GAIN Convening Paper n°22: Shared Learning, Inspired Action: Insights From Global Exchanges on Strengthening Urban Food Markets

GAIN Convening Paper n°22: Shared Learning, Inspired Action: Insights From Global Exchanges on Strengthening Urban Food Markets

- 13/02/2026

To strengthen evidence and practice about local fresh food markets and food systems governance, in 2025, ICLEI CityFood, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and World Farmers Markets Coalition published two editions of a handbook about markets and resilient cities. The second edition comprises 31 city-market case studies and is structured around the CityFood Market Action Framework. Between May and December 2025, following the launch of the first edition, ICLEI CityFood and GAIN co-convened eight online sessions of a Community of Interest focused on markets and cities. The sessions were structured around four thematic areas: an introduction to how cities shape food markets; gender and social intersectionality; managing food waste; and access to nutrition. Across all eight sessions, a total of 327 participants from 27 cities and 56 organisations took part. This paper shares a summary of those prior sessions and signposts upcoming sessions
GAIN Working Paper n°62: Alternative Sources to Improve Sustainability and Resilience of Tempeh Supply Chains

GAIN Working Paper n°62: Alternative Sources to Improve Sustainability and Resilience of Tempeh Supply Chains

- 13/02/2026

Tempeh is a popular traditional plant-based protein that plays a vital role in Indonesian diets. Indonesia’s reliance on imported soybeans (2.6 million tons/year) for tempeh production, however, creates market instability and food vulnerabilities, particularly regarding cost and supply fluctuations. This paper analyses the technical, economic, and market feasibility of alternative legumes—specifically, jack beans, mung beans, and peanuts—as sustainable substitutes for soybeans in tempeh production. The aim is to identify the most viable option for immediate scale-up to support local food systems and improve nutritional outcomes.
GAIN Working Paper n°61: Small fish: An Untapped Opportunity for Improving Nutrition

GAIN Working Paper n°61: Small fish: An Untapped Opportunity for Improving Nutrition

- 06/02/2026

Fish offer a potentially sustainable solution to food security and nutrition challenges in Indonesia. Despite abundant aquatic resources, per capita fish consumption remains lower than in neighbouring countries. Factors such as overfishing, pollution, and unsustainable aquaculture practices limit growth, while climate change poses additional threats to fish stocks.
I-CAN Policy Brief: Unlocking Kenya’s Potential for Health, Resilience, and Inclusive Growth

I-CAN Policy Brief: Unlocking Kenya’s Potential for Health, Resilience, and Inclusive Growth

- 06/02/2026

Climate change and malnutrition are deeply intertwined challenges in Kenya, where climate related shocks continue to threaten food systems, health services, and vulnerable populations. This policy brief summarizes f indings f rom a rapid assessment of 27 national policies and key stakeholder interviews, conducted to support the I-CAN initiative. The analysis reveals uneven climate–nutrition integration across sectors, with strong implementation f rameworks in some policies but persistent gaps in coordination, data systems, and f inancing. Overreliance on donor funding, limited engagement of diverse stakeholders, and underutilized governance structures further hinder progress. At the same time, there are clear opportunities to strengthen policy alignment, institutional reform, cross-sector collaboration, and stakeholder inclusion to build a more resilient and nutrition-secure Kenya.
Climate and nutrition Integration: Evidence generation, stakeholder Mapping, and policy landscape Analysis in Pakistan

Climate and nutrition Integration: Evidence generation, stakeholder Mapping, and policy landscape Analysis in Pakistan

- 02/02/2026

Pakistan faces intertwined climate and malnutrition challenges, with floods, droughts, and rising temperatures threatening food security amid high child stunting (40.2%) and wasting (17.7%). Climate change is worsening nutrition outcomes, especially for women, children, and smallholder farmers, while climate and nutrition policies remain fragmented. GAIN’s I-CAN initiative aims to assess and strengthen the integration of climate and nutrition across Pakistan’s policies and strategies.