India - Woman and Child Development Project

Report No. PID4048 Project Name India-Woman and Child Development Project Region South Asia Sector Health, Nutrition, and Population Project ID INPA35827 Borrower India, acting by its President Beneficiary Selected blocks in Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh Implementing Agency Department of Women and Child Development Ministry of Human Resource Development Room #615, A Wing Shastri Bhawan New Dehli 110 001 Tel: 38 6227; Fax: 38 1800; Tlx: 315381-WCD IN Attn: Mrs. Rekha Bhargava Joint Secretary (ICDS) Projected Approval June 30, 1998 Projected Effectiveness September 30, 1998 Project Objectives To improve the nutrition and health of pre-school-aged children and women, by increasing the quality, impact, and cost-effectiveness of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program and more specifically by: (i) improving the nutrition, health and psychosocial status of children, 0-6 years of age, with particular emphasis on preventing malnutrition in under-threes, and improve child care practices at the household level; (ii) improving the nutrition and health of women, particularly pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and adolescent girls; and (iii) empowering adolescent girls, through increased awareness, to take better care of their personal and household health and nutrition needs. Proposed Approach and Components The proposed Project focuses on young children and pregnant and nursing women with a holistic approach to child development and services delivered by community workers. It will target disadvantaged populations, promote decentralization and community participation, and improve worker training. The proposed Project will be comprised of the following components: (i) service delivery, including service quality improvements, adolescent girls' empowerment and staffing and infrastructure development; (ii) program support, including management and institutional development, capacity building for training, information/education/communication activities, monitoring evaluation, and operational research, (iii) national training, including training improvement and worker supply improvement, and (iv) a central component that will establish the Central Project Management Unit. Environmental Aspects  No resettlement or environmental issues are anticipated Project Objective Categories The Country Assistance Strategy recognizes that India has among the lowest social indicators in the world and consequently supports the Government of India's attempt to accelerate the pace of social development. Specifically, the Bank gives priority to addressing nutritional issues through interventions linked with education, health and social welfare services. The Bank's objective with regard to this is to (a) improve nutrition policies and the effectiveness and efficiency of India's nutrition-related efforts; (b) build national health capacity; (c) improve primary care; and (d) improve health systems and institution-building in selected states. Apart from this the Bank is also concerned about reducing the high prevalence of child labor and improving the condition of women in the country. This project reaffirms each of these objectives. Project Implementation The proposed Project will be of five years duration, starting in fiscal year 1999 and ending in fiscal year 2003. The executing agencies will be the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Women and Child Development, and the Departments of Women and Child Development (DWCD) or Social Welfare of the participating states. Project coordination will be undertaken by the Central Project Management Unit (CPMU) in DWCD, and five state PMUs. Project oversight, including policy guidance, will be the responsibility of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Women and Child Development. Project Financing Proposed total project cost is about US$420 million equivalent, of which, ITF is likely to finance about 70 percent of net-of-tax project costs. The remainder will be financed by the Government of India. ITF is likely to finance the cost of expanding service provision (civil works, incremental salaries, training, equipment and supplies); information, education and communication (IEC) activities; and institutional capacity strengthening. Contact Point: Dr. Anthony Measham, New Dehli Office or The InfoShop The World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20433 Telephone No. (202)458 5454 Fax No. (202) 522 1500 Note: This is information on an evolving project. Certain activities and/or components may not be included in the final project. Processed by the InfoShop week ending June 19, 1998. - 2 -