STRONG Project—Sustainable, Targeted, Responsive approach to Optimize Nutrition and Growth—for Adolescent Girls and Young Women.
Geographic Targets:

1. Uttar Pradesh (Sitapur and Shahjahanpur Districts) and
2. Odisha (Gajapati and Rayagada Districts)

CRS began working in India in 1946 and presently working in 7 states of India including Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, the offices in Uttar Pradesh opened in 1994 and Odisha opened in 2002. Since then, many projects on health, nutrition, education, emergency response, disaster risk reduction and child protection have been implemented by CRS in these two states. CRS’ long-term presence and experience working within the system will help them develop sustainable strategies from the very beginning of the project.

Goal of the STRONG project: Adolescent girls and young women live healthy, productive lives and break the cycle of intergenerational malnutrition.
The strategic Objectives of the STRONG project are as follows.
1. Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) have improved nutritional status.
2. Children under age 2 (CU2) of AGYW have improved nutritional status.
The project also promotes that AGYW has consumed diverse diets suited to their unique nutritional demands, has utilized appropriate, specialized, nutritious foods and supplements at key moments, and has utilized services that support their growth and development, and improved quality.
Communities and families have supported AGYW’s well-being, with CU2 having practised optimal infant and young child feeding, CU2 utilising appropriate, specialized, nutritious foods and supplements at key moments, also Young Women who are pregnant or have CU2 have utilized maternal and child health services, improved quality.
¬To reach the project’s strategic objectives of improved nutritional status among adolescent girls, young women, and children under age 2, STRONG will target three avenues of change:
1) Improving service delivery—in health care, education, agricultural extension, and community-based financial services—to meet the needs of adolescent girls and young women.
2) Furnishing products and supplements to fill critical nutritional and micronutrient gaps for adolescent girls (IFA supplementation), young women, and children under age 2 to prevent and treat malnutrition.
3) Supporting positive health and nutrition behaviours among adolescent girls and young women and those in their spheres of influence.