Wednesday 1/02/2023 – The Africa Innovations Institute (AfrII) and partners from CARE International-Uganda have resolved to hold weekly project planning meetings to facilitate the fast-tracking and efficient implementation of the CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and resiliencE (CASCADE) Project activities. This resolution, among others, was reached during a joint meeting yesterday at the AfrII premises in Bukoto, convened to discuss fast-tracking CASCADE implementation activities in Uganda.  During these meetings, AfrII shall share updates on the progress of activities to ensure deadlines are met on time but also re-assess where changes need to be made. The outgoing Consortium Manager- CARE International in Uganda, Ms. Anja Feijter noted, a series of other meetings have been scheduled between CARE International –Uganda and the different partners on the project to check the progress of each regarding project activity implementation.

CASCADE is a multi-country project implemented in 6 countries in Africa including Uganda. The project aims to improve food security and contribute to the reduction of malnutrition of at least 1 million Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) and Children in Benin, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Uganda. In Uganda, CASCADE will be implemented in a selected 15 districts in the Acholi Region, Tooro region, and the Karamoja Region. These districts were selected owing to the high levels of malnutrition, poverty, and displaced populations. The CASCADE will be aligned with the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) commitments and Uganda’s UNFSS pathway to transform food systems and seeks to operationalize actions deemed to reduce malnutrition among women and children in the Uganda Nutrition Action Plan II (UNAP II). Under CASCADE, AfrII will implement domain 4 which seeks to strengthen women’s capacities to benefit from nutrition-related policies by enabling them to produce, prepare and consume  healthy diets.   Specifically,  AfrII will implement strategic actions that seek to; 

1. -Increase women’s access to and control over resources to produce, prepare and  consume healthy diets 
2. -Strengthen knowledge and skills of women small-scale producers on producing, preparing, and consuming healthy diets;
3. -Increase households’ knowledge, attitudes and practices in nutrition and WASH specifically, food safety.
4. -Support local agriculture extension systems with tools and modules promoting healthy diet preparation and consumption among female small-scale producers,
5. -Support programmes aimed at improving nutrition outcomes of vulnerable populations and the organization of behavior change campaigns.

The CARE International-Uganda team led by the outgoing Consortium Manager, Ms. Anja Feijter (at the head of the table) during the CASCADE project planning meeting held in the AfrII Boardroom, Bukoto. AfrII’s CASCADE Project Coordinator, Dr. Muniirah Mbabazi (in blue headgear), and the Nutrition and Innovations Manager, Mr. Wison Kirabira (second on the right) in attendance.