Digitizing Payments Responsibly to Transform Food Systems – GAIN Joins Better Than Cash Alliance

GAIN’s membership in the Better Than Cash Alliance reflects the critical role of inclusive, equitable economic growth as a driver of food systems transformation.

GAIN Working Paper n°75: Unlocking New Markets for Tempeh-The Viability of Jack Bean-Based Products

- 24/08/2026

This paper assesses the potential of jack bean as a viable diversification strategy within Indonesia’s soybean-dependent tempeh industry. Such a change could address structural challenges including dependence on imported soybeans, exposure to global price fluctuations, and supply chain vulnerabilities. As a locally sourced, nutritionally competitive, and climate-resilient crop, jack bean offers an alternative protein source that could strengthen Indonesia’s food security and sovereignty. Given Indonesia’s large tempeh market, capturing even a small share represents a significant commercial opportunity.

GAIN Working Paper n°74: Improving Diet Quality in West Africa- The Role of Intra-regional Food Trade

- 20/08/2026

Food trade plays a significant role in shaping food security and nutrition worldwide, with both positive and negative implications for diet quality. This is particularly relevant in West Africa, where persistent challenges such as low dietary diversity and limited affordability of healthy diets coexist with rapidly changing food consumption patterns. Intra-regional food trade is especially important in this context, yet its scale and nutritional significance remain poorly understood due to the large share of trade that goes unrecorded in official statistics.

Jack Beans Thrive During El Niño Conditions

Jack bean offers Indonesia a practical, climate-resilient crop option at a time when El Niño, drought and rising climate variability are putting farmers, food security and agricultural systems under increasing pressure. Drawing on experiences from drought-prone regions across Indonesia, the blog highlights how jack bean continues to grow, flower and produce when crops such as maize, chili and soybean struggle or fail. Its deep roots, nitrogen-fixing ability, tolerance of poor soils and potential use in foods such as tempeh make it valuable for smallholder resilience, soil health, food diversification and reducing dependence on imported soybeans. The blog argues that Indonesia should give jack bean stronger policy, research, extension and market support as part of its climate adaptation and food security strategies.

Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) Global Conference 2026

25 August 2026- 27 September 2026Global

At AVPN Global Conference 2026 in New Delhi, GAIN will show how nutrition can be embedded across Asia’s food systems, investment strategies and development priorities — helping funders, investors and partners move from food production to better diets, stronger markets and more resilient communities.

The Priority List: which foods have the greatest potential to improve nutrition?

A new tool helps decision makers do just that. The Priority List uses a holistic food rating system called the Nutritional Value Score to identify the most nutritious foods for programmes and policies. In low- and middle-income countries where GAIN and partners work, every bite counts towards tackling persistent undernutrition and rising rates of diet-related chronic disease.

World Off-Track on Nearly Every Food System Goal – Latest Assessment Reveals

The 2026 Food Systems Countdown Report reveals that progress is too slow and insufficient to meet 2030 goals, but 2050 could still be achievable, provided actions are consistent and accelerated.

GAIN Working Paper n°71: Crowdsourcing in Food Systems Research: Lessons from Indonesia and Kenya

- 07/08/2026

Crowdsourcing, i.e., leveraging digital platforms to mobilise distributed contributors for data collection, harnessing the collective power of large, distributed networks of people to accomplish such tasks through open calls has gained traction in recent years, yet practical guidance for implementation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains limited. This paper examines lessons from three food systems research case studies conducted by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition in Indonesia and Kenya between 2019-2024, analysing what worked, what didn't, and why.

Strengthening Local Enterprise to Improve Access to Nutritious Food

In Tehene, a remote community near Gurué in central Mozambique, high costs and difficult market access mean families rarely eat animal-source foods such as frozen fish or chicken. To help close this gap, entrepreneur Inocêncio Calado founded Alto Licungo, a cold chain distribution business supported by GAIN’s Improving the Consumption of Animal Source Foods project. Inspired by his late father, Inocêncio is helping transport perishable foods safely across long distances so rural communities can access nutritious foods more regularly.