Nutrition International and BISP Pilot Shows Success in Reducing Anaemia Among Adolescent Girls in Pakistan
An evaluation by Nutrition International has revealed that the Benazir Income Support Programme’s (BISP) pilot initiative, designed to tackle adolescent anaemia through conditional cash transfers and nutrition support, has the potential to significantly improve adolescent health in Pakistan.
The pilot project, Adolescent Nutrition Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), was implemented from 2023 to 2025 in partnership with BISP and the World Food Programme (WFP). Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the initiative reached over 100,000 adolescent girls aged 15–19 across six districts, providing Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFAS) alongside nutrition education sessions for both girls and their mothers. Conditional cash transfers were given quarterly to mothers to encourage participation.
Results showed high coverage of supplements and clear improvements in knowledge. Girls were better able to identify signs and symptoms of anaemia and name iron-rich foods. The evaluation, conducted with Aga Khan University, PHC Global, and Allama Iqbal Open University, confirmed that the project reduced mild to moderate anaemia while strengthening family awareness of nutrition.
The program leveraged BISP’s Benazir Nashonuma Programme platform through facilitation centers in district and tehsil hospitals. It targeted the daughters of BISP beneficiaries, especially out-of-school girls, combining nutrition education, UNICEF-developed videos, WIFAS, and financial incentives. Mothers reported valuing the cash transfers, which increased from PKR 1,000 to PKR 2,500 during the pilot, and said the project improved their trust in health services.
Experts note that adolescence is a critical phase of life, and Pakistan faces an alarming 54.7 percent prevalence of anaemia among adolescent girls. Left unaddressed, anaemia undermines education, cognitive development, and work capacity, weakening national human capital.
With the pilot showing encouraging outcomes, Nutrition International and BISP have pledged to scale up this integrated model nationwide. The initiative marks a milestone in embedding nutrition within Pakistan’s social protection system, with long-term benefits for adolescent girls’ health and the country’s future.
