The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and Wellspring Development designed
and hosted a series of in-person and online consultations with partners of the Dutch
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to examine challenges in improving the quality of diets of
population groups living in rural areas of low- and lower-middle-income countries. These
groups largely consume nutrient-inadequate, even unhealthy, diets and face heavy
burdens of malnutrition. This first paper, out of six, looks specifically at the challenges of
setting targets for dietary quality improvement. The aim of the discussions was to gather
examples of successful project interventions at scale, to understand the decision
processes of different organisations, and to identify important points of convergence in
conceptualisation and action.
Improving the quality of diets for rural populations is a key priority for many organisations – such as donors, implementing NGOs, and governments – in the nutrition sector. However, success at scale has been elusive.
GAIN, with the support of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embarked on a project to improve understanding of how to succeed at scale in rural settings. Eight other organisations (see background) also joined in this effort to pool their knowledge and experiences. Wellspring carried out a literature review in April-May 2024 and facilitated an in-person workshop in Utrecht in May 2024. This was followed by six online calls that focused on deeper discussion on six key topics identified based on the learning until then: dietary quality; segmentation; markets; scale; orchestration; and trade-offs.
Each topic has been covered under a separate GAIN convening paper. This overview aims to provide a short summary of each of the six topics.
GAIN is working to improve the consumption of healthier diets for all, especially the most vulnerable. We know that if food is not safe, it is not food. That is why our mission includes improving the availability, affordability, desirability, and sustainability of nutritious and safe foods, and reducing the consumption of unhealthy and unsafe foods.
Dairy products are rich in many nutrients essential for healthy growth and development, and they are often more affordable than other animal-source foods. Ethiopia has a very large stock of dairy animals, and milk and other dairy products are popular in the local food culture. Yet the per capita consumption of dairy is surprisingly low, reflecting numerous challenges in production, distribution, and household behaviours. This Working Paper reviews the experience of GAIN Ethiopia tackling some of these challenges in the dairy value chain.
This brief aims to
1. Describe the micronutrient malnutrition and LSFF programme context in Rwanda;
2. Identify challenges and opportunities to strengthen existing programs;
3. Provide practical, evidence-informed policy and programmatic recommendations; and
4. Catalyse multi-stakeholder collaboration to reduce micronutrient deficiencies.
The number of adults living with diabetes has more than doubled over the span of 30 years, rising from 7% in 1990 to more than 14% in 2022.1 An estimated 828 million adults worldwide currently live with diabetes, and if trends continue, this is projected to reach 1.3 billion by 2050.2
Milk is a commonly consumed food in Low- and Lower-Middle Income Countries (LLMICS). It contains many important nutrients and generally appears, together with its derived products, in national dietary guidelines. But objections have been raised to its promotion on several grounds: health, environmental, animal welfare, and affordability. This Discussion Paper reviews commonly presented arguments in favour of and against consumption of dairy, taking into account the specific contexts of LLMICs.
A single presentation about workforce nutrition became the catalyst for a transformative partnership with Uganda’s office of the prime minister (OPM). When we first introduced the four pillars of workforce nutrition i.e. nutrition education, healthy food at work, breastfeeding support, and nutrition focused health checks, we could not have anticipated the impact it would have on the officials present. Their response was immediate and enthusiastic “This is exactly what we have been missing”.
Imagine a Kenya where vibrant urban markets overflow with indigenous greens, youth in peri-urban areas lead Agri-tech startups, and rural cooperatives thrive as they steward regenerative farming methods. This future was at the heart of a recent co-creation workshop in Kenya, uniting 35 food system leaders from Ministry of Agriculture, Glocolearning, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), SUN CSA and GAIN to chart pathways toward food systems diversification. Diversification has been widely identified as a strategy with great potential to build better resilience, nutrition, and equity across Kenya.
This webinar will introduce participants to the Food Systems Countdown Initiative and present the 2024 report tracking global progress on the Countdown's 50 indicators and examining interactions across indicators. The webinar will highlight how participants can use the Food Systems Dashboard to explore the Countdown's indicators. Participants will also hear from country stakeholders on the impacts of the Countdown and Dashboard and how they can help guide action.
