Open Call: Social and Behaviour Change for Nutrition in Ghana

Deadline: 12-Jun-2026

The World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking partners to implement Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) activities that improve nutrition outcomes among vulnerable populations in Ghana. The initiative focuses on school nutrition, healthy diets, food fortification, nutrition-sensitive livelihoods, infant and young child feeding, and community-based behaviour change interventions across the Northern, Upper West, Upper East, North East, and Savannah regions.

The programme aims to strengthen nutrition systems, improve dietary practices, enhance school meal quality, and support vulnerable groups including pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, adolescent girls, and women-headed households. Through school and community-based interventions, WFP seeks to build a more resilient and sustainable nutrition ecosystem across targeted regions.

WFP Nutrition and Social Behaviour Change Initiative

The World Food Programme is implementing a nutrition-focused intervention in Ghana designed to improve food security, dietary diversity, and nutrition outcomes among vulnerable populations.

The programme combines nutrition-sensitive livelihoods, food assistance, food fortification, cash-based support, and Social and Behaviour Change strategies to address the underlying causes of malnutrition and poor dietary practices.

The initiative targets both schools and communities, creating integrated systems that support long-term improvements in nutrition and health.

Programme Overview

Key programme information includes:

• Organization: World Food Programme (WFP)
• Programme Type: Expression of Interest (EOI)
• Focus Area: Nutrition and Social and Behaviour Change (SBC)
• Country: Ghana
• Implementation Regions:
  • Northern Region
  • Upper West Region
  • Upper East Region
  • North East Region
  • Savannah Region

The programme focuses on strengthening nutrition interventions through behaviour change communication, community engagement, and improved access to nutritious foods.

Priority Focus Areas

The initiative supports interventions across multiple nutrition and food security sectors.

Priority areas include:

• Nutrition education
• School meals and school feeding programmes
• Agricultural inputs and food production
• Food assistance
• Infant and young child feeding
• Malnutrition prevention
• Malnutrition treatment
• Healthy dietary practices
• Food fortification
• Nutrition-sensitive livelihoods
• Social and Behaviour Change communication
• Community nutrition systems strengthening

These focus areas are designed to create sustainable improvements in nutrition outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Programme Objectives

The initiative seeks to strengthen nutrition outcomes through integrated interventions.

Core objectives include:

• Improving dietary practices among vulnerable populations
• Increasing access to nutritious foods
• Strengthening school nutrition systems
• Promoting healthy feeding practices
• Addressing harmful social and gender norms
• Improving nutrition awareness and education
• Supporting local food systems
• Expanding access to fortified foods
• Enhancing community resilience
• Strengthening behaviour change approaches

The programme aims to create lasting improvements in nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours.

School-Based Nutrition Interventions

A major component of the programme focuses on improving nutrition outcomes among schoolchildren.

The initiative will support approximately 60,000 learners across 208 schools located within the targeted regions.

Key school-based activities include:

• Improving the nutritional quality of school meals
• Promoting healthy eating habits
• Encouraging healthy lifestyles among learners
• Strengthening school health programmes
• Supporting nutrition education
• Increasing access to nutrient-dense foods
• Enhancing school feeding systems

These interventions aim to improve student health, wellbeing, and learning outcomes.

Strengthening School Feeding Systems

School feeding programmes serve as an important platform for improving child nutrition and educational outcomes.

The programme promotes:

• Use of locally sourced foods
• Improved meal diversity
• Increased nutritional value of school meals
• Integration of fortified food products
• Sustainable food supply chains
• Better nutrition standards in schools

Improved school feeding systems contribute to healthier children and stronger local food economies.

Supporting Smallholder Farmers

The initiative strengthens connections between local agriculture and school nutrition programmes.

Activities include:

• Linking smallholder farmers with schools
• Supporting local food procurement
• Promoting locally produced fortified foods
• Expanding market opportunities for farmers
• Improving local food systems
• Strengthening agricultural value chains

These approaches help improve both nutrition outcomes and rural livelihoods.

Community-Based Nutrition Activities

The second major component focuses on vulnerable populations within communities.

Target groups include:

• Pregnant women
• Breastfeeding mothers
• Young children
• Adolescent girls
• Women-headed households
• Nutritionally vulnerable families

Approximately 12,000 beneficiaries are expected to receive support through community-based interventions.

Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Approaches

Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) refers to evidence-based strategies that encourage positive changes in individual, household, and community behaviours.

The programme uses SBC approaches to:

• Promote nutritious diets
• Improve infant feeding practices
• Encourage healthy food choices
• Increase nutrition awareness
• Address harmful social norms
• Challenge restrictive gender norms
• Support positive health behaviours

Behaviour change interventions are critical for achieving sustainable nutrition improvements.

Addressing Social and Gender Barriers

Social and cultural factors often influence nutrition decisions and food consumption patterns.

The programme addresses barriers such as:

• Gender inequalities
• Harmful social norms
• Limited nutrition knowledge
• Poor feeding practices
• Restricted access to nutritious foods
• Household decision-making challenges

By addressing these issues, the initiative aims to create enabling environments for healthier nutrition behaviours.

Expected Results

The programme seeks to generate measurable improvements in nutrition systems and community wellbeing.

Expected outcomes include:

• Improved dietary diversity
• Increased consumption of nutritious foods
• Better infant and young child feeding practices
• Enhanced school meal quality
• Stronger school nutrition systems
• Increased nutrition awareness
• Improved nutrition outcomes for vulnerable populations
• Expanded access to fortified foods
• More resilient food and nutrition systems
• Sustainable behaviour change at community level

These outcomes contribute to long-term food security and public health improvements.

Why This Initiative Matters

Malnutrition remains a significant challenge in many parts of Ghana, particularly among vulnerable groups.

This initiative is important because it:

• Addresses both immediate and underlying causes of malnutrition
• Strengthens nutrition systems at school and community levels
• Supports vulnerable women and children
• Improves access to healthy diets
• Encourages sustainable nutrition behaviours
• Promotes local food production and consumption
• Builds long-term community resilience

The programme combines nutrition support with education and behaviour change to create lasting impact.

Who Should Apply?

Organizations with experience in nutrition, public health, education, agriculture, and community development are well positioned to participate.

Potential applicants may include:

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Civil society organizations
• Community-based organizations
• Nutrition-focused institutions
• Public health organizations
• Education sector organizations
• Agricultural development organizations
• Women’s empowerment groups
• Social behaviour change specialists

Applicants should demonstrate expertise in nutrition programming, community engagement, and behaviour change interventions.

How the Programme Works

Step 1: Review the Expression of Interest

Carefully assess programme objectives, geographic coverage, target beneficiaries, and implementation expectations.

Step 2: Develop an Implementation Strategy

Prepare a technical approach addressing:

• Nutrition interventions
• SBC activities
• Community engagement
• School nutrition programmes
• Monitoring and evaluation

Step 3: Build Local Partnerships

Collaborate with:

• Schools
• Community leaders
• Health facilities
• Farmer groups
• Local government stakeholders

Step 4: Prepare Supporting Documentation

Compile organizational profiles, technical experience, implementation capacity, and relevant programme examples.

Step 5: Submit the Application

Provide a complete proposal demonstrating the ability to deliver effective nutrition and behaviour change interventions.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Demonstrate nutrition programme experience
• Highlight SBC expertise
• Show strong community engagement approaches
• Include school-based intervention experience
• Present evidence-based methodologies
• Demonstrate capacity to work in rural communities
• Include monitoring and evaluation systems
• Emphasize sustainability and local ownership

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Focusing only on awareness without behaviour change strategies
• Weak nutrition programming experience
• Limited community participation plans
• Inadequate monitoring frameworks
• Failure to address gender norms
• Lack of school engagement strategies
• Poor sustainability planning
• Insufficient understanding of target populations

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the main goal of this initiative?

The programme aims to improve nutrition outcomes through Social and Behaviour Change interventions, school nutrition activities, and community-based support across selected regions of Ghana.

Which regions are targeted?

The initiative covers Northern, Upper West, Upper East, North East, and Savannah regions of Ghana.

How many schoolchildren will benefit?

Approximately 60,000 learners across 208 schools are expected to benefit from school-based nutrition interventions.

Who are the community-level beneficiaries?

Target beneficiaries include pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, children, adolescent girls, women-headed households, and other nutritionally vulnerable groups.

What is Social and Behaviour Change (SBC)?

SBC refers to evidence-based approaches that encourage positive behaviour changes related to nutrition, health, and wellbeing through communication, community engagement, and social influence strategies.

How many people will benefit from community-based interventions?

Around 12,000 beneficiaries are expected to receive support through community nutrition activities.

Why are fortified foods included in the programme?

Fortified foods help improve dietary quality by providing essential vitamins and minerals that may be lacking in regular diets, thereby helping prevent malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.

Conclusion

The World Food Programme’s Social and Behaviour Change nutrition initiative in Ghana represents a comprehensive approach to improving nutrition outcomes among vulnerable populations. By combining school feeding improvements, nutrition education, food fortification, community engagement, and behaviour change strategies, the programme aims to strengthen nutrition systems and promote healthier dietary practices across targeted regions. Through support for schools, communities, women, children, and local food systems, the initiative seeks to create sustainable and resilient pathways toward better nutrition and improved wellbeing throughout Ghana.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.