BISP’s Innovative SOPRAN Project Empowering Girls in 7 Districts Nationwide

Exciting news has surfaced from the renowned BISP Program as it introduces a groundbreaking initiative called SOPRAN. This project primarily targets adolescent girls, aiming to enhance their nutritional well-being by providing essential food supplements. The goal is to combat prevalent environmental and physical health challenges they face. Initially launched in seven pivotal districts of Pakistan, SOPRAN is poised for expansion nationwide following its initial success and widespread acceptance.

The Inception of Benazir SOPRAN Project by BISP

The recent convening of the National Steering Committee for the Adolescent Girls’ Nutrition project marked a significant milestone under the auspices of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). Chaired by Naveed Akbar, the Director General of BISP (NSER/CCT), the meeting delved into the intricacies of the SOPRAN project, leveraging social protection schemes to bolster the nutritional status of teenage girls and empowering them as catalysts for change within their communities.

بی آئی ایس پی پروگرام نے ایک نیا منصوبہ، SOPRAN شروع کر دیا ہے جس کے تحت نوعمر لڑکیوں کی غذائیت کو بہتر بنایا جائے گا۔ یہ منصوبہ خوراکی مکملات فراہم کر کے موجودہ سرغنہ معاملات پر قابو حاصل کرنے اور انہیں انوار میں مدد فراہم کرتا ہے تاکہ وہ اپنی کمیونٹی میں تبدیلی کے عنصر بن سکیں۔

This initiative is expected to empower teenage girls to actively participate in enhancing family nutrition through heightened awareness, improved dietary habits, and fostering intergenerational communication.

Primary Participants of SOPRAN Project

The core participants involved in the project include representatives from GIZ, Nutrition International, CERP, provincial Departments of Education and Health, Food Authorities, and various national and international partners.

Significance of SOPRAN Project in Enhancing Adolescent Girls’ Health

During the meeting spearheaded by BISP’s Director General, Naveed Akbar highlighted the critical need to combat the pervasive issue of malnutrition plaguing teenage girls across Pakistan. With over half of girls suffering from anemia and a substantial portion grappling with micronutrient deficiencies, this project assumes paramount importance.

The project’s overarching objective is to seamlessly integrate nutrition within the purview of social protection by leveraging iron-folic acid supplements. The Director General emphasized the imperative of cross-sectoral collaboration spanning health, education, and social protection for the project’s triumphant implementation.

SORPAN Project Rollout in 7 Districts of Pakistan

The BISP is kickstarting its innovative “SORPAN” Project in seven districts across Pakistan, including:

• Faisalabad
• Swat
• Shaheed Benazirabad
• Quetta
• Kotli
• Skardu
• Islamabad

In these regions, the BISP plans to introduce community-centered behavioral modification programs, fortified food access, and comprehensive nutrition education.

Key Partners Deliberate SOPRAN’s Nutrition Enhancement Goals

Dr. Franz von Roenne from GIZ and other key partners delineated the project goals, including the provision of iron and folate supplements, augmenting wheat flour’s nutritional content, and capacity building for local stakeholders in nutrition, health, and education domains.

Discussions further revolved around the sustainable integration of dietary supplements within regional food systems. Naveed Akbar stressed the imperative of continued collaboration and district- as well as province-level coordination to ensure the project’s resounding success.

Conclusion

The launch of the SOPRAN project by BISP represents a significant step towards bolstering the nutritional status of adolescent girls in seven districts nationwide. By promoting food supplements and instilling healthy dietary practices, the project aspires to combat malnutrition effectively and empower young girls as agents of positive transformation within their communities.