The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) together with the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Volunteers (UNV) partnered with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to improve food security and access to health and hygiene in 600 urban poor households in the Colombo municipality.

Aimed at introducing a sustainable and community-driven approach to address issues of immediate food insecurity, the 600 households received nutrition packs containing essential food rations as well as agriculture kits with seeds fertilizer, and other inputs, complemented by training on how to establish and maintain nutritious home gardens in compact, urban landscapes. The recipients also received 1000 dignity kits and 1000 maternity kits alongside comprehensive counselling on food, sexual and reproductive health including maternal health, and nutrition through assistance from UNFPA and UNV.

The recipient families were selected from populations most affected by the ongoing economic crisis within the Colombo municipality and included households with pregnant and lactating mothers, children under five years, older persons, and disabled persons.

Through the joint initiative, vulnerable households were able to reduce their food and nutrition related costs while accessing more diverse and nutritious foods and essential items for the health and hygiene of women and girls.  The initiative also trained peer leaders from within the community to support the 600 households and featured community training programmes on nutrition, health and hygiene, gender-based violence, and home gardening.