New Delhi, March 5 (IANS). Taking important steps towards strengthening collaborative efforts to improve nutrition and health outcomes, NITI Aayog and UNICEF India signed a Letter of Intent to support strategic interventions in Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks. This information was given by NITI Aayog on Thursday.
The letter of intent was signed by Rohit Kumar, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, Aspirational Districts and Block Programme, NITI Aayog, and Arjan De Vogt, Deputy Representative, UNICEF India.
NITI Aayog said the collaboration aims to leverage the strengths of both institutions to advance efforts to improve maternal and child nutrition outcomes in deprived areas. This partnership will help promote multi-stakeholder engagement and strengthen implementation systems of nutrition and health interventions at the block level.
Rohit Kumar said that the Aspirational District and Block Program has demonstrated the importance of coordination, collaboration and data-driven governance in accelerating development outcomes. He emphasized that partnership with organizations like UNICEF India will further strengthen efforts to address critical health and nutrition challenges and improve last mile service delivery in high priority areas.
UNICEF India, through the Impact4Nutrition (I4N) platform, will provide technical expertise and collaboration with businesses, public sector enterprises and industry associations to direct CSR investments in nutrition-focused initiatives. The collaboration will focus on strengthening Anganwadi infrastructure, increasing nutrition literacy, improving utilization of ICDS services and capacity building of frontline workers.
NITI Aayog said in the statement that key activities under this collaboration include mobilizing CSR partners to support health and nutrition interventions, promoting community engagement and supporting knowledge sharing platforms to identify and disseminate best practices that can be implemented in aspirational districts and blocks.
Further said that the signing of the Statement of Intent underlines the shared commitment of NITI Aayog and UNICEF India. Under this, nutrition and health outcomes will be advanced through strong partnerships, evidence-based approaches and coordinated action between government, private sector and community stakeholders.
–IANS
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