Pakistan’s many small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including the large number
involved in (nutritious) food supply, are held back by lack of access to adequate finance. Actions could be taken by government, private banks, and other finance providers to help resolve this critical capacity constraint.
In the context of the latest national SME policy “2021 SME Policy Pakistan”, and findings from a recent in-country survey executed by Entrepreneurship Development and Advisory Services (EDAS) and supported by GAIN, this brief, focuses on constraints in the market from supply- and demand perspectives facing SMEs. Its two sister briefs have been prepared using the most up-to-date research (conducted over the last 5 years) on ongoing issues faced by Pakistani SMEs, particularly food-related SMEs, to develop policy recommendations.
In the context of the latest national SME policy “2021 SME Policy Pakistan”, this brief, focusing on the external macro policy and regulatory environment affecting SMEs, and its two related briefs have been prepared using the most up-to-date research (conducted over the last 5 years) on ongoing issues faced by Pakistani SMEs, particularly food-related SMEs, to develop policy recommendations.
As a follow-on to the core report ‘The Case for Investment in Nutritious Food Value Chains: An Opportunity for Gender Impact’, GAIN and SAGANA are publishing the nine case studies showcasing the business and impact case for gender-smart nutrition investments.
This brief explains some key findings and recommendations from a recent roadmap report on FLW reduction produced by the Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS), with key partnerships from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). It highlights the crucial role of coordinated efforts in achieving the desired reduction in FLW and thereby mitigating its environmental and economic impacts.
In response to a request from the Benin Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) focal point, following the 2022 Joint Annual Assessment (JAA), the establishment and operation of the SUN Business Network (SBN) began with the support from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and CARE through the CASCADE programme. The goal of the programme is to improve food security and reduce malnutrition among at least 5 million women of reproductive age and children under 5 in Benin, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. The establishment of SBN Benin started with the development of a strategic plan for 2024-2030 and mapping of potential members and partners.
While improved nutrition is central to achieving many development goals, investment in nutrition currently falls far short of what is needed. One group of actors that could potentially help address this is development finance institutions (DFIs): specialised financial organisations that promote sustainable development by providing capital, usually for private-sector-led projects. DFIs seem like promising actors to support nutrition: they are already active in low- and middle-income countries, invest in adjacent sectors like agriculture, and have large financial resources. However, to date DFIs have not been very active in investing in nutrition-supporting businesses and funds. This paper seeks to understand the barriers to investment in nutrition-related projects and develop concrete solutions to unlock funding through a mapping of DFIs’ approaches combined with in-depth interviews with several DFI representatives.
ACT4FOOD was launched as a global youth-led movement to transform food systems, with a pledge to encourage millions of young people to create sustainable food systems and more opportunistically to get involved in the UNFSS and to bring their demands to the decision-making table.
Climate change is a threat to the sustainability of global and national food systems. Unsustainable food systems cannot ensure food and nutrition security or healthy eating patterns. Climate change is already altering agricultural production, food processing, distribution, and conSumption. Its impacts disrupt food supply, limiting people’s access to the diverse, safe, and nutritious foods that make up high-quality diets.
Poor diets are the leading cause of global ill health, resulting in malnutrition and deficiencies such as anaemia, decreased energy levels, diminished health, and decreased productivity. A diverse diet containing a wide variety of food types is more likely to provide the vitamins and minerals needed for good health, to boost brain and body development, and bolster resistance to infections. However, in 2021, more than 3.1 billion people in the world—or 42 percent of the global population—were unable to afford a healthy diet. Tea workers and farmers, predominantly women, often contend with high rates of malnutrition due to diets lacking essential nutrients. Healthy Diets for Tea Communities is a public-private collaboration between the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP), and eight leading tea companies, which aims to promote healthy diets in tea supply chains in India, Malawi, and Kenya. This document summarises programme results in Kenya.
