Under the Joint Interventions to Improve Birth Outcomes and Nutrition (Jibon) research study, IFPRI partnered with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mother and Child Benefit Program (MCBP) in Bangladesh. Using a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, the study aims to assess the impact of providing additional cash or additional food to pregnant women in poor households on maternal and child health and nutrition outcomes. The study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will enroll pregnant women who are eligible to receive the MCBP program and follow them until their child is born.
In January-February 2023, IFPRI researchers held 6 upazila-level stakeholder orientation meetings in 6 study locations. At these meetings, the study objectives and the implementation plan were presented. Subsequently, local leadership and various upazila-level officials in Department of women Affairs (DWA), agriculture, department of youth development, health, and family planning were given ample opportunity to ask questions. WFP will implement the transfer of research benefits in collaboration with DWA , which is expected to start in March 2023.
For more information, please visit the Jibon project page.
