GAIN works with a range of organizations, including businesses and consumer groups, on specific projects that contribute to improved nutrition.
Below are some examples of ongoing work:
Working with Tetra Pak on school feeding in Nigeria
This project targets up to 60,000 primary school children in Nasarawa State for the distribution and consumption of a fortified liquid supplement five times a week in 13 districts and 16 development areas of Nasarawa state. The supplement, NUTRI SIP, is a blend of pre-cooked maize and soy isolates, fortified with 30 nutrients per 250ml Tetra Brik® Aseptic packages.
Working with the World Food Programme on food aid
This project examines the distribution of food aid and the options to fortify emergency rations to refugees and hunger-stricken populations. Often, food aid consists of basic packages (e.g. grains) which do not necessarily have the vitamin and mineral content needed. Fortifying emergency food, or providing vitamin and mineral powders that can be added to staple foods can dramatically improve the health of aid recipients.
Working with Danone
GAIN works with Danone and the Grameen Bank on Grameen Danone Foods Ltd, which fortifies yogurt for the poor in Bangladesh. The project sources milk from local producers, turns it into yoghurt that is fortified with essential micronutrients, and then markets it through a network of women vendors. The joint venture thereby not only creates shareholder value, it also stimulates the local economy and fights malnutrition. GAIN provides expertise in social marketing and by leading an efficacy study project.
Working with UNICEF
GAIN works with UNICEF to increase the percentage of households in the world who use iodized salt from 70% up to 85% by increasing salt iodization in 13 priority countries. While salt iodization is standard practice in many parts of the world, it is not yet implemented everywhere or does not yet reach all consumers. Yet, salt iodization is a simple and safe method to resolve serious public health problems in developing countries: deficiencies of iodine lead to disorders such as goiter and limit intellectual capacity by 10 to 15 IQ points on average. The work aims to protect an additional 790 million people and especially 20 million infants from iodine deficiency over the next 5 years.
Working with Cargill
Cargill, a leading producer and trader of agricultural, food and risk management products and services, signed a Memorandum of Understanding demonstrating its commitment to working with GAIN in November 2006. Collaborative activities will extend the impact of programs where Cargill has already developed expertise such as school feeding, nutrition for women and children and global fortification initiatives.
Working with Britannia on school feeding
The Naandi foundation provides a mid-day meal to 150,000 school children between 5 and 12 years old in Hyderabad, as part of the government programme. In addition to the warm meal, children receive two fortified biscuits twice a week, each containing 5 mg of iron, manufactured by Britannia. GAIN worked with Britannia on product development, sensory evaluation and impact study. Subsequently, Britannia has introduced iron-fortified biscuits to consumers under the brand name Tiger Banana Biscuit. They are fortified with 7 mg of iron per 100 g.