BEYOND MOTHERS PROGRAM

The BEYOND MOTHERS PROGRAM is a bold, multi-county initiative aimed at strengthening health and nutrition systems across Kenya.

At its core, the Beyond Mothers project addresses the persistent and alarming challenge of child malnutrition in East Africa home to some of the highest rates of stunting and undernutrition in the world. In Kenya, the prevalence of stunting among children under five remains high at 32.9%, while in Somalia and Tanzania, stunting rates are 9.8% and 30.3%, respectively. Wasting, a critical indicator of acute malnutrition, stands at 3.2% in Kenya, 14% in Somalia, and 3.6% in Tanzania. These figures reflect the urgent need for coordinated, evidence-based interventions to reverse the trends and promote lifelong health and development.

The Beyond Mothers project takes a systems-based approach to tackling these challenges by working across multiple levels policy, community, and household to deliver lasting change. One of the project’s key goals is to create an enabling environment for improved maternal and child health and nutrition through the implementation of updated national action plans, all aligned with the African Union’s continental nutrition strategy. It further seeks to strengthen gender-sensitive nutrition and health services while promoting access to and consumption of nutritious foods, especially among vulnerable populations.

In addition to policy engagement, the project places a strong emphasis on community-led programming. BWI is delivering evidence-based interventions while building the capacity of local systems to sustain the gains made. One of the distinctive features of the project is the integration of proven, participatory models such as Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) and Positive Deviance Hearth (PDH). These approaches empower communities to hold service providers accountable and identify homegrown solutions to improve child nutrition using locally available resources.

As part of its interventions, the project is also distributing essential nutrition products to support mothers, infants, and young children in preventing and addressing malnutrition during critical stages of growth. By working directly with pregnant and lactating women, caregivers, and frontline health workers, Beyond Mothers enhances knowledge, practices, and access to services that are vital for maternal and child well-being.

The project directly benefits pregnant and lactating women, young children, adolescent girls, and marginalised populations groups often overlooked in traditional service delivery systems. Through collaboration with local governments, health providers, agricultural extension officers, and civil society organizations, BEYOND MOTHERS PROGRAM fosters a network of support that ensures communities are not only recipients but active drivers of improved health outcomes.

BEYOND MOTHERS PROGRAM represents a transformative step forward in improving maternal and child health and nutrition in East Africa. By strengthening systems, empowering communities, and advocating for policy reforms, the initiative aims to deliver lasting impact and help secure a healthier, more resilient future for the next generation.