Nutrition

A young girl being handed a plate with food.

CARE / Nancy Farese

Food and Water

CARE works to improve nutrition for women, children, and families by focusing on a key sign of progress: reducing stunting in young children.

Stunting is caused by poor nutrition and health during a child’s first 1000 days, from conception through their second birthday. Because it can’t be reversed, prevention is critical.

To support good nutrition, CARE uses both broad and targeted approaches. Our programs strengthen food, health, and support systems. We also work directly with families to help them adopt healthy practices at home, including better feeding, hygiene, and caregiving routines.

Our main approach is called Collective Impact for Nutrition. Based on 10 years of experience across multiple countries, this model connects support from across communities and systems with direct behavior change strategies. It is grounded in the Lancet nutrition interventions and designed to help families not only adopt better nutrition habits, but also help provide what they need to put those habits into practice.

Highlighted Nutrition Programs

Nurture Every Future: Poshan

Poshan improves the health of children under five and their mothers in Nepal. It strengthens nutrition services, supports safe food and hygiene practices, increases household food security, and promotes women’s leadership in family well-being.

Read More

Fill the Nutrition Gap Program (FNGAP)

FNGAP helps families access and eat more nutritious foods, lowering rates anemia in women, children, and in their families by improving diets and food systems.

Read More

CASCADE

CASCADE is a 60 million Euro project, implemented in six African countries between 2022-2026. The project aims to improve food security and reduce malnutrition of women and children under five.

Read More

Hamzari

Hamzari means “move quickly and steadily toward the goal” in Hausa. This quick-acting program is a five-year, $33 million in Niger that tackles food shortages and malnutrition while improving community systems and daily practices.

Read More

Key Models and Approaches

Social Analysis and Action (SAA)

CARE’s signature approach to equality is Social Analysis and Action (SAA). It's a facilitated process that helps people explore and challenge the social norms, beliefs, and practices that shape their health, families, and lives.

Read More