Tufts University leads the Learning Agenda, which builds and expands on what was learned in the USAID's prior ENGINE project and other relevant activities such as the Tufts-led Nutrition Innovation Lab (NIL) and AKLDP project. Learning activities will be designed to provide evidence on an on-going, timely basis to allow for improvements or adjustments in implementation of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, and inform the National Nutrition Programme (NNP) and ONE WASH National Programme (OWNP). Areas of focus will emphasize technical areas critical to achievement of Strategic Objectives (SO) and Intermediate Results (IR), as well as research priorities identified by Government of Ethiopia (GoE) partners and USAID.
The two main arms of the Learning Agenda are the support and carrying out of operational research and the dissemination of research and learning findings. Research activities may include but not be limited to, small operational research studies, M&E data assessments, qualitative studies, literature reviews, and small research grants to support local researchers and students. Tufts leads and implements operational research studies, provides technical support to partners implementing research and learning as part of their work plan, and provides technical oversight and support to small grant recipients.
Managing the knowledge and learning generated through the project and disseminating it widely is an important part of the research and learning agenda. Tufts is responsible for the development of a project Knowledge Management (KM) system to ensure information is managed and shared quickly and broadly within the project and beyond. This website is one product of the KM arm of the Learning Agenda which will be integrated into government institutions such as EPHI and others, as appropriate, to ensure ownership and the sustainability of the KM process beyond the time frame of the project.
The Learning Agenda is implemented using a Learning Agenda Strategy and Knowledge Management Plan that were developed based on feedback from partners and stakeholders.
During the reporting period, Growth through Nutrition completed the multisectoral coordination study report, SBCC literature review manuscripts on nutrition sensitive and nutrition specific activities, data collection for study on barriers and facilitators to production and consumption of healthy foods, established the project nutrition, agriculture and WASH research and learning group and two successful meetings, building external and internal capacity through learning events, and the selected of three awardees under the small grants program.
In implementing the knowledge management plan, the Growth through Nutrition launched the project learning website https://gtn-learning.org, dissemination of project research findings, knowledge and learnings by presenting and participating in learning events such as the Annual NNP Implementation Review Meeting, African Nutrition Epidemiology Conference, and 2018 Hawassa International Nutrition and Food Industries Conference, conducting a project-wide Learning and Knowledge Management (LKM) assessment and establishing and supporting online systems for knowledge sharing within the project.
The document highlights the program impact pathways, progress made to date, some of its implementation challenges, and mitigation plan, as well as a way forward including program adaptation to COVID-19. Finally, it highlights the program's legacy.
The learning document is based on the comments of a panel discussion through the Project Research and Learning Working Group platform to discuss potential strategies and solutions to bridging the gap between research and practice/policy.
Issues raised include:
Capacity building is an integral part of the Growth through Nutrition learning agenda strategy. Learning events serve as an opportunity to disseminate research findings as well as build capacity around research and learning among the research and learning communities in Ethiopia. Tufts hosted a half-day learning event on Dec 14 at the Capital Hotel. During this event, two recent Ph.D. graduates sponsored by USAID ENGINE presented their dissertation topics:
Summary of research assessing the links between agricultural production, commercialization, markets and gender on household diet diversity and to discuss resulting policy recommendations.
Summarizes research examining the drivers of dietary choices in Ethiopia focusing on the role that seasonality, food distribution, and women play in household diet patterns.
Summarizes key findings on maternal nutrition and health indictors from the ENGINE Birth Cohort Study, along with policy and future research recommendations.
