Preserving Food and Profits in Kenya: Marikiti Cool Room Commissioned to Empower Traders and Reduce Food Waste

On 15th January 2025, the bustling town of Machakos in the lower eastern part of Kenya witnessed a transformative milestone in food systems in Kenya; the commissioning of the Marikiti Market Cool Room. This state-of-the-art facility was officially handed over by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) to the County Government of Machakos in an event graced by H.E. Governor Wavinya Ndeti and GAIN Kenya Country Director, Ms. Ruth Okowa.

Nurturing Human Capital: A Key to Unlocking Private Sector Success in Ethiopia's Food Industry

Human capital is the bedrock on which companies build their success. In Ethiopia's food-processing industry, the capacity and skill of its workforce and entrepreneurs determine the trajectory of the sector. GAIN Ethiopia works to cultivate conditions conducive to private sector growth, from farm to point of sale – by supporting the development of a capable workforce.

Driving Change Through Fortification – Recognising Neural Tube Defects in Ethiopia

Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) occur when the neural tube doesn't close properly during the first month of a mother’s pregnancy. This can result in a range of physical and cognitive disabilities, often requiring extensive medical care, including surgeries, ongoing treatments, and rehabilitation.

GAIN Convening Paper n°13-National Policy Dialogue For Food And Nutrition-Focused Businesses

Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a pivotal role in addressing Nigeria’s nutrition challenges, given their significant contribution to the local food system and economy. MSMEs are essential drivers of innovation, employment, and food production, helping make nutritious foods more accessible to underserved populations. However, MSMEs face an array of systemic barriers that hinder their growth and ability to scale sustainable nutrition solutions, such as high costs, complex regulations, and restricted access to finance. To bring together policymakers and the private sector to discuss these challenges, a Nutrition Policy Dialogue was convened by GAIN and the Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network (SBN) in Abuja on October 31, 2024. Attendees included the Regional and State Hub leads for SBN in Nigeria as well as representatives from businesses, government departments, academia, civil-society organisations, and other key stakeholders. Through a keynote address, a panel discussion, and two breakout groups, the meeting highlighted key challenges, including regulatory overlaps, limited financial access, and policy inconsistencies affecting MSMEs. It also proposed actionable recommendations such as harmonising regulatory frameworks, developing cluster-based financing models, and enhancing financial literacy. Finally, it served to foster stakeholder commitments to training programs, advocacy efforts, and implementation of innovative financing solutions.

Nutrition Impact at Scale Profile

NUTRITION IMPACT AT SCALE (NIS) Through the Nutrition Impact at Scale project, GAIN seeks to scale the impact of its work to increase access to safe and nutritious foods, especially for low-income consumers. By working with other organisations (Enterprise Support Organisations) that are willing and have the requisite capacity to attach a 'nutrition lens' to their work with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Nutrition Impact at Scale (NIS) will enable a large-scale and accelerated nutrition impact for the larger African population. Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, NIS uses a market systems development approach to improve food systems, increase inclusivity, and, ultimately, nutrition outcomes. The project leverages on the extensive experience GAIN have developed over the years of providing quality technical assistance, networking experience, knowledge sharing, building capacity of partners, and the provision of various tools and resources to MSMEs, to attach a 'nutrition lens' to the work of ESOs in Nigeria, Benin, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Kenya.

Towards a Food Systems-Transformative National Policy on Food and Nutrition in Nigeria

Key Messages • A 2024 preliminary assessment of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (2016-2025) found that about a third of its targets are roughly on track but that the policy needs to be updated to achieve its potential, and to take advantage of the opportunities provided through food systems transformation. • Since the Policy would be due for full review in 2025, there is ample opportunity to evolve it to the current context and thinking. • Some key areas a new national food and nutrition policy must expand on include: legislative frameworks, more relevant conceptual frameworks, resilience, engagement with the education sector, expanded partnerships, private sector responsibilities, wins for climate and nutrition, shifting demand away from unhealthier to healthier foods, food safety, rethinking trade policy, promoting innovation and technology, and being more responsive to the needs of women.

GAIN MOZAMBIQUE’S PORTFOLIO

To address the triple burden on Mozambican’s Food system, GAIN in Mozambique is focused on innovative, scalable, and impactful initiatives aimed at identifying, updating, and disseminating legislation; developing businesses that produce and distribute safe and nutritious food; and implementing approaches to increase the demand and consumption of healthier diets by all Mozambicans