Novel social enterprise approach centered around women groups for ‘last mile’ access to complementary foods rich in protein.
Toronto, Canada and Nairobi, Kenya – Global Integration and Innovation Africa Limited has secured a $270,000 grant from Grand Challenges Canada (which is funded by the Government of Canada) for a project in Kenya that will introduce social entrepreneurship in providing last mile access of enhanced complementary foods for weaning children in rural Kenya.
Malnutrition is to blame for unacceptable high rates of stunting and mortality among children, especially in Africa. Stunting is causing poor brain development, which is a waste of human capital and a hindrance to the growth of societies and nations. Many poor mothers in rural parts of Africa are unaware of the importance of complementary foods rich in protein. Sources of proteins are expensive or unavailable in rural areas due to the bottlenecks of distribution, the so called ‘last mile’. The project, ‘A Mile for the brain’ aims to address the deficient distribution of complementary food and provide access to protein-rich enhanced complementary food to mothers in rural areas in Kenya by using an innovative social enterprise approach centered around women groups.
Existing women’s local investing groups will receive entrepreneurship training and training on complementary foods. These groups will repackage and sell these foods in their communities. By selling smaller and thus more affordable packages of food these groups will be able to offer the food at a low enough price to make is accessible for those who need it the most. The women will engage in door-to-door marketing of the complementary foods, informing mothers of the importance of introducing complementary foods that are nutritious and high in protein. The women selling these products can use part of the return to invest in further bulk foods for resale.
Principal Investigator Florence Mwarania said: “When stunting strikes children in the first years of their lives, it not only inhibits their body’s growth, but also their minds, and their potential to fully contribute to their country’s economy. To quote the great African leader, Joachim Chisanno: ’When children grow, the nation grows’ . This grant by Grand Challenges Canada, which is funded by the Government of Canada, will ensure that, through innovation, barriers that inhibit access to high quality complementary foods in Africa are overcome. The expected result is children who will be vibrant and later in life be part of a productive labor force.”
Co-investigator Damaris Odeny stated: “These funds from Grand Challenges Canada will help to address a crucial ‘window of opportunity’ in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. Increasing access to complementary foods by improving the distribution network can have an enormous impact on strengthening human capital.”
The innovators were awarded the $270,000 grant after a worldwide call for proposals issued by Grand Challenges Canada, an organization funded by the Government of Canada that is dedicated to supporting Bold Ideas with Big Impact in global health. The project is part of Grand Challenges Canada’s Saving Brains program that seeks and supports bold ideas for products, services and implementation models that protect and nurture early brain development relevant to poor, marginalized populations in low- or middle-income countries.
For more information, visit giiafrica.org or grandchallenges.ca.
Contact Information
Pamela Muthuuri
Global Integration and Innovation Africa Limited
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Lode Roels
Grand Challenges Canada
"This initiative on nutrition is very timely. Thanks Global integrated innovation for this nutrition project. Truly our children are our future." Sera, Caregiver.
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