PROJECT UPDATE
Project Overview
This initiative supported El Salvador’s Ministry of Health and the Office of the First Lady with the integration of the nutritional approach to obesity in early childhood at the community level.
Project Profile
The Technical Assistance Partnership – Expert Deployment Mechanism (TAP-EDM) collaborated with Canadian expert, Pedro Proaño Egas, and the Government of El Salvador to support the Ministry of Health and the Office of the First Lady in developing a Child Nutrition Strategy. The primary goal was to prevent, address, and diminish overweight and obesity among Salvadoran children on a national scale, considering the distinctive nutritional profiles within the country groups.
This initiative aimed to implement comprehensive, sustainable, and multisectoral strategies. Additionally, it sought to strengthen dialogue and consensus among key partners involved in the strategy’s development—covering the public, private, and civil society sectors using international standards, best practices, and lessons learned.
Key Deliverables
- Capacity Support and Training
- Conducted 28 focus groups, including 23 in-person sessions
- Facilitated a validation workshop to confirm the identified root causes of obesity and overweight
- Technical Support and Knowledge Products
- Developed focus group question guidelines and methodology
- Prepared a summary of national laws, initiatives, and strategies
- Set up a storage location for transcripts and notes from 28 focus groups
- Produced an overview analysis of childhood overweight and obesity
- Designed a problem tree for causal analysis
- Drafted a national strategy and secured formal approval
- Prepared a National Operational Plan for the implementation of the Integrated Chronic Care Model
Project Outcomes and Lessons Learned
The initiative improved the capacity of the Ministry of Health and the Office of the First Lady to strengthen and implement a National Nutrition Strategy at the community level, improving health services and nutrition mechanisms and policies in El Salvador.
A key lesson learned is the importance of strong collaboration and clear communication among partners. Effective coordination and regular exchanges support continuous improvement and ensure that project objectives are achieved in a sustainable way.
Direct Project Reach:
- 154 participants engaged through activities conducted and project deliverables
Public Engagement (Canada):
- No data available for Canadian Public Engagement
Public Engagement Activities:
- Canadian expert Pedro Proaño Egas shared a LinkedIn post
