Nutrition Programme Planning for Health Improvement Training

Objectives:
• Understand the purpose and scope of nutrition programme planning
• Identify key stakeholders and their roles
• Explain the principles of community-based nutrition interventions
• Define terms: nutrition security, malnutrition, and dietary diversity
• Describe the SAQA unit standard outcomes for this course

Topics:
• Overview of nutrition programme planning
• Key concepts: nutrition security, malnutrition, dietary diversity
• Stakeholder analysis and community engagement
• Ethical considerations in nutrition planning
• Introduction to SAQA Unit Standard 260383
• Course structure and assessment criteria

Objectives:
• Conduct a basic community nutrition assessment
• Use anthropometric, dietary, and biochemical indicators
• Interpret data to identify nutrition problems
• Apply ethical data collection practices
• Understand data quality and reliability

Topics:
• Types of nutritional assessments: anthropometric, dietary, biochemical
• Data collection methods: surveys, interviews, focus groups
• Selecting appropriate indicators
• Ethical considerations in data collection
• Data quality assurance
• Practical exercise: conducting a mini-assessment

Objectives:
• Analyse assessment data to identify priority nutrition problems
• Use problem tree analysis to determine root causes
• Prioritise problems based on severity and feasibility
• Link problems to target groups
• Document findings in a needs assessment report

Topics:
• Data analysis techniques for nutrition data
• Problem tree analysis and causal mapping
• Prioritisation criteria (e.g., prevalence, severity, resources)
• Identifying vulnerable groups
• Writing a needs assessment report
• Group work: analysing sample data sets

Objectives:
• Formulate SMART goals and objectives for nutrition programmes
• Set measurable targets for nutrition outcomes
• Align objectives with national nutrition policies (e.g., NDoH guidelines)
• Differentiate between process, output, and outcome objectives
• Understand the importance of baseline data

Topics:
• SMART criteria for objectives
• Types of objectives: process, output, outcome
• Linking objectives to identified problems
• National nutrition policies and frameworks
• Setting realistic targets
• Exercise: drafting objectives for a case study

Objectives:
• Select evidence-based nutrition interventions
• Design a programme logic model
• Consider cultural, economic, and environmental factors
• Identify resources needed (human, financial, material)
• Plan for sustainability and scalability

Topics:
• Types of nutrition interventions (supplementation, fortification, education)
• Programme logic models
• Evidence-based intervention selection
• Resource mobilisation and budgeting
• Cultural sensitivity and local adaptation
• Group activity: designing an intervention plan

Objectives:
• Develop an implementation plan with timelines and milestones
• Assign roles and responsibilities to team members
• Establish monitoring mechanisms for implementation
• Manage risks and contingencies
• Coordinate with partners and stakeholders

Topics:
• Implementation planning tools (Gantt charts, work plans)
• Role clarification and team management
• Monitoring implementation progress
• Risk management and contingency planning
• Stakeholder coordination
• Practical: creating an implementation plan

Objectives:
• Develop a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework
• Select process and outcome indicators
• Design data collection tools for M&E
• Conduct a basic programme evaluation
• Use M&E findings for programme improvement

Topics:
• M&E frameworks and indicators
• Process vs. outcome evaluation
• Data collection tools for M&E
• Evaluation designs (pre-post, control groups)
• Using M&E for decision-making
• Case study: evaluating a nutrition programme

Objectives:
• Communicate programme results to different audiences
• Write a programme report and summary
• Advocate for nutrition programme support
• Use data to influence policy and practice
• Develop a communication plan

Topics:
• Report writing structure and style
• Visualising data for advocacy
• Stakeholder communication strategies
• Advocacy techniques for nutrition programmes
• Media and public engagement
• Exercise: preparing a brief for policymakers

Objectives:
• Integrate all planning components into a comprehensive programme plan
• Review key concepts and skills from the course
• Present a final programme plan for peer feedback
• Demonstrate competence in unit standard outcomes
• Develop a personal action plan for applying learning

Topics:
• Consolidation of programme planning process
• Final programme plan presentations
• Peer and facilitator feedback
• Review of unit standard assessments
• Action planning for implementation
• Course evaluation and closure