The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Ethiopia invited the LINKAGES Project, managed by the Academy for Educational Development (AED), to support the government and its partners to address malnutrition, including in the context of HIV and AIDS.

Linkages Technical Assistance is based on 4 key components: 1. Advocacy & Partnerships 2. Training (pre and in service) 3. Negotiation by Community Promoters 4. Behavior Change Communication (BCC)

The LINKAGES Project Academy for Educational Development(AED) 1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20009-5721 Tel : (202) 884-8000 Fax : (202) 884-8977 Email: aguyon@aed.org

linkages@aed.org

Introduction

From June 2003, LINKAGES organized technical updates to introduce the Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA) approach that comprises an integrated package of seven scientifically proven nutrition actions including the promotion of optimal breastfeeding, adequate complementary feeding, nutritional care of the sick child, women's nutrition, and the control of anemia, vitamin A deficiency, and iodine deficiency disorders. Nutrition support is targeted to six critical points of contact within the health sector and is also applied outside the health sector in such settings as communities, schools, agricultural outreach, and emergency programs.