GAIN in BANGLADESH

Strengthening
food systems
for healthier
communities

GAIN works with partners across
Bangladesh to improve access
to safe, nutritious and affordable food.

Programmes Malnutrition in Bangladesh

At a glance

Bangladesh in focus

GAIN has worked in Bangladesh for more than a decade, while children under five continue to face stunting, wasting and undernutrition.

years of GAIN’s work in Bangladesh

of children under five are stunted

of children under five are wasted

of children under five are underweight

A young man selling vegetables and fruits

12+ years of partnership and action in Bangladesh

Overview

Working together to make healthier diets more accessible

GAIN has been working in Bangladesh for over a decade, partnering with government, private sector, and civil society to make nutritious, safe, and affordable food available to everyone. Our efforts align with national goals for sustainable development and food system resilience.

Through evidence, policy support, innovation and partnerships, GAIN Bangladesh works across the food system from production and markets to consumption, food safety and nutrition.

Our approach brings partners together to tackle malnutrition while strengthening resilience, supporting healthier diets and helping build a more sustainable food system.

The prevalence of stunting has declined from 31% in 2017-18 to 24% in 2022. The proportion of underweight children has remained unchanged between 2017-18 and 2022. From 2017-18, the prevalence of wasting increased from 8% to 11% in 2022.

Micronutrient deficiencies

Deficiencies remain high across age groups

Micronutrient deficiencies remain high among all age groups in Bangladesh, according to National Micronutrient Surveys conducted in 2011–12 and 2019–20.

Both surveys showed a high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies — especially in the areas below.

Zinc deficiencies

Iron deficiencies

Anaemia remains a major public health concern

Vitamin A

Deficiencies

Vitamin B12

Deficiencies

Vitamin D

Deficiencies

Addressing the triple burden of malnutrition

The Government of Bangladesh has been emphasising food systems transformation to address undernutrition, obesity and micronutrient deficiencies. This includes promoting healthy diets, nutrition programmes, food safety regulations and fortified foods through different policies.

Access to healthy diets is critical for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Social Behaviour Change Communication has also been integrated across nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, including promotion of breastfeeding and increased consumption of affordable, diverse diets.

Investment in programmes that support healthy and sustainable diets is central to achieving SDGs 2, 3, 12 and 13.

Five suggestions for resilient food systems

Research, investment and advanced technology sharing for agricultural development.
Increased funding for developing countries to achieve sustainable food systems.
Developing regional and global coalitions and partnerships.
Reducing food waste through collaboration among countries.
Disbursing committed funds to adapt to climate-led extreme events and strengthen food security.

GAIN’s contribution

Working with partners to transform food systems

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) was launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. In Bangladesh, GAIN has been working for more than 12 years with government, development partners, UN agencies, the private sector, civil society and academia to support sustainable and innovative solutions that address malnutrition.

12+

years of partnership and food systems work in Bangladesh

2027

strategy target year for advancing healthier diets and food systems change

1.5B

people targeted globally with improved access to nutritionally enhanced staple foods

25M

people targeted globally with improved access to healthier diets

Our approach: working with governments, businesses and civil society to make healthier diets from sustainable food systems accessible to those most vulnerable to shocks.

Programmes and partnerships

GAIN Bangladesh Portfolio & Programmes

GAIN Bangladesh works across a diverse portfolio of programmes focused on strengthening food systems and improving nutrition outcomes.

Together, these programmes form an integrated approach designed to reinforce impact across the food system — from production and markets to consumption and policy.

↘ Hover and click each programme box to learn more

Large-Scale Food Fortification

Large-scale food fortification (LSFF) Bangladesh is a key part of the response to the crisis of malnutrition, adding one or more essential nutrients to widely and regularly consumed foods during processing focusing on oil, rice, and salt fortification.

Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network (SBN)

The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network (SBN) in Bangladesh is chaired by the Ministry of Industries and is co-convened by GAIN and the World Food Programm

Workforce Nutrition

GAIN’s Workforce Nutrition programme aims to improve the nutrition of workers and farmers in low- and middle-income countries and communities.

Diversified Resilient Agriculture for Improved Food and Nutrition Security (RAINS)

The Leadership to Ensure Adequate Nutrition (LEAN) project is a European Union-funded initiative in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition.

Youth Led Agricultural Service Providers (YASP)

GAIN considers the specific needs and capacities of youth to foster their holistic development, empower them as agents of change, and contribute to building healthier and more sustainable food

Climate Action at Local Level (CALL)

Initiatives empowering communities and local governments to address climate change impacts through planning, implementing, and financing adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Learn More