Access GAIN Support

Areas of Focus

GAIN provides funding and technical assistance to projects in infant and young child nutrition, national fortification, premix (procurement of vitamins and minerals) and universal salt iodization. GAIN funds and advises national governments, businesses, international organizations and civil society to work together to develop and distribute high quality and affordable fortified food products and complementary foods for low-income populations. These large scale grants normally range from three to five years. GAIN also supports smaller projects that improve the nutrition of specific target audiences, for example HIV/AIDS patients, refugees and school children or that support research activities.

Application Process

GAIN solicits Expressions of Interest for large scale projects through its web site, networks and engagement with country partners. GAIN’s Secretariat prescreens initial responses to ensure they meet basic eligibility requirements. An Independent Review Panel then reviews applications and submits a report to the GAIN Secretariat with its recommended scoring of projects. Following this process, GAIN invites qualifying applicants to develop a detailed proposal or detailed business plan through a Request for Proposal which is also subject to a series of reviews including by an Independent Review Panel. Based on the panel's recommendations, the GAIN Secretariat proposes projects to its Board for approval.

Eligibility Requirements

Projects must meet specific eligibility requirements. Primary project implementers, known as executing agencies for national food fortification projects, must be mandated by a national government or by a National Food Fortification Alliance. Private sector entities often execute infant and young child nutrition projects.

Large-scale food fortification projects must show proof of high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in the country of implementation, sustainable multiple stakeholder partnerships, compliance with international standards and integration into National Strategic Health or Nutrition Plans.

GAIN selects its infant and young child nutrition projects based on their ability to generate positive public health outcomes. In addition they create commercially viable, scalable, and sustainable business opportunities. Projects must be in line with the WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, the Codex Alimentarius and other internationally and locally recognised food formulation guidelines and regulations.