This paper describes the focused ethnographic study on complementary feeding that was commissioned by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and highlights findings from studies conducted in three very different country contexts (Ghana, South Africa and Afghanistan) burdened by high levels of malnutrition in older infants and young children.
GAIN has been working on food fortification programs within Central Asia for a number of years. In 2013, GAIN launched the USAID-funded Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia Republics Regional Fortification Initiative, which aims to build capacity for food fortification with essential vitamins and minerals in order to improve micronutrient intakes across the region.
Afghanistan depends substantially on food imports from neighbouring and other regional countries due to being landlocked with limited water and agricultural resources. GAIN has been working to improve nutritional outcomes of the population through fortification projects for two major products: wheat flour and edible oil/ghee. This report is a supply chain assessment of these two food products in Afghanistan.
This report presents findings from a market assessment of the presence and fortification level of vitamin A in all major brands of edible oil and vanaspati sold in Pakistan and potentially exported to Afghanistan that was undertaken to inform technical and programmatic decisions to support effective food fortification.
