Description

Abstract: The Enhancing Child Nutrition through Animal Source Food Management (ENAM) project identified constraints to availability, accessibility and utilization of animal source foods (ASF) in young Ghanaian children’s diets. Based on the identified constraints, an intervention involving micro-enterprise development and nutrition and entrepreneurial education for caregivers of young children was implemented. Using case studies, researchers identified factors leading to ‘successful’ participation in the ENAM project and helped develop an understanding of how these factors operate to produce success. Twelve ‘successful’ and six ‘less successful’ ENAM participants were purposefully selected, using agreedupon criteria of ‘success’ from ENAM participant focus groups. In-depth interviews were used with the selected women. Every respondent stated that they had derived some benefit from their participation in ENAM. Common strategies which appeared to play a role in the success of the women were identified, such as joining the Credit and Savings Association (CSA) with an established Income-Generation Activity (IGA) or mentorship in an IGA, having methods to buffer seasonal fluctuations, and being resourceful in loan management. In an example of one case study, Akua’s story of success shows how the ENAM project gave her the opportunity and skills to take care of her family trading smoked fish and potatoes, despite many challenges along the way. The findings suggest ways in which the ENAM project, and other similar projects, can be even more beneficial to participants. For example, the project rewarded participants (with higher loans and incentives) based on their performance in the loan scheme and not child nutrition indicators. In the future, periodic feedback to the women about their children’s diet and growth progress and an incentive system to reward progress may help reinforce child nutrition issues, making it more salient for the women.