At SPOON, we know that solving child malnutrition requires more than good intentions. It takes specialized expertise, strong local partnerships, and systems that are designed to reach children who are too often left behind.
That is why our partnership with Save the Children has been so meaningful. Save the Children is one of the largest and most respected humanitarian organizations in the world, working in nearly 100 countries to improve the lives of children and families. While Save the Children brings tremendous scale and reach, SPOON contributes something highly specialized: expertise in disability-inclusive nutrition and feeding.
This partnership ensures that children with disabilities, who face some of the highest risks of malnutrition worldwide, are not overlooked by nutrition programs.
Why This Partnership Matters
Children with disabilities are significantly more likely to experience malnutrition, yet their needs are often absent from nutrition services and humanitarian programs. Many frontline health workers receive little or no training on feeding difficulties, developmental disabilities, or how to support caregivers of children with complex needs.
This is where SPOON's expertise makes a difference. By partnering with Save the Children, SPOON is able to bring disability-inclusive approaches into large-scale nutrition programs that already serve thousands of children and families. The result is more equitable care and stronger systems that will continue supporting children long after a project ends.
In the last year, our partnership has taken shape in two different countries: Somaliland and Lebanon.
Somaliland: Supporting the Smallest and Most Vulnerable Infants
In Somaliland, SPOON partnered with Save the Children on a project focused on mothers and infants under six months of age who are small, nutritionally at risk, or experiencing feeding challenges.
The program addressed a critical gap. Health workers often lacked practical tools and training to identify and support infants with disabilities, feeding difficulties, or other conditions that place them at greater risk of malnutrition. Mothers with disabilities also faced barriers to accessing appropriate support.
Together, SPOON and Save the Children developed a disability-inclusive training package designed specifically for these challenges. The curriculum equipped frontline health workers with new skills to identify feeding difficulties, assess nutritional risk, and provide more effective support to families.
The partnership went beyond a one-time training. After the initial sessions, SPOON designed and facilitated a seven-month virtual mentorship program for supervisory staff across Somalia and Somaliland. These leaders strengthened their own knowledge while building the skills needed to mentor frontline workers in their communities.
The project demonstrated something important: even in geographically dispersed and resource-limited settings, remote mentorship can be an effective way to strengthen local capacity and sustain learning over time.
Lebanon: Building Inclusive Nutrition Services for Young Children
While the Somaliland project focused on vulnerable infants under six months of age, the work in Lebanon took a broader approach.
Save the Children asked SPOON to help develop a disability-inclusive nutrition and feeding program for children from birth to five years old. Together, the organizations adapted and expanded training materials to address the needs of young children with disabilities and their caregivers.
The program brought together nutrition professionals from multiple organizations, including government agencies, international NGOs, and United Nations partners. Through in-person training and ongoing virtual mentorship, participants strengthened their ability to identify barriers to inclusion, support caregivers, and apply practical feeding strategies in their daily work.
What made the Lebanon program especially encouraging was how quickly participants began applying what they learned. Some shared new knowledge with frontline workers in their organizations. Others adapted counseling approaches for children with autism and other disabilities. Participants also began advocating for more disability-inclusive policies and services within their own systems.
The success of the first training led to a second round, and the program is now helping lay the groundwork for broader implementation across Lebanon. Training materials are being finalized in Arabic, creating opportunities for even wider reach in the future.
Different Contexts, Shared Goals
At first glance, Somaliland and Lebanon look very different. One project focused on supporting vulnerable infants and their mothers through frontline health services. The other worked with nutrition professionals serving children across a wider age range and a variety of organizations.
Yet both programs shared the same goal: ensuring that children with disabilities receive the nutrition and feeding support they need to grow and thrive.
In both countries, SPOON and Save the Children invested in local professionals rather than creating temporary solutions. By strengthening the knowledge and confidence of people already serving children and families, the partnership is helping create lasting change within existing systems.
Looking Ahead
The collaboration between SPOON and Save the Children demonstrates what is possible when specialized expertise and global reach come together.
Save the Children's scale allows programs to reach large numbers of children and families. SPOON's technical expertise helps ensure those programs are truly inclusive of children with disabilities and others who are often overlooked.
Together, we are proving that inclusive nutrition is not a separate issue—it is an essential part of ensuring that every child has the opportunity to survive, grow, and thrive.
As we continue building on this partnership, we remain committed to a future where no child is excluded from the nutrition and feeding support they need simply because of a disability.