Joint Monitoring Visit at Kapilvastu District, Lumbini Province
Date: 28 December 2025
Overview:
A joint monitoring visit was conducted in Kapilvastu District, Lumbini Province, to review the progress of the Multi-Sector Nutrition Program (MSNP) implementation, identify challenges of MSNP implementation, gather insights into ground realities, and inform potential course corrections and programmatic redesigns (if needed).The joint mission included representatives from the National Planning Commission (NPC), Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA), other ministries, and UNICEF.
Objectives:
- Review progress and challenges in MSNP implementation.
- Assess the impact of income-generating activities (IGA) grants on beneficiaries.
- Observe Out-patient Treatment Center’s performance.
- Conduct orientations on MSNP-III and NFLG guidelines to the local levels of Kapilvastu district.
Fig 1: Interaction with beneficiaries of Income Generation Activity Grant
Key Activities:
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- Interaction with Local Nutrition and Food Security Steering Committees revealed progress in NFLG campaigns but highlighted gaps in intergovernmental coordination, grant allocation mechanisms, and the sustainability of local initiatives.
- Visits to beneficiaries of IGA grants noted improved livelihoods but raised concerns about targeting and equitable access.
- Observations at a Nutrition-Friendly Outpatient Treatment Center showcased functional facilities and proactive child malnutrition screenings.
Key Findings of the field mission:
- Significant strides in integrating NFLG into municipal plans, with some wards achieving NFLG status.
- Persistent challenges with grant distribution, SMART indicator alignment, and coordination across government tiers.
- Encouraging commitments from local leaders to sustain and scale-up NFLG efforts.
Recommendations:
- Enhance collaboration among federal, provincial, and local governments.
- Shift to targeted and equitable grant distribution mechanisms.
- Integrate nutrition as a cross-cutting priority in local development plans.
- Establish regulations to curb unhealthy food marketing.
Conclusion:
The mission highlighted the progress and challenges in MSNP and NFLG implementation. It emphasized the need for sustained investments, robust governance, and coordinated efforts across all government levels to achieve Nepal's nutrition goals.
