The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have an indirect, yet severe and lasting, effect on maternal and child nutrition. Weakened and overwhelmed health systems can mean reduced access to and utilization of nutrition services. Added stress on households can create additional challenges to practice recommended nutrition actions in the critical first 1,000 days—from the start of a woman’s pregnancy through her child’s second birthday.

More than ever, social and behavior change (SBC) approaches remain essential to achieving good nutrition. In this webinar, USAID Advancing Nutrition and Breakthrough ACTION reviewed important considerations and shared experiences and resources to support country programs in adapting nutrition SBC programming in response to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Panelists also discussed how to handle nutrition-related myths and misconceptions that have surfaced.

Webinar Recording

Webinar Resources

• Access the slide deck (PDF, 2 MB)
• COVID-19 Communication Network
• Guidance on SBC for Nutrition During COVID-19: Technical Brief
• Managing Nutrition Myths and Misconceptions During COVID-19: Technical Brief
• Virtual Pretesting During COVID-19: Technical Brief
• Using Social Media to Disseminate COVID-19 Information: Technical Brief
• Springboard for SBC

Speakers

Lynn Van Lith (Moderator), Technical Director, Breakthrough ACTION (Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs)

Laura Itzkowitz, Nutrition SBC Advisor, USAID

Jennifer Yourkavitch, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Director, USAID Advancing Nutrition

Nazgul Abazbekova, Chief of Party, USAID Advancing Nutrition Kyrgyz Republic

Kelsey Torres, Program Officer, USAID Advancing Nutrition

Kenneth Mulondo, SBC Advisor, USAID ICAN Activity