In the Spotlight

HORN OF AFRICA

Drought conditions in the Horn of Africa coupled with conflict in Somalia resulted in significant food insecurity and malnutrition for millions of people in 2011. In the midst of the emergency, millions of women and children faced the most critical development period of their lives – the 1,000 day period from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday. In collaboration with the ONE campaign, GAIN participated in a visit to the region with three global advocates including Cindy McCain (wife of Senator John McCain), NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo, and Somali-born rapper K’Naan. The delegation visited Dadaab Refugee Camp as well as Kibera, a large slumin Nairobi, to understand the impact of food and nutrition insecurity.

IODIZED SALT: LEGISLATION CHANGE IN EASTERN EUROPE

The GAIN-UNICEF USI Partnership Project works with national and international companies to ensure that they use iodized salt in their products that already contain salt, and is working to strengthen the evidece base for its benefits. However, to ensure that the efforts from NGOs and the private sector are optimised and institutionalised, government engagement and policy change are required.  This year, the partnership organized a symposium in Belgrade, Serbia, to bring together influential policymakers and leaders of food industry, academia and government.

FORTIFIED RICE : INNOVATIVE COMMERCIAL MODEL IN BRAZIL

An innovative technology exists to expand the benefits of fortification to rice, one of the most widely consumed staple foods globally. This project will apply the international non-profit organization PATH’s Ultra Rice® fortification technology — a costeffective micronutrient delivery system that packs vitamins and minerals into rice-shaped “grains” made from rice flour and manufactured using pasta-extrusion equipment. GAIN and PATH will work directly with some of the largest rice millers in the country, as well as select retailers, so that these companies can lead the way forward and demonstrate the commercial viability of launching fortified rice products in the market.

In the Spotlight. PDF.