Nutrition Impact at Scale

GAIN’s NIS Project uses a Market Systems Development approach to improve food systems and increase inclusivity and nutrition outcomes. It leverages the extensive experience GAIN has developed over the years of providing quality technical assistance, networking, knowledge sharing, building partner capacity, and providing various tools and resources to MSMEs to attach a ‘nutrition lens’ to the work of ESOs in Nigeria, Benin, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Kenya.

man-holding-peanut-butter-in-a-small-shop-in-kenya

By engaging with ESOs, the project ultimately achieves the following outcomes:

ESOs adopt a nutrition lens in their MSME support strategies.

ESOs integrate tools, knowledge, and resources developed by GAIN to support MSMEs.

ESOs understand the impact of MSMEs on food systems and how to invest in nutrition-focused enterprises.

Alliances of local partners on MSME programming will be operational in GAIN countries.

We will achieve this by:

Enhancing the capacity of ESOs to provide nutrition-focused technical support to MSMEs.
Facilitating ESOs to access a wide range of tools and resources.
Creating alliances by connecting ESOs to industry peers to facilitate knowledge exchange.
Providing access to a network of business & industry leaders for business-to-business mentorship.

Countries and ESO Partners

Nigeria

Ikore International

Incorporated in 2018, Ikore is an International Development Organization offering innovative solutions to promote sustainable social and enterprise development across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Expected Outcomes

Support 150 MSMEs to

Enhance efficiency, leadership, and management skills through specialized training.
Facilitate direct connections with buyers (e.g., supermarkets, hotels, distributors).
Improve broader market access which will lead to a 10% and 20% sales increase in year 1 and 2.
Prepare them for financial literacy and matchmaking, with access to debt and non-debt funding.
Boost production of safe, nutritious foods by 30%, achieving 15% product volume growth in year 1 and 30% in year 2.

Inspire Decisions

Incorporated in 2016, Inspire Decisions Consulting Limited (IDC) is a rapidly growing development firm that supports international donors, donor-funded projects, and public and private sector organisations in achieving their development goals and performance targets.

Expected Outcomes

20% annual increase in the volume and sales of specific nutritious food products.
Integrating a nutrition focus into the business models of over 100 MSMEs.
Reach over 1,000 MSMEs, partners, and low-middle-income Nigerians through EPIC's knowledge-sharing activities.
Increase over US$20,000 investments in funding for production capacities allocated for MSMEs to nutrition-focused business models

Kenya

Nakuru Box

Nakuru Box, founded in 2019, is an innovation hub that provides a collaborative and professional space for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and startups.

Expected Outcomes

Increase in sales among the trained MSMEs.
Attain a 70% increase in safe and nutritious foods in the markets served by the participants.
Increase enrolment in the additional nutrition programs introduced.
Support 30% of the participants expand operations into other markets.

Afriscope

Afriscope Research Limited, founded in 2015, is a leading Afrocentric institution dedicated to helping small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) thrive through specialized business advisory services.

Expected Outcomes

Directly impact 150 MSMEs producing nutritious foods.
De-risk 5 Lead Firms for bankability.
Sustainable production of 621 tonnes of nutritious foods within 12 months.
Provide grant support to 5 MSMEs to help them facilitate the inclusive contract farming (ICF) model.

Mozambique

Gapi Sociedade de Investimentos (Gapi-SI)

Gapi-SI is a Development Financial Institution (DFI) registered with the Bank of Mozambique under the Investment Company (SI) category, with over three decades of experience in development financing.

Expected Outcomes

Support 150 agri-food SMEs to adopt sustainable practices, improve management, and enhance food safety and nutrition standards.
Drive a 20% sales increase through access to new markets by year 2, creating 50 new industry linkages.
Secure financial support of USD 2 million, enabling 60 SMEs to invest in growth.
Increase production and sales of nutritious foods by 30% and create 200 new jobs.
Increase consumer awareness and demand for local, nutritious foods with 60% of SMEs meeting improved food safety standards.

Benin

Groupe REPONSE

Groupe REPONSE is a consulting firm founded in 2021. It specialises in business affairs, organisation, quality management, and food safety. Based in Benin and operating independently, it focuses on implementing progress-driven approaches to sustainably improve the quality and performance of individuals and organisations.

Expected Outcomes

Support 35 MSMEs to:

Improve the formulation, nutritional analysis, packaging, and profitability of their products.
Obtain authorisation for market entry of their products, including Authorisation de Mise sur le Marché (AMM) and Certification de Qualité.
Gain access to markets and sell their products with the support of 3 MSMEs specialised in local product distribution.

Uganda

African Women Agri-business Network (AWAN)

AWAN is a membership organisation that focuses on advancing the socio-economic status of women through the promotion of a gender-inclusive Agri-food value chain. The organisation has 300 members, all women entrepreneurs operating in agri-food value chains.

Partnership areas:

Capacity Building
Access to finance
Access to Market
Social Behaviour Change & Communication Campaign
Policy and Advocacy

Expected Outcomes

200 women-owned MSMEs adopt nutrition-sensitive business models
20% increase in production of nutritious foods by women-owned MSMEs by August 2026.
20% increase in sales volumes of nutritious food by women-owned MSMEs by August 2026.
200 women-owned MSMEs access financial and non-financial business development services in Uganda.