Nutrition International, Addis Ababa (2026)

02/04/2026

Nearly 1 in 5 children under five in Indonesia is affected by stunting. Deficiencies in iron, zinc, and folate remain widespread, and for many families, rice is the one food on the table every single day.

That's why we are proud to announce that Nutrition International with the generous support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is working on the integration of fortified rice into Indonesia's national Free Nutritious Meal Program, Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG).

Launched in January 2025 and set to reach 90 million people by 2029, MBG is a generational opportunity to improve nutrition at scale. Rice fortification is one of the most cost-effective nutrition interventions, estimated to deliver US$17 in health benefits for every US$1 invested, and embedding it into a national social safety program of this size could be transformative.

Over the next nine months, our team will develop an evidence-based roadmap and costed implementation model and run a real-world proof-of-concept to validate delivery and quality assurance on the ground.

Since 2006, Nutrition International has been a key ally of the Government of Indonesia and has worked with private sector on large-scale food fortification. We are grateful to ADB for their partnership and look forward to sharing updates as this work unfolds.

31/03/2026

What does it take to support a healthy pregnancy? It's more than a clinic visit. 🤰

In Bauchi State, Nigeria, women are showing up for each other in a powerful way. Mama-to-mama peer support groups are connecting pregnant women with the guidance, encouragement, and care they need — from someone who truly understands what they're going through.

Through home visits and peer support, these groups are helping women stay engaged throughout their pregnancies, including taking multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) every day. MMS provides a wider range of vitamins and minerals than traditional supplements, and can make a real difference for the health of both mother and baby.

This is community care in action — and it's part of a larger research effort led by the Government of Nigeria and Bauchi State, in partnership with Nutrition International, to understand how best to scale MMS and improve maternal health across the country.

Watch the short clip above, then follow the link to see the full story ❤️

▶️ Full video: https://nutritionintl.org/news/all-stories/watch-community-support-and-clinic-care-in-pregnancy-mms-bauchi-nigeria/

27/03/2026

What does it actually take to reduce preventable child deaths? We went inside Zewditu Memorial Hospital in Addis Ababa to find out.

Through our partnership with the Government of Ethiopia, nutrition services are woven directly into routine health care — growth monitoring, vitamin A supplementation, deworming, maternal and child nutrition screening, and acute malnutrition management. No parallel systems. No one-off campaigns. Just consistent, equitable care reaching vulnerable women and children every day.

The first 1,000 days from pregnancy to a child's second birthday are a critical and time-limited window for physical growth, brain development, and long-term health. The programming you'll see in this video is designed around that window — and the results speak for themselves.

Vitamin A supplementation strengthens immunity and can prevent up to 24% of under-five deaths. Paired with strong promotion of breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and care-seeking behaviours, integrated nutrition services like these are among the most impactful investments a health system can make.

Watch the video to go behind the scenes.

25/03/2026

On March 18, 2026, the Governing Board of the National Nutrition Council (Official) of the Philippines approved a resolution supporting revisions to the national wheat flour fortification standard to include folic acid and a more bioavailable form of iron — bringing the national standard in line with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation and improving the ability of fortified wheat flour to have an impact on rates of birth defects and iron deficiency anemia.

This is an important step forward towards improvement in the public health nutrition status of population of in the Philippines, and the result of two years of sustained collaboration between National Nutrition Council (Official), Philippines and Nutrition International along with Food Fortification Initiative through the Bridging the Fortification Gap in the Philippines project, funded by the QuantEdge Advancement Initiative (QAI). Nutrition International and development partners have been advocating for this revision in the wheat flour fortification standard for almost a decade.

The milestone reflects close coordination across Nutrition International's Nutrition Governance and Large-scale Food Fortification portfolios and the Food Fortification Initiative — combining policy, advocacy, and technical expertise to support a complex regulatory reform process.

The next phase will focus on supporting the Department of Health in drafting and issuing the Administrative Order, followed by issuance of a Memorandum Circular by the Food and Drug Administration and finalizing the revised standard. Nutrition International and the Food Fortification Initiative will provide technical training to wheat flour millers and premix producers and government regulatory officials on fortification process and quality assurance and quality control to support production of adequately fortified wheat flour and compliance by millers as per the revised standard.

Building on our continuous efforts to strengthen food fortification in the Philippines, this progress reflects how sustained partnership with government can help improve dietary quality of the population, especially women of reproductive age and children.

Learn more: https://nnc.gov.ph/nnc-sets-priorities-for-healthier-diets-and-reduced-ncds/

23/03/2026

Ending malnutrition in Africa takes all of us. 🌍

Nutrition International President & CEO Joel Spicer shares why collective action — and partnerships like our renewed MoU with the African Union — are essential to building a continent where everyone can thrive.

Watch the video above to hear his message and learn more about what this partnership means for communities across Africa. 💚

📰 Full story here:

https://nutritionintl.org/news/all-news/african-union-nutrition-international-strengthen-partnership-accelerate-nutrition-security-africa/

20/03/2026

Did you know that something as simple as cooking oil can help tackle malnutrition at a population level? That's the power of large-scale food fortification, and it's what drives the work of Narjis Rubab, Head of Technical Support and Quality Assurance at a food manufacturer in Karachi, Pakistan.

In our latest Q&A, Narjis shares her journey from clinical nutritionist to industry leader, and why she's passionate about getting more women into the food fortification sector. Her story is a testament to what happens when technical expertise meets public health purpose.

"Change doesn't happen overnight, but consistent representation, confident participation in decision-making forums, and advocacy for diversity help ensure that fortification programs are both scientifically sound and socially equitable."

Read the full interview:

https://nutritionintl.org/news/all-stories/qa-clinical-nutrition-to-industry-leadership-food-fortification-pakistan/

18/03/2026

Meet Ansata Seydi, a midwife from Nyanga, Senegal, who has spent years supporting women and families through some of life's most important moments.

Despite her deep knowledge of her community's needs, Ansata rarely had a seat at the table when local health decisions were being made. "Before, I did my work, but I didn't see myself as a female leader," she says.

That changed through the PINGS program, led by Nutrition International alongside the Senegalese Women's Council and the School of Oratory Arts, with support from the Government of Canada. With access to leadership training, coaching, and advocacy tools, Ansata began showing up in formal spaces with confidence — engaging the mayor, local councillors, and district administrators to advocate for the health needs of women and young people in her community.

The result? Her municipality committed to building new adolescent health spaces and additional health centres — real, tangible change for the people she serves every day.

And she's one of many. Across five regions of Senegal, frontline women health workers are stepping into leadership roles and reshaping how local health and nutrition decisions get made.

Read Ansata's full story here: https://nutritionintl.org/news/all-stories/expanding-womens-leadership-in-local-health-systems/

17/03/2026

Meet Bitty Gueye, a fish seller from Tambacounda, Senegal 🐟

In this remote, arid region, fish travel miles in the heat before reaching market stalls. For Bitty and the women in her community, every unsold fish used to mean a real loss — a missed meal, a medical visit put off, school fees left unpaid.

That changed when, through the PINGS project implemented by Nutrition International and its partners with support from the Government of Canada, Bitty learned how to smoke and dry fish to preserve what she couldn't sell the same day. She also gained skills in packaging and marketing that helped her reach more customers and earn more consistently.

"What was once a loss has become an opportunity. I now know what to do with my unsold fish — I can transform them into smoked or dried fish, which I can then sell."

It's a simple shift with a powerful ripple effect. More income for Bitty. More nutrient-rich food available in her community. And more confidence for the women around her doing the same.

Read her full story here 👉 https://nutritionintl.org/news/all-stories/extending-the-value-of-every-catch/

13/03/2026

Nutrition International is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Saskatchewan College of Agriculture and Bioresources to advance joint research and development projects.

The two organizations intend to bring together experts in agriculture, food systems, and human nutrition to develop micronutrient-fortified and nutritionally enhanced lentils.

The need for food based effective nutrition interventions has never been more urgent. Micronutrient deficiencies cost the global economy an estimated US $761 billion annually, while iron deficiency alone affects approximately two billion people worldwide. These are not just statistics — they represent real consequences for children's development, women's health, and communities' economic potential.

This partnership brings together Canadian agricultural innovation, scientific expertise, and global nutrition leadership to develop a scalable, evidence-based solution to this challenge. This MoU formalizes a shared commitment to producing, testing, and bringing to market a viable, nutritionally enhanced lentil product — one that is affordable, culturally accepted, and environmentally sustainable.

Lentils are already a staple in the diets of millions across the globe. As Canada's top agricultural export, shipped to over 80 countries each year, they represent a uniquely practical and scalable vehicle for delivering essential micronutrients to populations that need them most. Together with the University of Saskatchewan, we aim to position Canada at the forefront of R&D on enhancing the nutritional value and macro- and micronutrient content of lentils, strengthening global nutrition outcomes while reinforcing Canada's role as a leader in sustainable agriculture and food innovation.

Read the full press release here: https://nutritionintl.org/news/all-news/nutrition-international-university-of-saskatchewan-partner-advance-fortified-lentils-global-health/

12/03/2026

What does adolescent nutrition have to do with becoming a lawyer? For Joya, a Grade 9 student in Bangladesh: everything.

Joya's school is one of 2,200 across Bangladesh now taking part in a national school-based nutrition program. Girls receive weekly iron and folic acid supplements, and both girls and boys learn about the nutrition habits that can help them thrive — in school and beyond.

In this video, Joya's teacher explains what the program looks like day to day and why it is making such a difference for students like Joya.

Watch her story here: https://nutritionintl.org/news/all-field-stories/watch-the-power-of-adolescent-nutrition-programming-bangladesh/

10/03/2026

What does it take to truly understand the barriers adolescents face when it comes to health and nutrition? It starts with listening.

We published a learning resource: a s*x- and gender-based analysis (SGBA) of adolescent health and nutrition in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. Developed as part of our REACTS-IN project, the report digs into the root causes of gender inequality and poor nutrition outcomes in the community, and what can be done about them.

The findings show how deeply gender norms shape everyday realities: girls receiving smaller, less nutritious meals at home; young women dropping out of school to take on caregiving responsibilities; adolescent mothers avoiding health facilities out of fear of stigma.

But there is real hope, too. Peer-led programs, community leaders stepping up, and school-based interventions are already making a difference on the ground.

The report sets out clear recommendations for governments, health systems, and partners committed to building fairer, more gender-responsive services for adolescents — now and in the years ahead.

📖 Read the full summary report: https://nutritionintl.org/learning-resource/summary-report-sgba-adolescent-health-nutrition-kenya/

08/03/2026

Ending violence against women requires confronting the realities that stand in the way of a more just world. This International Women's Day, we are reminded that to truly give — safety, freedom from violence, and equal opportunity — is to gain stronger families, healthier communities, and a more equitable world.

The theme for International Women's Day 2026 challenges us to envision a world where rights are upheld, justice is accessible, and action is taken to ensure every woman and girl can live free from violence, bias, and discrimination. And that vision is inseparable from nutrition and health. When women and girls are safe, empowered, and supported, they are better able to access nutritious food, healthcare, and resources for themselves and their families.

Our Senior Gender Equality Specialist Sarah Pentlow has seen this firsthand. In her new blog post, she shares reflections from the Tabora region of Tanzania, where she worked alongside communities through our BRIGHT project to have honest, grounded conversations about gender-based violence and what it really takes to create change.

Her message is clear: ending violence against women is not about taking power away from one group to give to another. It is about building homes and communities where everyone can thrive.

Read her full story at the link below.

https://nutritionintl.org/news/all-blog-posts/ending-violence-against-women-reflections-from-tanzania/

Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada

Nutrition International