ROCKVILLE, MD – Abt Global will undertake a major program to improve Bangladesh’s nutrition and sanitation and the social and economic status of women and adolescents. Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the five-year, $23 million USAID/Bangladesh Feed the Future Bangladesh Nutrition Activity (BNA) is a cooperative agreement co-designed in an intensive 19-month process. The program’s objectives are to:
1. Improve the nutrition and health of children under 5, pregnant and lactating women and adolescents
2. Improve the social and economic empowerment of women and adolescents
3. Increase adoption of improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) behaviors
Abt will work with local partners on a two-pronged approach. Our team will catalyze sustainable improvements in nutrition and WASH behaviors by integrating social and behavior change (SBC) approaches and market development strategies. This approach will increase local market access to and demand for nutritious foods and quality WASH products to sustain outcomes long after the BNA work ends. It also will strengthen the role that women and adolescents play as decision-makers and change agents and improve their nutrition and WASH outcomes.
BNA will draw on Abt’s cross-sectoral capabilities in agriculture and nutrition and SBC. Our interventions will include a mix of direct behavior change communications for consumers—including social marketing, environmental nudges and product design—to reach targeted audiences and sustainably improve nutrition and WASH behaviors. To develop supply and demand for nutritious foods and WASH products, we will work with market actors to strengthen marketing strategies and customer linkages, build capacity and skills, support creation of sustainable networks and strengthen supply chains. Throughout, Abt will boost female and adolescent empowerment by facilitating income generation for them and creating social support to encourage behavior change. We will also incorporate innovative rapid-cycle evaluations to enhance learning, adaptation and effectiveness.
BNA is the product of more than a year and a half of close collaboration involving Abt, our partners and technical experts from USAID/Bangladesh and USAID/Washington. The group designed a program that addresses Bangladesh’s persistent nutrition challenges. The result is an innovative, ambitious effort to generate significant learning on market-based approaches to improving nutrition and WASH outcomes.
Abt partners include Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Friends in Village Development Bangladesh, Jagorani Chakra Foundation, iDE, and the International Potato Center.
About Abt Global
Abt Global is an engine for social impact, dedicated to moving people from vulnerability to security. Harnessing the power of data and our experts’ insights, we provide research, consulting and technical services globally in the areas of health, environmental and social policy, technology and international development. abtglobal.com
Contact:
Christine Ohresser-Joumard
Christine_Ohresser-Joumard@abtassoc.com
(301) 347-5747
Subscribe to our bimonthly newsletters, with information about our work, staff, and current job openings, and other periodic mailings.
Read Our Latest News
Abt to Manage Australia’s Main Development Program for Fiji
The Australian Government recently awarded Abt Global a contract to managea $90 million umbrella program covering half of Australia’s development assistance to Fiji.
Abt Leads Decision Support for FCDO Land Governance Programme
Abt Global Britain has been appointed to lead the Decision Support Unit of the Land Facility, funded by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office.
Public Warning: Recruitment Phishing Scam Impersonating Abt Global
Abt Global has become aware of a phishing scheme targeting individuals with fraudulent interview requests and job offers. Abt’s secure IT systems and private applicant information have not been compromised; scammers are impersonating Abt employees, using the company name and branding to mislead and engage potential job seekers in fake recruitment processes. Scammers might reference real job openings or describe fake opportunities that generally match individuals’ professional backgrounds, with the goal of establishing communication and eventually obtaining private financial information to defraud people.The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Federal Trade Commission warn that employment scams such as this are a growing cyber threat. Abt urges anyone who is contacted about employment opportunities to exercise caution and know that:All communication from Abt Global will be from an Abt employee using the @abtglobal.com email domain (e.g.,recruiting@abtglobal.com). We do not use third-party recruiters. Abt Global recruiters will only schedule interviews for candidates who have applied for a position through our secure portal.You may view your application status through the applicant portal on Abt Global Careers.No corporate or IT systems at Abt are affected by this scam. The scammers are using Abt’s logo and employee names to impersonate the company.You can directly contact us at recruiting@abtglobal.com with any questions or concerns.Abt is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our community. We caution individuals to be vigilant in protecting personal data and vetting communication with new contacts from any company. Do not respond or provide any personal information if contacted by someone claiming to represent a company to which you did not submit a job application or profile. This scam can be perpetrated against any business and individuals who recognize and trust its name.For information on Abt recruitment practices and policies, please visit ourcareers page or emailrecruiting@abtglobal.com. To report a scam, visit:https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/.
Abt is Top Private Firm in Gender Equality Report
Abt Tops 53 Private Firms in the 2024 Global Health 50/50 Gender Equality Report.