"Biblical". That was the word that the world’s press needed to (finally) run stories about the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on food and nutrition. Thank you to the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, for the turn of phrase.
In a commendable move to combat the effects of COVID-19, the Government of Bangladesh has announced a bailout package to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by partially covering their interest payments for the current fiscal year until 30th June 2020. But the eventual impact of COVID19 pandemic and its potentially devastating impact on food systems, especially on the SMEs that are the backbone of food supplies.
We are pleased to announce 8 through 13 November, 2020 as the new dates for the Micronutrient Forum 5th Global Conference , 8 and 9 November 2020 as the new dates for the Second Global Summit on Food Fortification in Bangkok, Thailand.
Seizing an opportunity to provide the nutritious foods needed to help keep people healthy during a pandemic came naturally to Rani, who is used to seeing potential where others might miss it. Living in Sukabumi, Rani and her mother, Imelda, established in 2012 a small business processing fish and vegetables into healthy snacks.
Following the postponement of the Olympics to 2021 due to COVID-19, many people have asked whether the Nutrition for Growth Summit (N4G) is still scheduled to be held in Tokyo in December 2020. The N4G Summit has a symbolic link to the Games, having been initiated alongside the London Olympics, and is being hosted by Japan with a focus on nutrition and universal health coverage.
A new five-year USAID-funded project called NAWIRI – Nutrition in ASALs Within Integrated Resilience Institutions – aims to tackle this, building resilience in the region, including through development of local food systems. In Swahili, NAWIRI means "to appear nourished" or "to thrive".
With the spread of COVID-19 we find ourselves plunged into a global health crisis. By most accounts we are only at the early stages of the pandemic so it is going to reshape economy, society and politics, probably permanently.
The Chair of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Catherine Bertini, today announced the appointment of two new GAIN Board members: Cherrie Atilano and Sheryl Fofaria. Board appointees serve a three-year term which will begin in June 2020 at the GAIN Board meeting in the Hague, Netherlands.
Today marks International Women’s Day – an occasion to reflect on the contributions of women worldwide and, for GAIN, to reflect on how we are working to engage and empower women through our work. Over the past decade, there has been growing focus on empowering women in agriculture - and with good reason. Women’s participation in agriculture varies by region, but in many African countries, women make up close to half of the agricultural labour force.
The latest nutrition data out of Bangladesh describe a situation brimming with promise. The Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2017/2018 estimates stunting at 31% and the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2019 shows an even lower estimate of 28%.
