Mainstreaming Nutrition

Improving the Impact of IFAD Investments on Diet Quality

Strengthening nutrition outcomes by integrating diet quality considerations into agricultural investment programmes, partnerships, and implementation systems.

 

 

Overview

The Mainstreaming Nutrition programme, implemented by Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition in partnership with International Fund for Agricultural Development, aims to strengthen the nutritional impact of agricultural investments.

Operating in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Rwanda, and Benin, the programme supports governments, private sector actors, and development partners to integrate nutrition into food systems, policies, and investments—improving access to safe and nutritious diets for rural populations. 

The Challenge

Agricultural investments do not consistently translate into improved nutrition outcomes. While food production has increased, access to diverse, safe, and nutritious diets remains limited—particularly for rural communities.

This gap is driven by:

  • 🧩 Limited integration of nutrition into agricultural policies and investments
  • 🔗 Weak alignment across sectors influencing food systems
  • 🌾 Constraints faced by smallholders and agri-food SMEs in supplying nutritious foods
  • 📉 Insufficient demand for healthy diets

Our Approach

The programme takes a systems approach to embed nutrition across IFAD-supported investments through four key areas:

Policy and Investment Alignment

Supporting governments to strengthen nutrition-sensitive planning and investment by:

  • Aligning policies across sectors 
  • Analysing food system budgets 
  • Developing costed, prioritised action plans 
  • Strengthening data systems and decision-making tools 

Agri-food SME and Smallholder Support

Strengthening supply of nutritious foods by:

  • Connecting farmers and SMEs to finance, technology, and services 
  • Facilitating partnerships within investment ecosystems 
  • Providing technical assistance and capacity building 
  • Schools and social protection systems

Enhancing demand and access through:

  • Nutrition-sensitive public procurement 
  • Stronger linkages between local producers and institutional markets 
  • Behaviour change and awareness initiatives to promote healthy diets 
  • Knowledge and evidence

Generating and sharing practical tools, evidence, and learning to inform policy, programming, and future investments in food systems. 

Expected results

The programme will contribute to:

  • Improved design and implementation of nutrition-sensitive agricultural investments 
  • Increased availability and affordability of nutritious foods 
  • Strengthened capacity of smallholders and agri-food SMEs 
  • Expanded access to healthier diets for rural populations 
     

How we work

The programme is delivered through close collaboration with IFAD country teams, national governments, private sector actors, and local partners. It builds on existing investments and aligns with national priorities to ensure sustainability and scale. 

Countries

Bangladesh, Pakistan, Rwanda, Benin 

Contact Us

Have questions? Get in touch with our team to learn more about how you can get involved.