Amalima Begins Much-Anticipated Formative Research in Zimbabwe
Improving dietary diversity and the quality of foods consumed by households in Zimbabwe was the driving force behind the collaborative baseline study conducted recently by Amalima, a USAID-supported program implemented by Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA). The Amalima program promotes the adoption of new practices in agriculture, disaster preparedness, and infant and young child feeding to improve nutrition for over 66,000 households in Tsholotsho in Matabeleland North and Gwanda, Bulilima, and Mangwe in Matabeleland South.
An analysis of nutrition in the region led to the conclusion that nutrition problems are a result of household feeding practices and behaviors rather than a direct result of food shortages. As such, rather than offering prescribed solutions and recommended practices, the formative research will seek to better inform what motivates the individual behaviors, interests, attributes, and particular needs of the communities the program will be serving over the next five years.
Preliminary tests and research allowed the Amalima team to capture baseline information on everything from what crop varieties are grown in the region, what assets are desired by the community, and the level of household nutrition. These results, along with lessons learned, will be used to inform a broader survey that will drive program activates moving forward.
