Foundations for Life: Promoting Early Childhood Nutrition in Community Setting

This online seminar, Foundations for Life: Promoting Early Childhood Nutrition in Community Settings, provides health workers with an evidence-based overview of how early nutrition from pregnancy through early childhood influences long-term health and development. The morning sessions center on the first 1,000 days framework, structured Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counseling, and community action planning for maternal and child nutrition programs. Participants will also examine updated complementary feeding recommendations for children aged 6–23 months, including WHO guidelines, food safety principles, and food fortification strategies that strengthen nutrition outcomes at both the household and community levels. The session also highlights strategies for creating supportive food environments and implementing national and local initiatives such as PPAN 2023–2028, school-based nutrition interventions, and safe feeding practices during emergencies. The program concludes by addressing common implementation barriers and clarifying the roles of various stakeholders in ensuring continuity, safety, and impact of nutrition programs. By the end of the seminar, health workers will have strengthened their understanding of early childhood nutrition across policy, community, and practice settings, enabling them to support informed decision making, coordinated interventions, and improved public health outcomes.

What You'll Gain