WELCOME | INNOVATION | HIGHLIGHTS 2007 | HIGHLIGHTS 2006 | 01 FIGHTING
MALNUTRITION | MEASURING OUR PERFORMANCE | 02 BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS |
NEW PARTNERS AND INNOVATIONS | 03 ENABLING INNOVATION | 04 IMPROVE NUTRITION
| FORTIFICATION PROGRAMS | 05 FINANCIAL STATEMENT | INCOME STATEMENT AS
AT 06.30.07 | BALANCE SHEET AS AT 06.30.07 | GAIN BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
GAIN MANAGEMENT
In April 2007, the Fast Company, a group and magazine that uncovers best and “next” practices, recognized GAIN as one of the 50 most entrepreneurial and imaginative innovations to change the state of the planet. This is because GAIN acknowledges that ending malnutrition requires, in addition to government and NGO interventions, the new thinking, models and technical and financial resources that are applied by the business community.
Over the past couple of years, GAIN has conducted a multitude of face-to-face meetings with companies worldwide, convened ten business conferences and engaged with more than 200 companies. These efforts have resulted in the inception, last year alone, of ten new partnership projects to tackle malnutrition. Today, providing healthy food to poor and vulnerable communities makes good business sense. It strengthens a company’s brand and reputation, and ultimately contributes to a profit-driven business strategy.
Our efforts to build public-private partnerships included :
Defining new services
The world-wide growth of the GAIN Business Alliance called for a fresh look at what these networks do and how they do it, and how GAIN can best support their actions. Through consultation, we defined the services that will add value and promote collaborative actions : The GAIN Global Forum as the global platform for networking and partnership building; Partnership Assistance to help companies find suitable non-profit partners; a Knowledge Bank with the World Bank Institute and leading business schools such as IMD and Harvard to provide expert knowledge and case studies; and the GAIN Marketplace where companies, governments, NGOs and investors can meet to “do business”.
Building networks
Last year we expanded the range of our Business Alliance and welcomed leading companies to our events in India and Switzerland. There, we encourage learning on new business models and demonstrate successful models to inspire increased private sector involvement in the fight against malnutrition : one of the first concrete outcomes in India was the launch of iron-fortified biscuits by Britannia Industries Limited, to be distributed in schools.
Stimulating global action
The first global meeting of the GAIN Business Alliance in India, held in March 2007, saw business and government leaders showcase innovative business approaches and foster new partnerships. Delegates demonstrated that companies are increasingly providing nutritious food to vulnerable people at affordable prices. They shared innovations, built new partnerships and established several new initiatives.
Focusing on China’s rural poor
The second meeting of the GAIN Business Alliance in China, in December 2006, built bridges between 70 representatives from government agencies, international organizations, large retail chains, media outlets and the business community. Participants proposed action plans and identified the next steps in applying business solutions to reduce malnutrition throughout the country.
Britannia is delighted to be partnering with GAIN in a first-of-its-kind
public private partnership in the school feeding program in Hyderabad
wherein we make and supply specially fortified biscuits to some of the
most disadvantaged children. We are grateful to GAIN for supporting
our work.
Vinita Bali - Managing Director
Britannia Industries Ltd, India
Global
