Programme launched to accelerate transformation of food systems
What you need to know:
- The five-year programme worth 50 million euros will also benefit the other five African countries and four Asian countries, which face persistently high levels of malnutrition
Dar es Salaam. The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), in collaboration with the United Republic of Tanzania, has launched a five-year programme known as the ‘Nourishing Food Pathway Programme (NFP), aiming at accelerating the transformation of national food systems.
The five-year programme worth 50 million euros will also benefit the other five African countries and four Asian countries, which face persistently high levels of malnutrition.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday during the launch, GAIN Tanzania’s Head of Programme, Dr Winfrida Mayilla, said the programme will provide technical assistance and support to the country’s National Food System Transformation Pathway strategic approaches.
“By working closely with government agencies and other development partners, the programme seeks to support inclusive decision-making in food systems and policy coherence priorities emerging from those processes. It will also connect Tanzania to other African and Asian countries to exchange policies and best practices,” she said.
She added that it will also support the implementation of the commitments made by Tanzania to the United Nations Food System Summit.
Beyond strengthening food system decision-making processes, the programme will explore strategies to reach the poorest with safe and nutritious foods and inform the private sector to invest further in healthier diets sourced from more sustainable systems.
However, the programme has a strong focus on evidence and data, which will feed into Tanzania’s national food system dashboard.
On his part, Mr Gerald Mweli, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, commented that the programme will further help reduce malnutrition in the country from 30 percent to 24 percent by 2030.
“It is commendable that GAIN has taken a proactive approach. This programme directly impacts the community because malnutrition has been a significant challenge in our society for a long time now. Programmes like this can help us overcome this challenge more quickly,” he said.
