Challenge
Stunting resulting from poor nutrition and hygiene affects 40 percent of all children under the age of five in Zambia, often leaving lifelong impacts including poor performance in school and low work force participation.
Solution and Impact
DFC political risk insurance is supporting DAI Global in a USAID-funded initiative with the Government of Zambia to reduce stunting by expanding access to nutrition, as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). The program trains farmers to establish community gardens and improve production of vegetables and legumes, while forming nutrition-focused support groups for mothers of young children. It has also trained hundreds of government staff and volunteers to roll out WASH activities, including the construction of latrines and handwashing stations in 111 villages.