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.
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.
According to the 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, an estimated 935 million people in sub-Saharan Africa cannot afford a healthy diet. This stark reality underscores one of the region's greatest nutrition challenges: ensuring that nutritious foods are not only available, but also affordable for the people who need them most.
Addressing this challenge requires strong agrifood businesses capable of producing, processing and distributing nutritious foods at scale. This is precisely why the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) launched the Nutritious Foods Financing Facility (N3F).
Youth participation is increasingly recognised as essential for transforming food systems, yet many young people remain underrepresented in formal decision-making, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Bangladesh, recent policy momentum and growing youth mobilisation have created new spaces for engagement, yet how these developments translate into meaningful influence over planning and policy processes in practice remains unclear.
This qualitative case study explored how youth engage in Bangladesh's food system policy development through 27 semi-structured interviews with youth leaders and policymakers. Youth participants were purposively selected from GAIN's Food System Youth Leadership initiative while policymakers were selected based on their roles in nutrition, food systems policy, and youth development. Data were analysed thematically using hybrid deductiveinductive approach.
Young people are increasingly recognised as important contributors to food system transformation: raising awareness, leading community initiatives and bringing new perspectives to food system challenges. However, opportunities for them to move beyond these roles and engage in decision-making processes remain limited. In Bangladesh, the Food Systems Youth Leadership Initiative was introduced to strengthen youth leadership in food system transformation and deepen young people's understanding of food systems. This initiative also encouraged community-driven actions through collective action campaigns, helping young people build the confidence and capacity needed to engage more effectively in policy and decision-making spaces.
From Policy to Plate: How Malawi is transforming Food Systems
EP 32
The Nutrition Futures Initiative (NFI) seeks to strengthen the nutritional impact of social…
What if a traditional Indonesian food could simultaneously improve soil health, increase farmer incomes, reduce dependence on imported commodities, and provide nutritious meals for schoolchildren?
In Aceh, the GAIN Jack Bean Tempeh Initiative is demonstrating exactly that. The project is pioneering a model that connects regenerative agriculture, local food processing, and school meal procurement into a single value chain that benefits farmers, enterprises, students, and the environment.
Young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow. They are already creating solutions, influencing decisions and driving positive change in food systems today.
The I-CAN Landscaping Analysis on Climate and Nutrition Policies and Stakeholders in Somalia provides a comprehensive evaluation of the integration between climate action and nutritional outcomes within the national policy framework. Supported by the Agrifood Systems Transformation Accelerator (AFST-A), this analysis examines how Somalia—a nation facing concurrent climate shocks and high malnutrition—aligns its strategic objectives to build systemic resilience.
‘How might AI affect jobs in the food system?’ It was an intriguing question that came up in a recent office conversation — and one that is directly relevant to GAIN’s work that supports equitable and high-quality employment in food systems.
The rise of generative Artificial Intelligence (genAI) in recent years has led to excitement about the potential for higher productivity and new possibilities for what humans, helped by machines, can do – but also to anxiety about job loss, displacement, and inequitable outcomes for workers.
