Identification and verification of pregnant women in projects integrating CVA with Nutrition

The correct identification of pregnant women has been a challenge when pregnancy is an eligibility criterion to receive Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA), especially in certain contexts. In some cultures, women who are not visibly pregnant don’t disclose their pregnancy status because of local social norms. In other contexts, programs have noted that individuals who are not selected for CVA have pretended to be a pregnant woman to fit into the admission criteria to receive additional support in the form of CVA.

The objective of this document is to provide technical guidance for field and global program teams from Save the Children when they design and implement a CVA for nutrition programmes that target Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women (PBW). It was developed based on the experience of the technical advisors and program managers involved in projects combining CVA with nutrition activities within Save the Children. It provides recommendations on identification and enrolment of PBW, while minimizing adverse effects in admissions. It also provides lessons learned from various countries.