A Cluster Randomized Trial to Study the Effect of Cash Transfers and Nutrition Education on Dietary Diversity Among Children 6-23 Months of Age in Grand Gedeh County, Liberia: a Pilot Study

Worldwide, more than one in five children suffer from chronic malnutrition. In Liberia, there are more than 230,000 children suffering from chronic malnutrition and 32% of children under five are stunted. Previous studies have shown that inadequate dietary diversity is strongly associated with stunting in children under two years of age. An interventional package including cash transfers and education has the potential to improve dietary diversity and long-term outcomes such as improved growth and reduced rates of stunting among children.

The investigators' objective is to evaluate the efficacy of a cash transfer and nutrition education program delivered by community health assistants to increase dietary diversity among children 6 to 23 months of age in Grand Gedeh County, Liberia. The investigators will conduct a pilot, cluster randomized trial in 45 communities. The investigators hypothesize that a multi-pronged interventional package aimed at strengthening the household environment will result in improved dietary diversity for children 6 to 23 months of age. Moreover, the investigators also hypothesize that unconditional cash transfers will result in improved dietary diversity for children 6 to 23 months of age in Grand Gedeh County, Liberia.