The Africa Innovations Institute(AfrII) and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) are in talks to explore opportunities of collaboration beyond CASCADE.
The partnerships are intended to strengthen collaboration between the two organisations. CASCADE (CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and resiliencE) is a five-year, 60-million-euro project, implemented in six African countries between 2022-2026. The project, a consortium between CARE and GAIN, is funded by the Dutch Government and aims to improve food security and reduce malnutrition of women and children under five.
In a meeting held at the AfrII offices in Bukoto, Kampala, last month, the CEO of AfrII, Prof. George William Otim-Nape, outlined the setup of AfrII as an innovation institute focusing on 5 key areas; Agriculture and food security, environment and climate change, food systems and climate change and capacity building.
He emphasised the uniqueness of AfrII which conducts research, knowledge and technology generation, but with its primary focus on innovations. This makes it work in close collaboration and partnership with national and international institutions, “AfrII has built a global network of partners and we would be so happy to work with GAIN in their areas of mandate,” Otim-Nape.
Prof. Otim-Nape highlighted key outstanding achievements in the area of cassava, where AfrII worked with different industries to make new products from cassava. Uganda Breweries developed a beer, Britania and Riham made biscuits, Hot Loaf made bread fand Katoon Industries developed paperboard, among others.
AfrII key focus areas include; agriculture and livelihoods; environment and climate change; food systems and nutrition; innovations and business development; capacity and organizational development; and partnerships
The institute has implemented key projects implemented like CAVA, Vital Signs, Livestock for Livelihood, CBIT I &II, Water in the cattle corridor, Shear landscape restoration, CASCADE, IMMANA I&II and Drivers of Food Choice among others.
AfrII in the future hopes to expand to East Africa and advance sustainable development through cutting edge research and Global Partnerships.
The Country Director for GAIN Mr. Enoch Musinguzi, highlighted GAIN’s mission to advance nutrition outcomes by improving the consumption of nutritious and safe food for all people, especially the most vulnerable to malnutrition.
Noting that GAIN works on nine key areas, that is, food fortification including biofortification for all staples, public private sector partnerships via SUN business network (SBN) led by GAIN, the nutrition financing facility, nutrition governance and policy, innovations in school feeding, school feeding policy, Mr. Musinguzi explored the opportunities for collaboration with AfrII beyond CASCADE.
The discussions centred around interventions and innovations in nutrition, food safety and hygiene, food marketing and demand generation for proper nutrition, school and workplace nutrition, breast feeding corners in the workplaces, the fast foods sector, among others.
