Max Healthy Village: Tackling Stunting for Children Under-5 Through Improved WASH, Nutrition and Care

Stunting (being too short for one’s age) is caused by poor nutrition and chronic infection. 40% of Bangladeshi children are stunted. The Max Healthy Village Program's local NGO training model mobilizes rural communities to improve water, sanitation, nutrition and safe motherhood to reduce stunting and fecal- and water-borne diseases in children under-5, giving them a healthy start in life. In this pay-by-results model, partner NGOs receive training and resources to work with rural communities to earn a ‘Max Healthy Village’ designation, indicating 90% success across 7 RMNCH benchmarks maintained for a full year. Max Foundation’s upfront payments enable NGOs to adapt and implement interventions, incentivized by follow-on payments upon delivery of targeted results. Supplemental COVID-19 funding will support implementation of a mobile messaging campaign to combat misinformation and promote adherence to preventative measures, as well as installation of handwashing devices and provision of handwashing supplies in catchment communities.