Local Private Sector and Nutrition for Women and Children

20 June 2024. InfoPoint conference: Local Private Sector and Nutrition for Women and Children

Recording forthcoming

Representatives of local companies such as Nutri’zaza and Le Lionceau shared their business models, which are based on creating decent jobs, developing economically viable distribution networks and market safe nutritious and affordable products that appeal to as many people as possible. 

EU representatives presented how best to support this type of initiative and upcoming opportunities to develop value chains related to the nutritional products and share ideas for building pilot Global Gateway projects in the field of nutrition.

Speakers

• Helena Guarin, Head of section Nutrition, INTPA F3- Sustainable Agri-Food systems and Fisheries unit (F3)
• Auxane Gennetais, Health and Nutrition Project Manager, GRET
• Quentin Moreau-Hamel, Policy officer, INTPA E2- Trade, Investment Climate, Entrepreneurship & Value Chains
• Mandresy Randriamiharisoa, Director General, Nutrizaza, Madagascar
• Siny Samba, Director General, Le Lionceau, Senegal
• Tharcisse Nkunzimana, Programme Manager – EU Delegation, Niger

Background

• GRET, (France) a partner of EU, has a twofold objective: to help develop and make available
  quality local foods adapted to the nutritional needs and expectations of the 1000 days window, and to support a market-led approach to disseminate targeted quality fortified foods in a sustainable way, to as many people as possible, at lower cost.
  
• Nutri'zaza is a Malagasy social enterprise, created in 2013, whose main objective is to combat child malnutrition by improving the nutrition of Malagasy children and families. To achieve this, it distributes quality fortified products, adapted to those most affected by chronic malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, and available everywhere at an affordable price, even to the most vulnerable. Working in urban areas, the company distributes its products, made in Madagascar from essentially local ingredients, through 3 distribution networks.
• 
  Le Lionceau is a Senegalese company that offers a range of products for feeding babies mainly small jars and biscuits made on the basis of recipes and local products. The company has found its market at the national level, mainly in urban areas and now wants to take a new dimension by opening up to a wider market in West Africa. Her director will share her experience as a pioneer in the region in the early childhood food market and the challenges she faces to give a new dimension to her business.
• The representative of the EU Delegation, Niger shared his experience on supporting local flour production initiatives and partnership with the private sector in the field of nutrition. In particular, it will address regulatory aspects, support through political dialogue and challenges and opportunities to promote the business environment of companies with both a social and economic vocation.

Preliminary findings of the International Trade Centre (ITC) study mandated by DG INTPA on a Regional Value Chain related to Formulated Complementary Food (including RUTF, Fortified Blended food (including flours), High energy biscuits, infant formulas.) was shared. Previously identified as a high potential area, the second phase of the study now identify concrete ideas in the shape of operational roadmaps for building pilot Global Gateway projects.