Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN):

Why in news?  The Recent report of GAIN has called for investment in  agri-food sector to reduce gender inequality, enhance productivity & business resilience .

About  GAIN :

• It is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition.
• Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, GAIN has offices in countries with high levels of malnutrition.

Foundation and Mission: GAIN was established in 2002 at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Special Session on Children. Its mission is to reduce malnutrition through sustainable strategies aimed at improving the consumption of nutritious and safe food for all people, especially the most vulnerable.

Programs and Initiatives:

Food Fortification: GAIN works to fortify staple foods and condiments with essential vitamins and minerals. This includes efforts to enhance the nutritional quality of salt, flour, rice, oil, and milk.

Workforce Nutrition: GAIN promotes nutrition programs in workplaces, ensuring that employees have access to healthy food options and nutrition education.

Nutritious Foods Financing: Through the Nutritious Foods Financing Program, GAIN aims to attract investments into businesses that produce and distribute nutritious foods.

Large Scale Food Fortification: The organization supports large-scale fortification initiatives to address micronutrient deficiencies in populations at risk.

Commercialization of Biofortified Crops: GAIN collaborates with partners to promote the cultivation and consumption of biofortified crops that are rich in essential nutrients.

Market-based Solutions: GAIN develops and scales market-based solutions to improve access to nutritious foods in vulnerable communities.

Partnerships: GAIN collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, private sector companies, international organizations, civil society groups, and academic institutions. These partnerships are crucial for scaling up nutrition interventions and ensuring their sustainability.

Key Focus Areas:

• Infant and Young Child Nutrition: GAIN focuses on improving the nutrition of infants and young children through initiatives like breastfeeding promotion, complementary feeding, and micronutrient supplementation.
• Adolescent and Women’s Nutrition: Programs aimed at improving the nutrition of adolescents and women of reproductive age, recognizing their critical role in breaking the cycle of malnutrition.
• Emergency and Humanitarian Response: GAIN provides support in emergency situations to ensure that affected populations have access to nutritious foods.

Global Presence: GAIN operates in several countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, adapting its strategies to meet the specific needs and contexts of each region.