EU ready to support Gambia in eradicating Malnutrition

28/09/2017

Today the Gambian Vice President Her Excellency Aja Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang officially launched the EU funded “Improving Food Security and Nutrition in The Gambia through Food Fortification”; project.

VP, Aja Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang

The EURO 4 million grant project will be implemented by FAO and is to be completed by February 2021.

Important Government stakeholders include the Office of the Vice President and the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) as well as the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Ministry of Agriculture, National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), the Standards and Food Safety Quality Bureaus as well as the private sector.

The project will contribute to improving the nutritional and health status of vulnerable populations suffering from micronutrient deficiencies throughout The Gambia, and particularly women, girls and children in North Bank and Central River Regions, who will increase consumption of micronutrient-fortified foods. This is expected to contribute to improvements in health and nutrition indicators, especially the reduction of stunting, wasting, and normal cognitive development in children and reduced anaemia among women, as well as reduction in complications during pregnancy and maternal mortality.

The project has three overall results as follows:
Result 1 to improve the Regulatory framework for food fortification.

Result 2 to strengthen the capacities of public and private institutions to support food fortification and Result 3 that 65% of Gambia’s population enjoy increased awareness about and access to fortified flour and rice; and that 20,000 vulnerable women and girls of reproductive age, and children in 15 most food insecure districts of NBR and CRR also increase their knowledge and skills about the production of bio fortified crops, consumption of fish powder and increase their dietary diversity.