Localization in Action: Empowering Women Enterprises to Produce and Promote Enriched Complementary Foods in Amhara, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia's Amhara region, caregivers face challenges feeding their young children diverse, nutritious meals while balancing heavy workloads and limited access to safe, affordable foods. Only 8% of children aged 6–23 months achieve Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD), reflecting behavioral and structural barriers to optimal feeding ( FNS survey report 2022). Formative assessments revealed unsafe food handling practices, limited knowledge of local nutrient-rich foods, and the need for convenient, trusted complementary foods that fit caregivers' routines. Addressing these challenges, the CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and resiliencE (CASCADE) program co-developed a context-specific training manual integrating food safety, processing, and Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) principles to promote the production, sale, and consumption of enriched complementary foods. Validated through multi-sectoral consultation, the manual was simplified for community use and rolled out through a Training of Trainers (ToT) model at all levels. 

In 2025, 996 community savings groups and sectoral partners from agriculture, health, and social affairs were trained, coupled with hands-on demonstrations. Cooking sessions promoted the enriched flour blends, composed of teff, barley, and oats (70%), lentils (20%), and groundnut (10%), emphasizing safe preparation and responsive feeding. SBCC messaging emphasized affordability, trust, and nurturing care, reinforced through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), health posts, and community campaigns. As of September 2025, 8363 kg of enriched flour have been produced, reaching over 4177 caregivers and generating 1,557,669 ETB ($10,524), demonstrating how localized, evidence-based SBCC approaches can improve child diets, livelihoods, and community resilience.