Introduction of Balanced Energy Protein (BEP) Supplementation through Antenatal Care: Key Opportunities, Challenges and Program Considerations

Implementation of Balanced Energy Protein (BEP) supplementation is often restricted to humanitarian settings, with limited experience in development contexts, especially through facility- and community-based antenatal care (ANC) platforms. Globally, 64% of pregnant women attend at least four ANC visits, presenting a promising opportunity to address maternal underweight by reaching a greater number of pregnant women with BEP supplementation. Yet, many countries have not introduced BEP supplementation through ANC. This technical brief provides a summary of a 2023 global landscape analysis that examined challenges and considerations for BEP introduction through antenatal care through the lens of the policy environment, demand generation, supplies and logistics, service readiness, and monitoring of BEP supplementation.