BabyWASH and the 1,000 Days: A Practical Package for Stunting Reduction

Contributing to malnutrituion reduction through a multi-sector approach

Poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions are thought to be one of the main causes of child stunting.  The BabyWASH concept has recently emerged to link the WASH, Nutrition, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Early Childhood Development sectors. Its goal is to have a more profound impact on child health outcomes in order to improve well-being in the first 1,000 days of life. The prevention of stunting is probably the most significant impact expected from this approach through the reduction of the EED pathway and other WASH links.

This document presents how the BabyWASH approach can contribute directly to Action Against Hunger’s vision of eradicating hunger and undernutrition in all its forms, and in particular, stunting. It includes ways to integrate the WASH, nutrition, and health sectors around the 1,000 days for stunting prevention. The package was been conceived to focus on household level, while complementing already existing WASH programs that address other WASH needs, such as health centres and schools