Table 1.

Timeline of milestones leading to the design of the Nepal's IIP and its implementation until 2016

Year	IFA programme milestone
1980s	IFA supplementation for pregnant and post‐partum women begins.
1988	FCHV programme begins, and the community‐based delivery platform that is later used by the IIP is established.
1997	Nepal Multiple Indicator Surveillance report identifies that only 10% of pregnant women consumed any IFA supplements and only 2% consumed at least 90 supplements.
1998	The Nepal Micronutrient Status Survey finds that 75% of pregnant women are anaemic.
1999	Operations research show that IFA coverage and compliance improve if Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) are involved in the distribution of IFA supplements to pregnant women.
1999–2010	Micronutrient surveys conducted in eight to 10 districts following each round of twice yearly vitamin A supplementation report on the consumption of iron tablets by pregnant women.
2001	Nepal Demographic and Health Survey finds that only 23% of women take any IFA during pregnancy.
2001	Comprehensive review of the anaemia in Nepal (Malla, 2001) shows that a lack of awareness and limited accessibility to IFA supplements are the main factors that prevent pregnant women from taking IFA supplements.
2003	National strategy for controlling anaemia among women and children is formulated by the Ministry of Health and Population. The new strategy introduces community‐based distribution of IFA supplements to pregnant and post‐partum women through FCHVs, trained traditional birth attendants and community motivators.
2003	The findings of the 2001 review, combined with the (i) high prevalence of anaemia in 1998, (ii) low coverage of IFA supplementation in pregnancy in 2001, and (iii) evidence from operational research that FCHVs can effectively distribute IFA supplements at the community level, and (iv) 2003 National Strategy for Controlling Anaemia inform the design of the Iron Intensification Programme (IIP).
2003	The IIP is launched in five districts and involves FCHVs in community‐based distribution of IFA supplements.
2004–2007	The IIP is expanded to 38 districts (Phases II, III and IV).
2005	First five‐year Plan of Action for Anaemia Control commences and is aimed at expanding IIP coverage to all 75 districts by 2010.
2008–2011	The IIP is expanded to a further 27 districts (Phase V), covering 53 out of 75 districts.
2012	IIP is scaled‐up to cover 74 districts.
2013	Nepal's first Multi‐Sector Nutrition Plan (2013–17) begins implementation and includes a commitment to continue community‐based distribution of IFA supplements to pregnant and post‐partum women.
2014	IIP reaches its final district, covering all 75 districts.