Women and Child Development

The vision of the Women and Child Development (WCD) Division is to provide policy inputs for gender empowerment and improve the nutritional outcomes of women and children. The Division designs strategic and long-term policy and programme frameworks and initiatives for improving the nutrition of women and children, and monitors their progress and their efficacy. It provides advice and encourages partnerships between key stakeholders and international and national think tanks, educational and policy-research institutions. The Division also maintains a state-of-the-art resource centre on nutrition.

• To evaluate evolving policy and strategic guidelines pertaining to women and child development.  

• To engage with the Ministry of Women and Child Development to examine current policies, strategies and programmes, both at the Central and State levels and suggest appropriate modifications/mid-course corrections.  

• Analyzing and providing comments on various women and child development schemes, programmes and projects through the appraisal of PPRs; analyzing and providing comments for proposals under the EFC and SFC; reviewing and commenting on Cabinet Notes.  

• Conducting research and generating evidence with research organisations and development partners, and holding discussions with eminent experts in the domains of gender, nutrition, early childhood development, etc.

BMGF and Ashoka University

NITI Aayog, in collaboration with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University, has established a Behavioural Insights Unit (BIU). The unit focuses on designing behavioural interventions to improve maternal and child health and nutrition outcomes, particularly in high-burden districts.

International Food Policy Research Institute

A Statement of Intent (SoI) was signed between NITI Aayog and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on 24 April 2018. The broad mandate was to aid the technical support unit constituted within the WCD Division. Specific activities are to be decided from time to time based on mutual consultation and agreement. IFPRI is involved in assisting the preparation of the Poshan Abhiyaan Monitoring Report. Three reports have been prepared in close collaboration with IFPRI.

• Ministry of Women and Child Development

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

• Ministries of Agriculture

• Ministry of Education

• Ministry of Rural Development

• Ministry of Panchayati Raj

• Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

State Nutrition Profiles

District Nutrition Profiles

Poshan Abhiyaan monitoring reports: