InfoPoint conference: Investing in innovative solutions for nutrition-sensitive agriculture

Reducing malnutrition in all its forms is not only a commitment to achieving fundamental human rights but a profitable investment for present and future generations. Children who escape malnutrition achieve higher income levels as adults and are more likely to also escape poverty. The World Bank shows that the estimated impact of malnutrition on the global economy could be as high as US$3.5 trillion per year, or US$500 per individual (2024 World Bank Investment Framework for Nutrition). Additionally, nutrition is closely linked to climate change, and investing in the climate nutrition nexus can yield significant social, economic and climate benefits. 

Leading towards the N4G Summit in Paris, the EC and IFAD wish to reflect on innovative financial opportunities and investments that show results and can be scaled up and to look ahead on how their programmes and investments can accelerate nutrition outcomes. 

Innovative financing instruments will be showcased during the event with examples from the EU-IFAD partnerships such as the programme on Diaspora investment in sustainable youth entrepreneurship in Mali and the Yield Investment Fund / Small and Medium Agribusiness Development Fund (SMADF) in Uganda. Alima Keita, Co-founder Ciwara Capital will share the experience of an innovative fund owned and managed by Africans living in Europe to support small and medium enterprises in their origin country. 

Erina and Joel Guma, founders of PRISTINE Foods Ltd. based in Uganda, a small enterprise producing liquid and egg powder products, will share their experience as a start-up which grew thanks to access to the Yield Investment Fund. 

Rikke Olivera Grand and Cynthia Torres de Toledo Machado will present the nutrition-climate-biodiversity nexus through the innovative approaches emerging from the Global Programme for Small-scale Agroecology Producers and Sustainable Food Systems Transformation (GP-SAEP) showcasing the experience from Brazil promoting participatory plant breeding through the establishment of agroecological corridors fostering the development of new corn varieties. 

A Video will be featured from Asia Farmers’ Association (AFA) in working with rural women on forgotten foods or, better to say, foods for the future. These foods, forgotten by science but not by the rural people are a key part of healthy diets, providing diversity, nutritionally rich foods and are safety nets between seasons. They foster a climate-change-resilient food system approach by integrating traditional risk-management practices born out of the need to adapt to adverse weather conditions. Moreover, they are viable economic opportunities generating income for women, youth and Indigenous Peoples, leveraging on their knowledge. 

While not designed through a nutrition lens, these experiences are showing that results on nutrition can be achieved through agrobiodiversity approaches and innovative financing instruments. 

Speakers

• Leonard Mizzi, Head of Unit F3- Sustainable Agri-Food systems and Fisheries
• Beatrice Ekesa-Onyango, Lead Technical Specialist Nutrition and Social Inclusion, IFAD
• Guggi Laryea, Senior Partnership Officer EU&SuppRes, IFAD
• Alima Keita, Co-founder Ciwara Capital 
• Rikke Olivera Grand, Lead Global Technical Specialist, Land Tenure & NRM, PMI 
• Cynthia Torres de Toledo Machado (Embrapa, Brazil)
• Erina and Joel Guma, Founders of Pristine Foods Ltd Uganda

Language: English

Q&A session languages: English and French

Registration

Registration for onsite participation at the InfoPoint premises

Register for online participation to the Webex meeting (Webex link will be communicated upon registration)

Read the privacy statement.