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”.
This initial spark led to an invitation to present before OPM’s Nutrition Coordination Committee (NCC) comprising representatives from various departments. What followed was a series of meaningful interventions between GAIN Uganda and OPM, including a significant planning meeting in Entebbe sponsored under the Workforce Nutrition Initiative.
The Entebbe meeting proved crucial in aligning the NCC’s objectives with Workforce nutrition principles. Given that OPM employs approximately 2,000 workers, special attention was given to healthy food at work and breastfeeding support, which are essential considerations for a substantial workforce.
And as a result, they invited GAIN to make a presentation to the nutrition coordination committee of the office of Uganda’s prime minister, composed of representatives from the different departments in this office. This opened the gate that led to several interventions that GAIN has undertaken, for example, the nutrition coordination committee planning meeting which was sponsored by GAIN under Workforce Nutrition and was hosted in Entebbe, Uganda.
The meeting also yielded input into the draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) between GAIN and the OPM which defines the working relationship with a clear understanding of each organisation’s roles, expectations, and responsibilities. The purpose of this MoU is to provide a mutual understanding of this relationship between government, GAIN, and the private sector.
Some of the key highlights of the draft MoU between GAIN and OPM:
- Working closely with GAIN to develop workplace nutrition guidelines and a policy that will guide workforce implementation within ministries agencies and departments and the public.
- Joint fundraising for key interventions in nutrition to harness food systems transformation in Uganda where people have access to health food which is diverse and safe for consumption.
- Work with the OPM to build capacity of the Ministries Agencies and departments (MDAs) on the four pillars of workforce nutrition to improve the health and well-being of the workers.
Our collaboration has already yielded tangible results. GAIN has completed menu assessments for the OPM canteen and provided actionable recommendations for improvement. This has led to changes in the in the lunch offer where fruits and vegetables are gradually being integrated into the staff lunch offering at the OPM after the cooking demonstration done with service provider.
Additionally, we have successfully built capacity among NCC members regarding workforce nutrition principles and their role in enhancing worker wellbeing.
The path forward is clear; by anchoring our activities within government interventions and working through leading government agencies, we can achieve greater efficiency and impact- the goal to reach at least 40% of the workers across all the ministries agencies and departments This approach is particularly crucial for reaching marginalized and malnourished populations across Uganda.
Watch the full Health First feature on UBC TV: How the Prime Minister’s Office and GAIN are teaming up for better workplace nutrition.
