Bio-fortification as part of Multi-dimensional Nutrition Programmes

in Uganda, Burundi and Bangladesh

World Vision and HarvestPlus Partnership

Sisay Sinamo (MD, MPH) Nutrition Advisor, WVI East Africa Region

Brussels, Belgium June 14, 2016

Launch of HarvestPlus & World Vision Partnership at Davos (January 2014)

HarvestPlus Director Howarth Bouis (L) and World Vision CEO Kevin Jenkins (R) after signing MOU

We envision a future in which

billions of people, especially the

most vulnerable, will grow and

consume biofortified, nutrient-rich

staple crops in sufficient quantity to achieve public health impact.

Our combined efforts to encourage

communities at risk of hidden hunger to

grow, consume and even sell excess

yields of biofortified staple crops can

contribute significantly to

improve nutrition and food security, and, ultimately, reduce

micronutrient deficiency among at

risk populations.

Nutrition-Smart Agriculture

World Vision and Harvest Plus in Uganda

Esther & Rodgers (2 years)

•Reach: 105,000 smallholder farmers/ households in four districts in northern Uganda, •Payback system: enabled the direct beneficiaries transfer planting material to two other beneficiaries.

World Vision and HarvestPlus in Uganda

• Nutrition education: 23,000 caregivers trained on nutrition modules (how to use OSFP and high iron beans), reaching over 40,000 children < 5

• Farmers-to-farmers mentorship: 62% of farmers surveyed were engaged in production of OSFP and high iron beans in the four districts

World Vision and HarvestPlus in Uganda

Launching Bio-fortification in Burundi

• WV uses Community Care Groups to promote nutrition• Bio-fortification started with 20 tons of iron beans imported from Rwanda two years

ago

Burundi: Expanding the reach

• 198 tons iron beans marketed using value chain approach• In 2015, 58 tons of certified seed produced and sold to NGOs• Nutrtion promotion was condcuted using Positive Deviance Hearth (reached 910

households), 22 community-run crèches with 330 children

Burundi: Preventing Severe Malnutrition

• Enriched porridge is fed to children in community crèches, keeping the pressure off of feeding centres for malnourished children.

• Men, women and children are able to articulate basic nutrition message with songs

Burundi: Women and Smallholder farmers

Female leadership in co-ops and saving groups

Substantial evidence of new investments and asset purchase

Increased purchasing power for improving diet diversity and nutrient density of family foods

Bangladesh: Extra crop in Cropping Pattern

T. AmanSharna (155 days)

Fallow(70 Days)

BoroBRRI dhan28 (140 days)

AmanBRRI dhan62 (100 days)

BoroBRRI dhan64/ BRRI dhan28 (135- 140 days)

Mustard/ lentil/ vegetables(125-130 days)

Country example: Bangladesh

In Bangladesh WV started program to reduce maternal and child mortality and stunting: Intermediate outcomes: •Improved delivery of essential health services to mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under five. •Improved utilization of essential health services by mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under five. •Increased consumption of nutritious foods and supplements by mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under five. •Increased dissemination and use of data on local vital events by civil registries and local planners and decision makers.

Reach: Total= 404,344 people ( 5135 farmers and their families)

Coop leader with BRRI 62 high Zn rice

Summary and way-forward •Summary

• Bio-fortification is greatly contributing to reduce hunger and micronutrient malnutrition among farmers in developing countries.

• However, due to limited resources the existing effort could not meet the need/demand to scale up the intervention in areas where the need is high.

• Way forward

• World Vision-HP will strength efforts to reach more countries to access nutrient rich staple foods

• We pledge for more resources allocation to prevent micronutrient malnutrition in developing country through sustainable means

• Additional research needs to done for other staple crops to meet micronutrient demand among the needy population

For more information:http://wvi.org/nutrition/biofortified-cropshttp://www.harvestplus.org/