Addressing gaps in nutrition and social safety net integration
The discussion was moderated by Asfia Azim, Deputy Country Director of Nutrition International Bangladesh
In collaboration with The Business Standard, Nutrition International hosted a media roundtable in Dhaka as part of the AMAN project in Cox's Bazar.
The discussion brought together key stakeholders from the Cabinet Division, Bangladesh National Nutrition Council, Department of Women Affairs, World Bank, World Food Programme, Embassy of the Netherlands, and other development partners to explore opportunities for integrating nutrition into Bangladesh's social protection programs. A highlight of the event was the testimony of Mayesha Begum, a beneficiary of the Vulnerable Women Benefit program, who shared her inspiring journey of transformation through the AMAN project.
The discussion was moderated by Asfia Azim, Deputy Country Director of Nutrition International Bangladesh.
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Saiqa Siraj
Country Director,
Nutrition International
Nutrition International has been working in Bangladesh for 30 years, strengthening government systems to improve nutrition outcomes. As a Canada-based international organization active in Bangladesh since 1995, we collaborate with key ministries—including Health, Food, Education, Women Affairs and entities such as NNS, BSCIC, Bangladesh National Nutrition Council—to enhance nutrition policies and programs.
Our priority is focusing on maternal, child, and adolescent nutrition, recognizing their vulnerability and realizing that long term impact on the nutritional targets cannot be achieved without addressing them. Following the National Nutrition Policy (2015) and National Plan of Actions for nutrition 2, we engaged with BNNC to identify bottlenecks and opportunities to improve implementation of nutrition interventions and enhance the effectiveness of these policies.
In 2024, our Adopting a Multisectoral Approach for Nutrition (AMAN) project in Cox's Bazar, supported by Global Affairs Canada, assessed gaps and recommended strategies to integrate nutrition and gender-responsive actions in social security programs. While nutrition is mentioned in various social security programs, but the effective implementation is quite weak. The focus now is on streamlining processes to maximizing the impact of social protection programs on nutrition. Identifying key entry points such as improved targeting of nutritionally vulnerable population, behaviour change communication interventions, monitoring for greater nutrition sensitivity is crucial. By integrating these elements, we can collaborate with the Cabinet Division to strengthen and finalize more effective, nutrition-responsive social security strategy.
Surabhi Mittal
Deputy Director
Health Economics,
Nutrition International Asia
Making Social Protection Work for Improved Nutrition in Asia: Key Insights and Opportunities
Despite progress, Asia continues to face high rates of malnutrition, particularly in South Asia, where child stunting and anaemia among women remain prevalent. Nutrition-sensitive social protection programmes (SPPs) offer a strategic opportunity to address both poverty and malnutrition. Cash transfers, in-kind food programmes, and school feeding initiatives have shown promise in improving dietary intake and nutritional outcomes, but gaps remain in policy design, coverage, and investment.
Nutrition International led scoping review examines 12 Asian countries to assess the integration of nutrition into SPPs, highlighting opportunities for enhancing their effectiveness. Findings show that while many countries have national social protection and nutrition policies, alignment between these frameworks is often inconsistent. Strengthening policy linkages, increasing investments in nutrition-sensitive SPPs, and integrating behaviour change communication are crucial steps forward.
Cash transfers targeted at women and children, when paired with nutrition education and access to health services, can significantly improve dietary diversity and reduce malnutrition. In-kind food transfers, particularly those incorporating fortified foods, offer additional support but require efficiency improvements. School feeding programs present a scalable platform for delivering micronutrient-rich meals and health interventions.
Key recommendations include expanding nutrition-sensitive targeting mechanisms, improving monitoring and evaluation systems, leveraging digital solutions for efficient delivery, and ensuring gender-sensitive program designs. With enhanced coordination and investment, SPPs in Asia can effectively contribute to reducing malnutrition and building resilience among vulnerable populations.
Sharmeen Murshid
Adviser to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, and Ministry of Social Welfare
We have been working on nutrition for many years, but our current policy strategies, especially post-2015, are limited. The government has its stance, and we are critically reviewing every aspect. Within our ministries and their processes, there are certain trends and practices that cannot be changed overnight. However, change is essential.
Bangladesh has made significant strides in poverty reduction, but nutrition has not improved at the same pace.
The Department of Women's Affairs provides a meagre monthly allowance of BDT800 for 36 months to support the nutrition and health of rural pregnant women. Amid rising inflation, this amount is insufficient and reflects poorly on their poverty. As one woman said, "Don't give me rice or money – give me training instead." This statement is a powerful reflection of the real need for long-term solutions. In today's inflationary context, BDT800 does little to lift a woman out of poverty.
Keya Khan
Director General (grade-1)
Department of Women Affairs
Our mothers need training, not just financial support, to properly feed their children. However, we are facing a shortage of funds for training programmes. Last month, during a visit to Netrokona, local families expressed a preference for training over the Tk800 allowance. They want to learn how to cook, when to feed their children, appropriate gaps between meals, how to cook with lids, and which nutrients are needed. While the Tk800 allowance is temporary, the training offers lasting benefits. This is the training we are striving to provide.
Mohammad Khaled Hasan
Additional Secretary, Coordination Wing,
Cabinet Division
The National Social Security Strategy was developed and adopted in 2015 after extensive research, a process that spanned nearly three years. While nutrition was included as an indicator, the strategy did not clearly define how it would be monitored.
To address this, we have introduced criteria such as stunting and wasting as key targets in our approach. Simply making our social protection programmes nutrition-sensitive is not enough; we also need to implement nutrition-focused programmes.
Another crucial point in our strategy is the emphasis on early childhood nutrition, specifically the first 1,000 days of life. This aspect must be further strengthened. We are also working on improving social behaviour related to nutrition.
Dr Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman
Director General, Bangladesh National Nutrition Council
We focus on policy, advocacy, monitoring, and coordination, collaborating with 22 ministries. Strengthening inter-ministerial coordination is essential. We currently have two committees that need to be made more effective. Discussions have already taken place with the Cabinet Division. While meetings are scheduled every two months, they are often delayed by up to six months. If the DNCC operates efficiently, the UNCC will also be more effective. We should prioritise working on community clinics, with a particular focus on enhancing social safety net programmes.
Sajjadur Rahman
Deputy Editor,
The Business Standard
Bangladesh has made significant progress in poverty reduction over the years and has also achieved notable success in food production and food security. However, inequality remains a major concern. We address this issue because nutrition is closely related to poverty, food security, and equality.
The government has increased allocations for the Social Safety Net programme in its budget over the years. However, in terms of GDP, the allocation is still not on par with global standards.
The government's focus is primarily on meeting the immediate needs of the Social Safety Net programme. The ongoing budget documents include a separate publication on these social safety net programmes - a 92-page document – but I have noticed that there is no mention of nutrition in it. This indicates that there is no focus on nutrition within the ongoing Social Safety Net programmes.
Wameq A Raza
Senior Health Specialist,
World Bank
The World Bank has invested significantly in the nutrition component of our 5th sector engagement programme, directing substantial funding towards multiple micronutrient supplements, which we strongly support.
Pregnant women and children in Bangladesh face micronutrient deficiencies, leading to stunting and low birth weight. Our strategy prioritises early, widespread intervention.
We are enhancing urban health programmes to be more nutrition-sensitive. As public nutrition services often close by 3 pm, we are considering double shifts to improve access for lower-income working women.
Mayesha Begum
Project participant,
AMAN Project, Maheshkhali,
Cox's Bazar
My family of four struggled with poverty as my husband, a day labourer, had a low income. Two years ago, he received an AMAN Project card, granting us 30kg of rice monthly. This saved money for our children's education and other expenses.
The support helped my daughter stay in school, but since last January, we stopped receiving nutritional rice, forcing us to spend on food instead. As a result, she had to drop out, though my son still attends. We need life-skill and livelihood trainings. The programme also taught us proper cooking and food preparation, which we passed on to our children.
Mohammad Mamunur Rashid
Programme Policy Officer, World Food Programme
The first step to making social protection programmes nutrition-sensitive is how we target beneficiaries. While improvements have been made, 71% of social safety net allocations are focused on old age allowances, which cover 10% of the population. The critical question is where the government will focus.
While there are dedicated programmes for children, there is a significant gap in social protection for vulnerable adolescents, with only a few school stipends programmes available. This area needs more attention, and addressing it could make programmes more nutrition-sensitive.
We also need to evaluate whether benefit packages meet the nutritional needs at every life-cycle stage.
Dr Md Akhter Imam
Deputy Director, Bangladesh National Nutrition Council
Bangladesh's social safety programmes are managed by various ministries, making nutrition integration complex. There are several gaps that remain unaddressed.
For instance, women in the government sector receive six months of maternity leave for breastfeeding, but many informal sector workers lack this support. The question remains: can we extend social security programmes to cover this large, underserved population?
They also face limited access to daycare and breastfeeding facilities, where the private sector could help. Extending maternity leave and allowances would improve nutrition and ease monitoring.
Osman Haruni
Senior Policy Advisor,
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands at Dhaka
Bangladesh runs over 130 social safety net programmes, but their effectiveness in reaching those in need is uncertain. The budget covers only about 2% of the population, while 10%—around 17 million people—face nutrition insecurity - how many are we truly reaching?
Targeting needs improvement, as many vulnerable groups are left out. While cash transfers help, their long-term impact remains unclear.
In one programme, we established 1,200 nutrition cells within communities, empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills to promote nutrition practices. These community members were also equipped to distribute nutrition items directly to their neighbours.
Iftia Jerin
Technical Advisor,
Nutrition International Bangladesh
Most Social Security Programmes (SSPs) mainly target rural areas. To ensure comprehensive support, urban-focused SSPs must be introduced to address the needs of slum dwellers and low-income urban populations.
Nutrition vulnerability mapping is crucial for accurate beneficiary selection. A multi-channel approach should replace self-nomination to enhance inclusiveness and prevent duplication.
SSPs should integrate nutrition-sensitive components like fortified foods, diversified diets, and culturally appropriate packages. Strengthening Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) with dedicated funding and seamless integration is essential for long-term impact.
Md Ziaul Karim
Senior Coordinator,
Manusher Jonno Foundation
The Vulnerable Women Beneficiary (VWB) programme in Bangladesh remains a safety net rather than a safety ladder after two years. To ensure upward mobility, programmes must focus on long-term empowerment.
A comprehensive nutrition programme should integrate agriculture, health, and WASH sectors for lasting impact.
Our national social security strategy is based on extensive research and planning. No other programme is as well-designed. While full implementation is pending, we must move forward without delay to achieve its intended goals.
Key recommendations:
Stronger Integration of Nutrition in Social Safety Nets: Policies must explicitly incorporate nutrition-sensitive approaches, ensuring that social protection programmes address malnutrition effectively.
Shift Focus to Training & Behaviour Change: Financial aid alone is insufficient; beneficiaries need training on nutrition, food preparation, and healthy eating habits for long-term impact.
Improved Targeting & Coverage: Existing programmes miss many vulnerable groups, particularly adolescents and urban low-income populations. Beneficiary selection should be more accurate and inclusive.
Enhanced Coordination & Policy Implementation: Inter-ministerial coordination must be strengthened, with clear monitoring mechanisms and timely implementation of national nutrition strategies.
Urban Nutrition & Maternity Support: Expanding nutrition programmes to urban areas and informal sector workers, including better maternity benefits and child nutrition initiatives, is crucial.
