Established in 2014, the GAIN Nordic Partnership is a multi-sector platform which aims to facilitate scalable and inclusive business models that enhance the nutritional value of food in developing countries. The platform brings together private companies, government agencies, civil society organisations and universities to co-develop solutions and share knowledge and expertise to ensure that nutritious, safe, tasty and affordable products reach poor consumers and vulnerable groups.
The founding partners of the GAIN Nordic Partnership are Arla Foods Ingredients (AFI), the Confederation of the Danish Industry, DanChurchAid, GAIN and Tetra Pak. Karl Pedersen og Hustrus Industrifond has provided financial support to the GAIN Nordic Secretariat for the facilitation of the partnership.
The GAIN Nordic partners have developed a broad portfolio of various nutritious and affordable food concepts and are currently implementing two projects aimed at developing sustainable supply chains for nutritious and affordable dairy products: one in Ethiopia ("Access to better dairy"), and another in Zambia ("GAIN Nutrition 4 Zambia").
The development agency of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Danida) provides financial support to the project in Ethiopia, via the funding facility Danida Market Development Partnerships (DMDP). DMDP aim to promote commercially oriented partnerships that contribute to market development and local economic growth in developing countries.
The project in Zambia received support from the Business Innovation Facility, a market systems development programme funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
Access to better dairy in Ethiopia
The GAIN Nordic Partnership is currently implementing a project with the aim to bring more nutritious dairy products to low-income consumers in Ethiopia. The partnership consortium is led by GAIN and consists of Danish as well as Ethiopian organisations – with financial support from Danida, the Danish development cooperation agency.
Drawing on their collective strengths, partners aim to make better use of the milk available in Ethiopia and bring to market a locally-produced and fortified yoghurt, at a price that low-income consumers can afford. Many families in Ethiopia live on diets that lack the vitamins and nutrients essential to child growth and development. The project targets children aged three to seven, as well as mothers - who are often malnourished during pregnancy and the breastfeeding period.
The partners have co-created a product that fits the local taste, can be produced at the local dairy processor, is fortified with vitamins and minerals and contains significantly lower amounts of added sugar than current flavoured yoghurt available on the market.
To increase the quality of the milk, the project includes support to smallholder farmers supplying milk to the dairy processor. Partners are also supporting market development by expanding reach through informal kiosks and testing the solution via school meals.
GAIN Nutrition 4 Zambia
Arla Foods Ingredients (AFI), BASF, Finta (a local dairy company), GAIN, the SUN Business Network, and Tetra Pak have been working together to develop the “GAIN Nutrition for Zambia” project. The project received support from the Business Innovation Facility, a market systems development programme funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
Zambia is facing significant challenges in terms of chronic malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. At the same time, obesity is on the rise. Dairy products are locally available, but the current dairy-drink options on the market are filled with non-nutritious ingredients. This situation compelled the partners to work together to develop an ultra-high temperature processing (UHT), dairy-based nutritious drink.
The drink is produced from local milk and is fortified with key vitamins and minerals missing from the diet of many Zambians. The product is designed to be nutritious, affordable and desirable for low-income consumers and the commercially sustainable business model has the potential to be replicated and scaled in other countries and markets.