In Nigeria, the USAID-funded SPRING project is collaborating with PEPFAR-funded implementing partners who are Nigerian NGOs and CSOs that work with orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and Nigerian federal and state governments to help prepare the country for the roll out of its national community infant and young child feeding (C-IYCF) training package.
Between May and June 2015, SPRING Nigeria built the capacity of 507 implementing partner project staff and relevant government officials (266 males and 241 females) in 10 states to deliver messages on the importance of and best practices associated with IYCF. Through a series of 20 five-day trainings across the states (Bauchi, Benue, Edo, Kano, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Imo, Cross Rivers and Sokoto), SPRING trained coaches and supervisors to provide supportive supervision and mentoring to civil society organizations (CSOs) and community volunteers, and to ensure the quality of IYCF information disseminated at the community level.
These trainings produced a cadre of coaches, supervisors, OVC partners’ CSOs staff, and government officials who will perform critical monitoring and supervision functions at LGA/community levels. Additionally, participants developed action plans for cascading and implementing C-IYCF activities in their respective states. These action plans will ensure a coordinated, planned, and targeted roll out of quality IYCF activities at the community level.