01
Objective 01
Healthy diets
Increase access to and consumption of healthy diets among household members in six project countries, particularly women of reproductive age and children.
CARE · GAIN · Dutch MFA · 2022–2026
CASCADE
Connecting people and policies for healthy diets and resilience
CASCADE (CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and resiliencE) is a multi-country project implemented by a consortium led by CARE with GAIN, both organisations with long-standing experience in addressing malnutrition at the community and household levels and advocating for greater government engagement for sustainable food systems.
Programme snapshot
CASCADE at a glance
CASCADE connects people and policies to improve access to healthy diets and strengthen resilience to economic and climate-related shocks across six project countries.
CASCADE is a multi-country programme led by CARE with GAIN, working to strengthen food systems, policy action and community resilience.
0
project countries working to improve healthy diets and strengthen resilience (Benin, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda)
2022–2026
Programme duration
0
Award from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
0
domains of action across policy, services, communities, gender and coordination
CARE + GAIN
implemented by a consortium led by CARE with GAIN
2
core objectives: improve access to healthy diets and strengthen resilience to shocks
Programme objectives
Two objectives, six countries, lasting impact
02
Objective 02
Resilience
Increase resilience to economic and climate change-related shocks and stresses among household members in the six project countries, particularly women of reproductive age and children.
How we work
CASCADE works across five domains
The five-year, EUR 60 million award from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is implemented between 2022 and 2026. CASCADE engages in collaborative efforts with government bodies, private service providers and communities around five domains.
Domain 1
Strengthened Policy Implementation
Supporting governments to translate food and nutrition policies into actionable programmes that reach the most vulnerable households.
Domain 2
Supportive Private Service
Engaging businesses and market actors to improve the availability, affordability and quality of nutritious foods at community level.
Domain 3
Strengthened Community Structures
Building local capacity so communities can advocate for and sustain improved food environments and health services.
Domain 4
Women’s Empowerment & Gender Transformation
Addressing gender norms and power dynamics that constrain women’s agency over food choices, income and household nutrition decisions.
Domain 5
Strengthened Coordination among Food System Actors
Fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships that align efforts across government, civil society and the private sector for coherent food system change.
CASCADE(CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and resiliencE)' is a multi-country project implemented by a consortium led by CARE with GAIN, both organisations with long-standing experience in addressing malnutrition at the community and household levels and advocating for greater government engagement for sustainable food systems.
Systems change approach
From policy implementation to community action
Strengthening policy implementation
CASCADE employs multiple advocacy strategies, from sub-national to national and global level, to strengthen policy implementation of nutrition related policies. It draws on CARE’s and GAIN’s approaches, focusing on social accountability, good governance, health system’s strengthening, multisectoral coordination, resource mobilisation, private sector engagement and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
Mobilising communities for food system change
It also strengthens community structures through community mobilisation and civil society engagement for collective pressure for changes in the food system and collaborates with the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) networks across the six countries to address malnutrition. Gender, social norm transformation and behaviour change are cross cutting strategies, both an essential goal and a means to magnify impact.
Systems change approach
From policy implementation to community action
Strengthening policy implementation
CASCADE employs multiple advocacy strategies, from sub-national to national and global level, to strengthen the implementation of nutrition-related policies. It draws on CARE’s and GAIN’s approaches to social accountability, good governance, health systems strengthening, multisectoral coordination, resource mobilisation, private sector engagement and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
Mobilising communities for food system change
CASCADE strengthens community structures through community mobilisation and civil society engagement, building collective pressure for change in the food system. It also collaborates with Scaling Up Nutrition networks across the six countries to address malnutrition.
Embedding gender and social norm transformation
Gender, social norm transformation and behaviour change are cross-cutting strategies across CASCADE’s work, both as essential goals and as a means to magnify impact.
Connecting people, systems and policies
By linking communities, service providers, governments and food system actors, CASCADE helps turn policy commitments into practical action for healthier diets and stronger household resilience.
Countries
- Benin
- Nigeria
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- Uganda
- Mozambique
Learn More
Systems change approach
From policy implementation to community action
Strengthening policy implementation
CASCADE employs multiple advocacy strategies, from sub-national to national and global level, to strengthen policy implementation of nutrition related policies. It draws on CARE’s and GAIN’s approaches, focusing on social accountability, good governance, health system’s strengthening, multisectoral coordination, resource mobilisation, private sector engagement and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
Mobilising communities for food system change
It also strengthens community structures through community mobilisation and civil society engagement for collective pressure for changes in the food system and collaborates with the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) networks across the six countries to address malnutrition. Gender, social norm transformation and behaviour change are cross cutting strategies, both an essential goal and a means to magnify impact.
CASCADE Programme Resources and Assets
IWD 2025 CASCADE WEBINAR
This webinar explores the intersection of women's empowerment and food security, highlighting CASCADE's approaches to improving nutrition and building resilience for women of reproductive age and children.
Partners
