Innovative Finance

The fight against malnutrition requires a significant increase in investment from current levels. Through its Innovative Finance Program, GAIN is committed to seeking new ways of attracting capital in order to encourage a wide range of actors to address malnutrition.

For example, GAIN works with a range of financial institutions - including not-for-profit global venture funds and venture capital firms - in establishing financing structures that encourage local businesses to develop new products, distribution channels and marketing approaches. These initiatives are aimed at improving the nutrition of low-income families, particularly among infants and young children in target countries. Examples include partnerships with both Acumen Fund (GAIN-Acumen Nutrition Portfolio) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC-GAIN Nutrition Trust) to support GAIN’s Infant and Young Child Nutrition Program. GAIN is also working with Root Capital (see interview here) and LGT Venture Philanthropy to invest in a broad range of nutrition initiatives.

In addition, GAIN, is developing the Access to Nutrition Index (ATNI) with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust.