ADVANCING INNOVATION IN NUTRITION IN AFRICA

ABOUT AIM
Each year 3.5 million children die from malnutrition. Countries may lose two to three percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a result of iron, iodine, and zinc deficiencies. The goal of AIM is to reduce malnutrition and food insecurity for 100 million low-income consumers by 2015. On 27 May 2009, a coalition of Dutch public and private sector organizations and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) launched the Amsterdam Initiative against Malnutrition (AIM) to end malnutrition in Africa by 2015. AIM represents an opportunity to combine the know-how of major players in the food and nutrition industry in seven countries: Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Mozambique.

To reach its target the effort will focus on: Jointly developing and piloting innovative models to reach low income populations, by engaging them not only as consumers, but also as producers, suppliers or distributors in the value chain; Improving supply and access to affordable nutritious products; Reducing vitamin and mineral deficiencies by 20 percent; Targeting vulnerable populations, especially children and mothers.

AIM PROGRESS
Since the Secretariat was set up in March 2010, AIM has been developed through the establishment of a structure for the partnership, the development of a strategy for Communication & Advocacy and Monitoring & Evaluation activities, the effort to reach consensus between partners, and the development of country programs.

AIM IN KENYA
The country program is well under way in Kenya, AIMs first target country. After a country review, focusing on understanding the dynamics of the local value chains and identifying local partners and products to reach low income consumers, five nutrition projects have been developed for Kenya, with the potential to reach 27 million people:

Fortification of milk to reach 5.5 million people New fortification solutions benefitting 3 million schoolchildren Introduction on the retail market of high quality and affordable fortified food products together with local industries Large scale fortification of staple foods including maize flour, wheat flour and vegetable oil to reach 70 percent of the population, with a focus on quality assurance/control and social marketing. Inclusion of small and medium scale maize millers in the fortification process

AMSTERDAM INITIATIVE AGAINST MALNUTRITION Broker at the interface of public and private sectors Catalyst for nutritious food solutions developed as core business Innovator of unique opportunities for major players in the food and nutrition industry Open to integrate new partners

CONTACT
aim@gainhealth.org