Background:

Nutrition International (NI), formerly the Micronutrient Initiative, is a global leader in nutrition. For 30 years, NI has worked with a wide range of donors, governments, UN agencies, civil societies, research institutions, and other partners across the world to promote, accelerate, and facilitate the scale-up of high-impact nutrition.

NI works as an ally to the governments to implement nutrition interventions and solutions to malnutrition – including micronutrient deficiencies – through different programs. NI also conducts high quality implementation research, incorporating the skill sets of a diverse and dynamic group of technical experts in public health, nutrition, and research.

Since 2001, Nutrition International has been working in Pakistan, to improve the health of people in need, especially women and children, through better nutrition. NI support federal and provincial governments and partners by generating and translating evidence and providing technical expertise to inform decision making.

2. Context:

Maternal and newborn health and nutrition needs in Pakistan are high. The neonatal mortality rate (estimated at 42 per 1,000 live births) and the prevalence of low birthweight (LBW; 23% in 2018) are among the highest in the world. Rates of micronutrient deficiencies are also high in Pakistan, at least in part due to widespread and extreme food insecurity, with the country ranking 99out of 129 nations in the 2022 Global Hunger Index report. According to the 2018 National Nutrition Survey, an estimated 14% of women of reproductive age are underweight, 43% suffer from anaemia, 22% are affected by vitamin A deficiency, and 80% from vitamin D deficiency.

Please find the attached file for more details.