Program Development & Implementation

NUTRITION, FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOOD

Shifa Foundation supports the Government of Pakistan in improving maternal and newborn care, as well as infant and young child nutrition practices, to combat stunting and wasting in the country. These efforts aim to reduce infant and maternal mortality and morbidity. The National Nutrition Survey (NNS) 2011 revealed that indicators of stunting and wasting had worsened over the previous decade. According to the survey, 43.7% of children were stunted and 15.1% were wasted at the national level. The nutritional status of women of reproductive age was also poor, with 18.0% having a low Body Mass Index (BMI). Moreover, only 25% of pregnant mothers were aware of the importance of micronutrients, vitamins, and other essential minerals, and just 26.7% were taking iron-folic acid supplementation during pregnancy. Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices were also lacking, with only 50.5% of newborns receiving breast milk within the first hour of birth, and an exclusive breastfeeding rate of only 9.6%. While 63% of infants aged 6 to 8 months received timely complementary food, just 3.2% of children aged 6 to 24 months were being given appropriately diversified diets for complementary feeding.

To address these challenges, Shifa Foundation has implemented various projects across disadvantaged communities in Pakistan to meet their urgent nutritional needs. These projects aim to support malnourished households and enhance food security in disaster-affected and vulnerable communities through targeted nutrition-specific interventions. These efforts have also strengthened the health system’s capacity to anticipate, prepare for, and manage acute malnutrition during periods of high demand, while continuing to support long-term health and nutrition infrastructure. Shifa Foundation has conducted screenings of children, pregnant, and lactating women to respond to immediate malnutrition needs and has contributed to food security in disaster-hit regions. Additionally, the Foundation introduces innovative food security initiatives and skill-building programs to empower communities and improve their livelihoods by exploring sustainable economic opportunities.

WATER SANITATION AND HYGIENE – WASH

While substantial progress has been made in increasing access to clean drinking water and sanitation, billions of people—particularly in rural areas—still lack these essential services. Globally, one in three people do not have access to safe drinking water, two out of five lack a basic hand-washing facility with soap and water, and over 673 million people still practice open defecation. To help improve access to clean water, better sanitation, and promote individual, household, and environmental hygiene, Shifa Foundation has implemented various WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) projects, particularly in the drought-affected regions of Sindh province in Pakistan. Through these initiatives, the Foundation has contributed to creating healthier, safer communities and reducing the risks associated with poor water and sanitation conditions.

MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT (MHM)

Shifa Foundation is the part of the national MHM forum and working group. SF has two MHM master trainers at head office level. Recently SF conducted two ToT for field staff, one in district Umerkot and the other at district Sanghar. Currently SF is implementing MHM project for a drought-affected population of district Umerkot funded by UNICEF. Shifa Foundation also integrated MHM activities in Saaf Suthro Sindh project in district Sanghar.

DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT (DRM)

Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change and other disasters is high. The country ranks seventh on the Global Climate Risk Index of countries most affected by climate change from 1996 to 2015. In the last decade, a range of disasters triggered by natural hazards have affected over 50 million people and damaged the means of livelihoods. To contribute in reducing the hazard of disasters, Shifa Foundation emphasizes strengthening institutional capacity and enhancing resilience of at-risk communities through community-based disaster risk management (CBDRM).

DRR is mainstreamed in all projects of Shifa Foundation to raise awareness and enhance resilience of the communities to reduce losses of lives and properties. Shifa Foundation has implemented multiple projects in disaster-affected communities to address their health, nutrition, WASH and other unmet needs.

ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Besides changes in climate through Earth’s natural processes, we also suffer from anthropogenic climate changes due to deforestation, urbanization, and industrialization. The changing climate impacts society and ecosystems in a broad variety of ways. Climate change can alter rainfall, influence crop yields, affect human health, cause changes to forests and other ecosystems, and even impact our energy supply. Therefore, Shifa Foundation is making efforts to contribute to saving the environment through plantation, community mobilization to use reusable bags, and efforts to save water and electricity. Shifa Foundation has planted trees and plants in different areas of the country through our Community Social Services and Volunteerism campaigns.

COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES AND VOLUNTEERISM

Shifa Foundation believes in community engagement and a participatory approach to assist the vulnerable through self-help and strengthen institutions through the active involvement of communities. More than 450 volunteers have registered in our Volunteer Program, including students and social workers from different walks of life who contribute actively in community engagement, distribution of ration packages, dastarkhwan activities, raising welfare funds, content writing, and social media activities. Our Community Engagement Program provides learning opportunities to young students to become part of multiple welfare activities and enhance their skills and capabilities.

HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY AND INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING

Shifa Foundation envisions a healthy world for all and endeavors to provide quality health services to underprivileged and poverty-stricken communities. Despite multi-million dollar international funding projects and internal resources of the country, there is still a dire need to invest in the health and well-being of underprivileged communities. This is why SF pays comparatively more attention to good health and well-being.

Shifa Foundation endeavors to secure more funding for the most appropriate and sustainable responses to the health needs and vulnerabilities of affected populations at the grassroots level, as well as for institutional capacity building to bring about sustainable change in the sector. Through the generous support of our partners and donors including Nutrition International, Concern Worldwide, UNICEF, Health Care Commission Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, WHO, UNFPA, and UNOCHA, Shifa Foundation has implemented many projects in the most challenging and remote areas of the country and delivered quality services.