GAIN, Gates Foundation launch $500,000 fund for food fortification programme

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in collaboration with the Gates Foundation on Thursday launched the Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) fund, which will make available $500,000 to regulatory Agencies to propel projects critical to promoting fortified foods in Nigeria.

The regulatory Agencies, which include Standards Organisation of Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) would be required to promote fortification compliance, improve testing methods, and scale up technological innovations like the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) platform.

Speaking during the Joint Regulatory Agencies Director Generals’ Roundtable in Abuja, Michael Ojo, Country Director of GAIN, emphasised the need for a collective responsibility to strengthen food fortification standards across Nigeria.

He explained that since its launch in 2022, the Roundtable had played a critical role in facilitating coordination and decision-making to drive compliance with large-scale food fortification (LSFF) standards, noting that though remarkable strides had been made in fortification compliance over the past years, challenges remain and that requires collective action and strategic alignment among key stakeholders.

‘’At GAIN, we remain committed to supporting the Nigerian government and regulatory agencies in achieving healthier diets for all. Through initiatives like the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) project and the LSFF Innovations Fund, we aim to provide the necessary tools and resources to enhance fortification enforcement and compliance.

‘’We are confident that through stronger collaboration, policy alignment, and regulatory innovations, we can create a more effective and sustainable LSFF ecosystem in Nigeria. Your leadership and commitment to this process are invaluable in ensuring that fortified foods reach the intended populations at the right standards and quality,’’ he said.

Ifeanyi Okeke, Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) noted that as the Apex standardisation body, SON in collaboration with relevant MDAs and development partners, had played a pivotal role in advancing large-scale food fortification efforts, ensuring the continuous improvement of nutritional standards in Nigeria.

The organisation, according to him, had continued in rigorous factory-level monitoring, which he said, had been instrumental in enforcing adherence to fortification guidelines, boosting industry compliance, and ensuring that fortified food vehicles-including sugar, vegetable oils, margarine, and flours-meet national standards.

‘’SON has strengthened quality assurance measures by conducting regular inspections and monitoring of food processing facilities to ensure compliance with fortification standards, thereby improving the overall effectiveness of fortification programs.

‘’Through increased research, data collection, and analysis of nutrient deficiencies and food consumption patterns, we have strengthened fortification standards and tailored them to meet the evolving needs of our population. Additionally, the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus (DFQT+) initiative has enhanced supply chain transparency, regulatory oversight, and cost-effective monitoring of fortified edible oils and supporting rice fortification Program in Nigeria through standardization activities,’’ he said.

Speaking further, Ojo said that Nigeria had taken a leadership role within the West African Fortification Alliance, ensuring that fortification policies and regulations align with global best practices. ‘’We continue to engage in regional discussions to harmonise fortification standards and address shared challenges. Furthermore, SON has sustained its efforts in capacity building, training food manufacturers, conducting market surveillance, and imposing necessary sanctions to uphold food fortification integrity,’’ he added.