Stories That Resonate, Actions That Transform
Our September edition of Athena Connects brings together a symphony of voices from within and beyond Athena. This edition explores the power of individual stories and their collective impact on the world we serve.
As you read, you'll discover how these diverse threads of experience, expertise, and passion contribute to a larger narrative of change and shed light on the personal journeys that drive our passion for the social impact sector.
Malick Madeira , our CWIS TA partner in Ethiopia, advocates for turning ambitious sanitation goals into actionable plans. He illuminates how well-prepared cities can effectively engage partners and attract stakeholders, driving real progress in urban sanitation.
Abera Tesfaye , Director of Demewoz Consultancy, shares insights on innovative planning for inclusive, sustainable sanitation. He reflects on overcoming challenges, personal growth, and the potential of these initiatives to reshape Ethiopia's urban landscape, setting new standards for #SanitationForAll.
From addressing public health challenges in rural India to developing frameworks for assessing financial investments, these case studies highlight how targeted research and evaluation can inform meaningful interventions and drive positive change.
Maternal and child nutrition in Odisha and Jharkhand, two eastern states of India, has remained a pressing public health issue. Factors such as poverty, limited healthcare access, and traditional practices have continued to complicate efforts to improve nutritional outcomes. As Odisha and Jharkhand work to enhance their health indicators, addressing maternal and child nutrition has become a critical focus, and the Tata Steel Foundation (TSF) Nutrition Program in Odisha and Jharkhand aims to tackle this critical challenge: improving maternal and child nutrition in these two states.
To ensure its success, Athena conducted a comprehensive baseline evaluation using a unique methodological approach. Our evaluation focused on a crucial thematic area – understanding the existing nutritional landscape within targeted communities.
To ensure that the evaluation was grounded in community realities, we adopted a participatory approach. This involved working closely with community members to understand their perspectives and needs. By incorporating their insights, we could tailor the evaluation and subsequent program interventions more effectively. We employed a Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Behaviours (KAPB) framework to comprehensively assess community understanding and actions related to nutrition. This framework allowed us to identify gaps in knowledge, understand prevailing attitudes towards nutrition, and assess existing practices.
The scale of the evaluation was a key strength. We surveyed over 8,500 individuals, encompassing a diverse range of demographics. This included mothers of young children, adolescent girls, frontline healthcare workers like Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), and Anganwadi workers – all crucial stakeholders in the program's success. By surveying such a large and representative sample, we gained a comprehensive understanding of the nutritional challenges faced by different segments of the population.
Comprehensive Anthropometric Measurements
To accurately assess the nutritional status of children, we conducted a series of anthropometric measurements. These included:
Data Quality: The Cornerstone of Trustworthy Results
Managing a large-scale evaluation with intricate data collection methods demands unwavering attention to detail. Athena prioritized data quality through a robust data management system. Here's how we ensured accuracy and completeness:
A Foundation for Program Success
The meticulously gathered data served as a vital foundation for the TSF Nutrition Program. This information provided valuable insights into existing malnutrition rates, anaemia prevalence, and community perceptions of nutrition. By capturing this multifaceted picture, we provided TSF with crucial recommendations for the successful implementation of the Nutrition Program, ensuring maximum impact and achieving its goals of improving maternal and child health.
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For more details on the project, contact Trapti Malviya and Rashi Goel .
About the Partner
Amicus Capital Partners India LLP is a leading private equity fund specializing in early-stage fintech and financial services enterprises.
Project Scope
Athena was entrusted with the creation of an impact framework for Amicus Capital and its portfolio companies. The challenge lay in devising a method to accurately track and measure the transformative social and economic impacts of a diverse group of investees, ranging from digital insurance market players to small finance banks and vehicle financiers.
Our Solutions
Team Athena developed a comprehensive impact assessment framework to track and measure the social and economic changes driven by Amicus Capital's investments. The solution involved both qualitative and quantitative data collection, ensuring the validation of Amicus Capital’s significant contributions to financial inclusion and local economic development.
Results Achieved
For this project, the Athena team:
To know more, reach out to Eshna Ray . For collaboration on related projects or other ESG and Sustainability Services, contact cbd@athenainfonomics.com.
Behind every project is a team driven by purpose. Here, our colleagues share what shaped their paths to the impact sector, blending professional experiences with personal motivations.
These stories offer a glimpse into the hearts and minds powering our work at Athena Infonomics .
Athena Infonomics is an impact solutions group that applies social science research, data analytics, and technology to advance global development.