Title

 Meeting the Undernutrition Challenge (MUCH)

MUCH has assisted the Government of Bangladesh in developing, implementing and monitoring more effective food and nutrition security (FNS) related policies, strategies and investment programmes, focusing on nutrition‑sensitive interventions. Such policy support is a priority of the government and helps fulfil its commitment to key national and international initiatives, including SDGs. To this end, MUCH has been strengthening the enabling environment that involves multi-stakeholders across and beyond the government to impact nutrition outcomes.

Duration

From 1/1/2017 to 31/12/2020

Budget (Euro)

Total costs: EUR 13,674,211.12 ; EU contribution EUR 8,000,000.00

Locations

Bangladesh (country wide)

Implementing Organization (s)

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Objectives

Outcome (Specific Objectives) and Outputs (Expected results)

The main objective of MUCH is to build an "enabling environment for eradicating food insecurity and malnutrition." This objective will be achieved through five mutually reinforcing outputs.

Expected Outputs

1. Enhanced capacities for developing national food security and nutrition policy frameworks, cross-sectoral and sectoral investment plans and programmes for food security and nutrition
2. Improved capacities for human resource and organizational development in the food security and nutrition domains
3.  Increased capacities to ensure the adequacy of resource allocation and use for food security and nutrition
4. Improved capacities of the GoB, civil society and the private sector to effectively engage in dialogues on food security and nutrition policies and programmes
5. Improved capacities to monitor, map trends and analyse the contribution of sectors and stakeholders to food security and nutrition

Target group(s)

The project assists the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and other relevant stakeholders in developing and implementing more effective Food and Nutrition Security (FSN) policies, strategies and investment programmes to eradicate malnutrition, focusing on nutrition-sensitive policy interventions and food-based approaches, while contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably Goal 2 "Zero Hunger" - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

Final beneficiaries

The Bangladeshi population affected by malnutrition are the final beneficiaries of the project. Indeed, almost a fourth of the population still live below the poverty line and 12.9% of population still live in extreme poverty. As a result of poverty and food insecurity, among others, Bangladesh has high rates of malnutrition. In addition, micronutrient deficiencies, commonly known as "hidden hunger", also affect a significant share of the population, especially young children and women in reproductive age.