Nutrition Information Systems for Implementing Child Nutrition Programs

Abstract

Nutrition information systems (NIS) provide the information needed for planning and implementing nutrition investment programs. This paper develops a framework to analyze NIS in the study countries. Existing NIS elements in the study countries are reviewed, making recommendations for improvements. Key findings include the need for national household probability surveys that are synchronized among countries and repetitive over time, including information related to both general and micronutrient malnutrition; simplified, routine program information systems that include information use from the household level up, and that take advantage of emerging information technologies; operations research and training for effective growth monitoring and promotion programs; and evaluation research, especially within the first five years, to guide the development of cost-effective country programs. Advocacy and substantial investments in capacity building will be required to ensure that staff from the community level up are able to function effectively in an information culture.