GAIN Releases 2007/2008 Annual Report and New Corporate Website

Geneva, 17 July 2009 – Today the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) released its 2007-2008 Annual Report and an enhanced corporate web site. “The 2007- 2008 period was one of significant progress for GAIN with our programs reaching 187 million people, more than half of them women and children,” says Jay Naidoo, Chair of GAIN’s Board of Directors.

GAIN’s total expenditure for the financial year was US$ 22.7 million. As in previous years, financial and technical support to national food fortification took the largest proportion of GAIN resources at over 39 percent. The Infant and Young Child Nutrition Program has grown significantly – from one percent of expenditure in 2006-2007 to more than 27 percent in 2007-2008. Expenditure on Corporate Administrative Services reduced slightly as a percentage of overall expenditure while the Partnership, Performance Measurement and Communications and Advocacy programs maintained close to the same levels of expenditure. The report highlights the start of new programs in universal salt iodization, national food fortification and infant and young child nutrition and the addition of new members to GAIN’s Business Alliance, a group of companies committed to addressing malnutrition worldwide through market-based solutions.

This year’s report emphasizes GAIN’s leadership in addressing infant and young child malnutrition. Each year malnutrition impairs the physical and mental development of millions of young lives and causes 3.5 million deaths in children under five years old. GAIN’s Infant and Young Child Nutrition Program aims to improve the health and nutrition of ten million children under two years old in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean through improved breast feeding practices and increased levels of vitamins and minerals in daily diets. Children malnourished in the first two years of life suffer irreversible damage to their minds and bodies. “The first 24 months of life is the window of greatest opportunity for establishing the foundation for healthy growth and development,” emphasizes Marc Van Ameringen, Executive Director of GAIN.

The program provides incentives to the private sector to commercialize complementary food products that low income families can afford. For example, the program offers financial and technical support to local companies to develop and distribute their products and market them appropriately. Products which complement breast milk from six months of age include sachets of vitamin and mineral powder that can be added to home-cooked meals and fortified complementary cereal-based products. The program also supports national governments with the development of policy work and legislation.
In addition to its Annual Report, GAIN has also launched a new enhanced version of its website that makes it easier to search and navigate. New website features include a top toolbar to search the site more efficiently and quickly with the following sections: About Malnutrition; About GAIN; Programs; Partnerships; Countries; Performance; and Media & Resources. Other additions include updated content, videos and photo galleries. The site, compliant with GAIN’s new visual identity, will soon feature an interactive project map.

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GAIN – the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition is an alliance driven by the vision of a world without malnutrition. GAIN mobilizes public-private partnerships and provides financial and technical support to deliver healthier foods and supplements to those people most at risk of malnutrition. Our innovative partnership projects in more than 25 countries are improving the lives of nearly 200 million people. Our project portfolio is growing and our goal is to reach one billion people. For more information visit our website: www.gainhealth.org

For further information: Karie Atkinson katkinson@gainhealth.org

Note: GAIN’s 2008/2009 Annual Report will be issued in November 2009.