In Djibouti, extreme poverty was 41.9% and relative poverty 79.4% according to the poverty profile elaborated by the national statistical office (DISED) in 2012. Malnutrition remains high in Djibouti, and comparable to Sub-Saharan countries, with 29.7% of children under the age of five chronically malnourished, 29.6% underweight, and over 17.8% of children acutely malnourished (SMART survey 2013). While the nutrition literature provides extensive evidence on multiple feasible strategies to prevent and remediate growth retardation in low-income countries, there is still no evidence on community-based interventions that attempt to combine the simultaneous promotion of improved nutrition (through behavioral changes) and income increases. In order to address both issues, the Government of Djibouti is piloting an innovative social protection program that integrates public works and nutrition intervention. The intervention: (1) actively involves the main caregiver in a number of ways (nutrition, workfare) to strengthen her role in the household; and (2) makes access to income (workfare) conditional on the caregiver attending regular nutrition promotion activities. The program targets households with pregnant women and children 0-2 years of age in poor areas (urban and rural) in Djibouti. The program consists of a community-based and workfare component and will be run from 2012 to 2017. Under the community-based program, a group of a maximum of 20 women come together once a month for three hours. The sessions include measurement of anthropometric data, nutrition education, feeding practices, growth promotion, cooking sessions, and distribution of nutrition supplements. For the workfare component of the program, the government employs a family member in various tasks, including garbage collection and community works. The objective of this study is to evaluate the added value of combining a public works program targeted to women over and above the provision of information and promotion of behavioral change in child care practices. A baseline household survey was administered to all eligible households (belonging to the test and control groups) selected for the study. Data is collected using CAPI (computer-assisted maintenance). A short follow-up survey is conducted while the public works are taking place. A final survey will be conducted after the household has finalized the 50 days of work, with the aim of measuring the effects of public works medium term. The study is ongoing.