The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is set to convene critical stakeholders from across the nutritious food supply chain in Sub-Saharan Africa at an event in Nigeria. This initiative aims to empower Enterprise Support Organisations (ESOs) to integrate effective nutrition strategies into their support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Focus on MSMEs
GAIN highlighted the significant role that MSMEs play in agricultural value chains in low- and middle-income countries, including their impact on pricing, markets, and the availability of foods. Despite their importance, MSMEs face numerous challenges that hinder their growth and ability to increase the production of nutritious foods.
Event Details
The one-day event, themed “Catalysing Nutritional Innovation: Empowering ESOs to Transform Food Systems,” will take place on August 29. It will feature presentations, stakeholder engagements, and panel sessions. Mercy Olorunfemi, Project Manager for Nutrition Impact at Scale at GAIN, emphasized the event’s role in advancing nutrition-focused entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
Objectives
– Equipping ESOs with advanced tools and skills for driving innovation in nutritious food product development and business practices.
– Fostering partnerships across public, private, academic, and finance sectors.
– Advocating for supportive regulatory frameworks that encourage investments in nutrition-focused enterprises.
– Highlighting the benefits and potential returns of investing in nutrition-focused MSMEs and promoting innovative financing solutions.
Expected Outcomes
Participants will engage in in-depth discussions, and networking opportunities, and gain actionable insights aimed at transforming food systems to better meet nutritional needs in Nigeria. The gathering aims to foster collaborations across sectors, creating an enabling environment that supports the growth and impact of MSMEs focused on nutritious foods.
“This gathering will serve as a catalyst for advancing nutrition-focused entrepreneurship in Nigeria,” said Olorunfemi. “By fostering collaborations across sectors and engaging with relevant actors, we aim to create an enabling environment that supports the growth and impact of MSMEs focused on nutritious foods. We are excited to bring together diverse stakeholders to drive innovation and transform food systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
The event underscores GAIN’s commitment to improving nutrition by empowering MSMEs and their supporting organizations to drive meaningful change in the food systems of Sub-Saharan Africa.
