ISLAMABAD: A pilot initiative under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has reported encouraging results in improving nutrition practices and preventing iron-deficiency anemia among adolescent girls in seven districts of Pakistan.
Under the Social Protection for Adolescent Nutrition (SOPRAN) pilot, 103,289 adolescent girls received Weekly Iron and Folic Acid (WIFA) tablets in 425 schools, while 247,956 girls participated in school-based nutrition education sessions focused on healthy dietary practices and anemia prevention.
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The programme was highlighted during an event titled “SOPRAN Learning Dissemination,” organized by BISP in collaboration with German Development Cooperation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Focus on integrated nutrition support
Speaking at the event, BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid said the initiative aims to leverage social assistance programmes, particularly BISP’s Conditional Cash Transfers, to improve nutrition practices among adolescent girls and their households.
She said the pilot generated evidence that could inform a potential nationwide scale-up. According to Khalid, BISP’s role extends beyond financial assistance, contributing to education, health, and overall wellbeing of beneficiary families.
She acknowledged the support of the Government of Germany, the Gates Foundation and technical partners, noting that SOPRAN builds on existing delivery systems rather than creating parallel structures.
Partnerships and implementation
The initiative was implemented under BISP’s leadership with support from the German government and the Gates Foundation through GIZ, alongside technical collaboration from Nutrition International, CERP and the World Food Programme.
Officials said the programme integrates nutrition-sensitive interventions into social protection frameworks, combining supplementation, access to fortified wheat flour and community-based awareness activities.
The event also included remarks from representatives of the German Embassy, GIZ Pakistan and the Gates Foundation, who emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing adolescent nutrition challenges.
A student participant shared her experience with the initiative, describing improvements in health awareness and daily nutrition practices.
BISP officials said the pilot has strengthened outreach mechanisms and generated data to guide future policy and programme design aimed at improving adolescent nutrition outcomes nationwide.
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