BReST Project provides monthly cash transfers and nutrition education to over 6000 beneficiaries

UNICEF’s BReST Project, funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) and the Ministry of Health, has exceeded its target to reach 5,500 lactating mothers with monthly cash transfers and nutrition education to mitigate food insecurity and malnutrition in The Gambia. The project now serves a total of 6,610 beneficiaries in the North Bank, Central River, and Upper River Regions of the country.

The first payment cycle kicked off in Albreda in the North Bank Region, leading the team to health facilities in Essau, Kuntair and Ngayen Sanjal before the national launching of the project at the Basse Health Centre, reaching almost 500 women in the first half of that month’s payment cycle.

The rationale for the Building Resilience through Social Transfers for Nutrition Security Project is based on evidence that the period from pregnancy to 24 months of age of the child - first 1000 days of life - is a crucial window of opportunity for reducing malnutrition and its adverse effects in children. Furthermore, this period provides prospects to deliver information, education and skills to mothers, and thus maximizes health benefits for the child, mother and the wider household. The overall objective of the project is to improve the nutritional status of lactating women and children under 2 years in rural areas in the target regions.

The BReST Project will be a catalyst of change at the community and household levels through improving knowledge and behaviours on better nutrition, sanitation, and hygiene practices whilst simultaneously building financial literacy of mothers.