200 delegates to brainstorm on African malnutrition
More than 200 delegates, including
dealmakers, entrepreneurs and investors, will meet at the Nutrition
Africa Investor Forum (NAIF) to discuss how to position nutrition as a
promising new investment area.
dealmakers, entrepreneurs and investors, will meet at the Nutrition
Africa Investor Forum (NAIF) to discuss how to position nutrition as a
promising new investment area.
The meeting holding in Nairobi on October
16-17 – World Food Day – is to explore partnerships, access business
finance and enter new markets.
16-17 – World Food Day – is to explore partnerships, access business
finance and enter new markets.
Over these two days, selected Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from across Africa will have opportunities to
participate in the first ever Scaling Up Nutrition Pitch Competition as
well as The Nutrition Dealroom to meet venture
capitalists and business financiers to improve their access to finance.
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from across Africa will have opportunities to
participate in the first ever Scaling Up Nutrition Pitch Competition as
well as The Nutrition Dealroom to meet venture
capitalists and business financiers to improve their access to finance.
NAIF is a first-of-a-kind event, hosted
by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in partnership with
Royal DSM, the SUN Business Network (SBN) and African Business
magazine.
by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in partnership with
Royal DSM, the SUN Business Network (SBN) and African Business
magazine.
The event will bring together leaders
from commerce, agri-food, development agencies, academia along with
investors to share their experiences, present research results, explore
collaborations and spark new ideas – all with the
aim of developing new projects and attracting investment for
high-impact nutrition businesses.
from commerce, agri-food, development agencies, academia along with
investors to share their experiences, present research results, explore
collaborations and spark new ideas – all with the
aim of developing new projects and attracting investment for
high-impact nutrition businesses.
Malnutrition affects millions of children across the world.
Africa alone has estimated that 58.7 million children under the age of five are stunted – having a low height for a given age –
and 13.8 million who are wasting – low weight for a certain height.
and 13.8 million who are wasting – low weight for a certain height.
There is no doubt that stunted children today will lead to stunted economies tomorrow.
In fact, African nations lose between
1.9% and 16% of the gross domestic product (GDP) annually to
undernutrition due to increased mortality, absenteeism, chronic
illnesses, and lost productivity.
1.9% and 16% of the gross domestic product (GDP) annually to
undernutrition due to increased mortality, absenteeism, chronic
illnesses, and lost productivity.
Governments alone cannot address this
issue. Private sector investment is key to tackle this challenge. In
fact, the nutrition sector offers tremendous opportunities to
businesses.
issue. Private sector investment is key to tackle this challenge. In
fact, the nutrition sector offers tremendous opportunities to
businesses.
There is a central role for business in
tackling malnutrition in Africa, explains Fokko Wientjes, vice president
of nutrition in emerging markets and public-private partnerships at
Royal DSM.
tackling malnutrition in Africa, explains Fokko Wientjes, vice president
of nutrition in emerging markets and public-private partnerships at
Royal DSM.
“As scaling up nutrition action delivers
at least $16 in returns on investment for every $1 spent,
nutrition-sensitive capital investments along the entire food value
chain are likely to represent a tremendous purpose-driven investment
opportunity.
at least $16 in returns on investment for every $1 spent,
nutrition-sensitive capital investments along the entire food value
chain are likely to represent a tremendous purpose-driven investment
opportunity.
“We will fundamentally integrate SDG 1
(poverty reduction) with SDG 2 (hunger & nutrition) by producing
locally; Africa nourishes Africa.”
(poverty reduction) with SDG 2 (hunger & nutrition) by producing
locally; Africa nourishes Africa.”
Africa’s demographic dividend is also an opportunity, Mr. Wientjes reveals,
“There are more than 1 billion people in the current African consumer market.
This is expected to increase to more than
2 billion by 2050. With 226 million people aged between 15 and 25
years, the continent also has the youngest population in the world.
2 billion by 2050. With 226 million people aged between 15 and 25
years, the continent also has the youngest population in the world.
This represents enormous potential: a
young, growing African consumer market that is more health-conscious,
favouring nutritious and healthy foods.
young, growing African consumer market that is more health-conscious,
favouring nutritious and healthy foods.
Emerging markets are the fastest
urbanizing countries in the world. They are moving away from subsistence
and smallholder farming and with that separating the producer from the
consumer.”
urbanizing countries in the world. They are moving away from subsistence
and smallholder farming and with that separating the producer from the
consumer.”
In fact, SMEs, along with smallholder
farmers, make up the bulk of the actors in the food system in developing
and emerging markets. They play a key role as input suppliers,
off-takers, processors, and distributors, which furthermore
creates jobs and enhances regional economic growth.
farmers, make up the bulk of the actors in the food system in developing
and emerging markets. They play a key role as input suppliers,
off-takers, processors, and distributors, which furthermore
creates jobs and enhances regional economic growth.
Yet, barriers to accessing finance mean
that agri-food SMEs are not achieving their full potential in developing
and scaling up market-based solutions that can improve the consumption
of safe and nutritious foods.
that agri-food SMEs are not achieving their full potential in developing
and scaling up market-based solutions that can improve the consumption
of safe and nutritious foods.
“We have a great opportunity to close
that gap,” explains Dr. Lawrence Haddad, GAIN’s Executive Director, “by
creating a sustainable food value chain and working through local
agrifood industry SMEs, to ensure that nutritious
foods are more accessible, affordable, and aspirational.
that gap,” explains Dr. Lawrence Haddad, GAIN’s Executive Director, “by
creating a sustainable food value chain and working through local
agrifood industry SMEs, to ensure that nutritious
foods are more accessible, affordable, and aspirational.
To help this cause, GAIN has recently
launched a Nutritious Foods Financing Programme which aims to build and
maintain an investable pipeline of opportunities among agrifood SMEs,
linking this to investors, leveraging blended
finance options to help de-risk private investments, and providing
technical assistance to investees”.
launched a Nutritious Foods Financing Programme which aims to build and
maintain an investable pipeline of opportunities among agrifood SMEs,
linking this to investors, leveraging blended
finance options to help de-risk private investments, and providing
technical assistance to investees”.
The Forum will also be host to two
engagement channels to facilitate partnerships between high-impact
nutrition businesses and venture capitalists and financiers.
engagement channels to facilitate partnerships between high-impact
nutrition businesses and venture capitalists and financiers.
