On August 29, 2024, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) hosted the inaugural Enterprise Support Organisation (ESO) for Nutrition Convening in Nigeria, themed ‘Catalysing Nutritional Innovation: Empowering ESOs to Transform Food Systems.’ This first-of-its-kind convening in Africa brought together over 150 participants, including key stakeholders from academia, the private and public sectors, development agencies, and civil society. The convening focused on the critical role ESOs (entities that provide business development services to businesses) play in transforming food systems by supporting agri-food small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to overcome operational challenges, enhance capacity, and improve nutrition outcomes for underserved populations.
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.
Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly anaemia and vitamin A deficiency, persist among children and women. Three out of four children suffer from anaemia, while one in three from vitamin A deficiency. While one in two women suffer from anaemia. obesity[3] is rising, impacting approximately 26% of women aged 15 to 49. This increasing trend in obesity also affects young people, especially women. As of 2021, Benin ranks 166th out of 191 countries in the Human Development Index, highlighting untapped development potential.
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.
This discussion will look at what we're expecting from global leaders during the N4G summit. What kind of commitments do we want to see? How can we mobilise the international community around the issue of nutrition, bring in the private sector and civil society, and get back on track to fulfil the UN's sustainable development agenda?
