food insecurity, limited access to diverse foods and gaps in knowledge and support around child nutrition.

Children with disabilities could face additional barriers to accessing nutrition and other services.

The project therefore worked with mothers, community health structures, schools, government services and community groups to address nutrition from several directions at once.

THE APPROACH

Supporting the child by strengthening the family.

The project combined nutrition education and screening with food production, savings, livelihoods and community-based support.

01

Nutrition support

Mothers and caregivers were supported with knowledge and practical information to improve child feeding and nutrition.

02

Mother-to-mother support

Community support groups created spaces for mothers to share knowledge, experiences and practical solutions.

03

Food & livelihoods

Kitchen gardens, drought-tolerant crops and SILC activities helped households strengthen food availability and economic resilience.

04

Community health

Community Health Promoters and health structures helped link households with nutrition information, screening and services.

WHAT CHANGED

Building stronger foundations for children's wellbeing.

The final report records progress across community support, nutrition activities, household food production and economic resilience.

18

mother-to-mother support groups were established across Tharaka North and Tharaka South.

311

children were assessed and supplemented during the final reporting period.

7

groups had completed share-outs, with cumulative loan funds of KSh 594,726 shared out.

594,726

Kenyan shillings in cumulative loan funds were shared out by seven groups at the time reported.

311

children were reached for nutrition support during the final reporting period.

1

integrated approach brought nutrition, livelihoods, food production, health and disability inclusion together.

Kitchen garden supporting household food production

FOOD AT HOUSEHOLD LEVEL

Nutrition is easier to sustain when families can grow food.

The project promoted kitchen gardens and drought-tolerant and vegetable seeds to help households increase access to nutritious foods.

Growing vegetables close to home also gave mothers practical ways to connect nutrition knowledge with everyday household food choices.

MOTHERS SUPPORTING MOTHERS

Knowledge grows stronger when it is shared.

The mother-to-mother support groups created spaces where women could discuss nutrition, share experiences and encourage one another.

These groups also connected nutrition with household livelihoods and savings, helping mothers think about the resources needed to sustain healthier choices.

The groups became part of the community structure through which knowledge and support could continue beyond individual activities.

LIVELIHOODS & RESILIENCE

A mother's ability to care for a child is connected to the household's economic security.

SILC groups gave mothers a way to save together and access loans for activities that could strengthen household livelihoods.

Loans were used for businesses, food, school fees, medical needs, seeds, livestock and other household priorities.

By connecting economic empowerment with nutrition, the project recognised that families need both knowledge and resources to sustain positive changes.

18mother-to-mother support groups established

DISABILITY INCLUSION

Children with disabilities were part of the nutrition response.

The project deliberately connected nutrition with disability inclusion so that children with disabilities and their families were not left outside community health and support systems.

01

Identification

Children with disabilities were identified through community and nutrition activities.

02

Nutrition support

Children with nutrition needs were included in assessment and supplementation activities.

03

Assistive devices

Children with disabilities were supported with appropriate assistive devices where these were identified as necessary.

04

Community awareness

Families and community structures were engaged around the importance of inclusion and support for children with disabilities.

WHAT WE LEARNED

Better nutrition depends on the world around the child.

The project demonstrated the value of combining nutrition support with household food production, livelihoods, savings and community health structures.

It also highlighted the importance of continuing to follow up children with disabilities and ensuring that nutrition and health interventions remain accessible to them.

The experience showed that mothers, community health actors, government services and local groups can play complementary roles in creating stronger conditions for children's wellbeing.

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