Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (Benin)

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Due to COVID19, conflict in Ukraine, and climate change, malnutrition and hunger have worsened significantly since 2019, reversing a decade of progress. There is growing recognition that our food systems need to change if we are to reverse these trends. Benin is one of the countries impacted by malnutrition.

GAIN’s Strategy aims to transform food systems to make healthier diets from sustainable food systems accessible to all people and especially those whose are most vulnerable to shocks. By 2027, we aim to improve the access of 1.5 billion people to nutritionally enhanced staple foods, improve the access of 25 million people to healthier diets, and support positive food system change in 10 countries. This is bold and complex, and the only way to achieve this is to work together with partners including governments, businesses, and civil society at the country and global level. These goals, and the ways of achieving them, build on our twenty-year legacy of transforming people’s lives with improved nutrition through concerted action and effective policy change.

GAIN’s work in Benin reflects the ways we are achieving our global goals. We have started operations in Benin by focusing on scaling up the impact of ongoing programmes, including creating demand for nutritious foods, supporting the provision of fortified foods, including in the country’s school meal plan, and strengthening small and medium enterprises in food supply chains through the work of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network. We will continue to support the Government of Benin and other stakeholders to improve the consumption of healthier diets. We are, therefore, working with civil society, businesses, and development partners to build stronger and healthier food systems for a more equal society.