Based on our evolving problem analysis and strategic approach, ICCHN's projects address a range of knowledge and practice gaps in two broad and synergistic areas:

• Supporting sustainable community-owned and led health change
• Strengthening of primary health and nutrition systems and services

Within this, most of our projects explore complex strategies, involve long-term partnerships, include rigorous research designs, and aim to build local, systemic capacities. In each priority area ICCHN tries to take a multi-leveled approach, focusing on filling technical knowledge gaps and learning from field-level implementation processes, while proactively addressing larger systemic constraints, institutional challenges and resource capabilities required for scaled impact.

Priority Areas

Supporting and scaling Community Health Worker Programmes
Field-based innovation, large-scale programmes and resource networks to increase the effectiveness and impact of community health workers in diverse contexts

Disseminating knowledge, decentralizing ownership: community platforms and collective action for child health and nutrition
Integrating health and nutrition strategies within community development platforms and networks, including village committees, self help groups, and micro finance programmes

Strengthening public health systems
Strengthening public primary health systems, building decentralized capacities for planning and implementation, developing effective service delivery models, supporting frontline health workers, and strengthening referral systems

Strengthening the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
Mobilizing the ICDS to improve the coverage, convergence and quality of nutrition counseling, growth promotion and food supplementation services

Technical Research in Nutrition
Supporting research to address key knowledge gaps in maternal, infant and young child nutrition, especially food-based nutrition strategies