Founded in 1992, Nutrition International (NI) is a global organization dedicated to delivering proven nutrition interventions to those who need them most. Working in partnership with countries, donors and implementers, our experts conduct cutting-edge nutrition research, support critical policy formulation, and integrate nutrition into broader development programs.

NI started its operations in India in 1998 and is currently having programs across 7 states viz.Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Primarily, NI in India has been working to achieve the following objectives:

1. Increase biannual administration of Vitamin A syrup to all children 9-59 months of age in select states;
2. Expand zinc supplementation along with Low Osmolarity (LO) Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) for the treatment of childhood diarrhoea in select states;
3. Increase the coverage of Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) programs for preschool children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women to strengthen National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI);
4. Facility based newborn care, nutrition and survival to promote practices of delayed cord clamping, Vitamin K injection at birth, KMC, early initiation of breastfeeding and IFA for lactating mothers in line with India Newborn Action Plan (INAP);
5. Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN);
6. Improve production, monitoring and consumption of iodized salt through technical support to salt producers, state governments and central government to achieve Universal Salt Iodization (USI) and strengthen implementation of National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Program (NIDDCP);
7. Introduce and promote the use of fortified staples (Rice, Wheat flour, Double Fortified Salt, milk and oil) through social safety programs of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Mid day meals (MDM) and Public distribution system (PDS) to improve the nutritional status of the most vulnerable.

Ottawa, Canada

a. Maternal health and Child care (for e.g. Maternal and child micro-nutrient/ dietary supplementation/ Food fortification for children, women and general population/ Iron Folic Acid supplementation/ Vitamin A supplementation)

Gujarat

Across entire state of Gujarat

Capacitate the wheat flour millers of the state to produce adequately fortified wheat flour

Other

Nutrition International is an internal not-for-profit organization.

NI's engagement with Gujarat roller flour miller's association entailed the following activities:
1. An industry assessment was undertaken to understand the capacity of roller flour millers to produce Fortified Wheat Flour (FWF).
2. Supported setting up of QA/QC laboratory by GRFMA for testing and monitoring quality of FWF produced and distributed in the state.
3. Capacitated the roller flour millers through training of their staff on GMP, production and QA/QC processes required for ensuring quality of fortified wheat flour.
4. Developed a Behavioural Change Communication strategy and communication materials for millers to introduce FWF in the market.

Families purchasing fortified wheat flour from open market

Yes

Private

Gujarat Roller Flour Millers Association

No

No baseline was conducted

No endline was conducted

No

NA

1. During CY 2017, 90,098 MT of wheat flour was produced by 8 wheat flour millers.
2. Flour millers were oriented on good manufacturing practices for the production of adequately fortified wheat flour, quality control and quality assurance processes.
3. A consultative workshop was conducted to take inputs from various stakeholders on the BCI strategy and communication materials. Participants at the workshop included members of Gujarat Roller Flour Mills Association (GRFMA) and representatives of Hotel owners association and Gujarat State Bakers federation. Based on the feedback received from the workshop a prototype of finalized communication materials including SMS with key message, Voice call, Danglers, Calendars, Radio Spots, Animation clips, TV spots, polypack design and Information sheet on fortified wheat flour were shared with GRFMA to generate consumer demand.

No specific plans to scale up as our engagement is already at state level. we will provide technical support to those millers who will be interested in fortifying wheat flour.

Program is ongoing.

Lack of awareness amongst consumers on benefits of fortified wheat flour results in limited demand for fortified wheat flour in open market.

Project is ongoing.

Nutrition International has been the pioneer in introducing Wheat Flour Fortification through Public Distribution System in 2 states of India. Currently NI is engaged in building the capacity of wheat flour millers of Gujarat to produce adequately fortified wheat flour that can be marketed through their existing supply chain. This program would provide us an understanding on the feasibility of introducing fortified wheat flour through commercial channel.


-Sucharita Dutta,
Country Director - India
Nutrition International"

Founded in 1992, Nutrition International (NI) is a global organization dedicated to delivering proven nutrition interventions to those who need them most. Working in partnership with countries, donors and implementers, our experts conduct cutting-edge nutrition research, support critical policy formulation, and integrate nutrition into broader development programs. NI started its operations in India in 1998 and is currently having programs across 7 states viz.Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Primarily, NI in India has been working to achieve the following objectives:

• Increase biannual administration of Vitamin A syrup to all children 9-59 months of age in select states; • Expand zinc supplementation along with Low Osmolarity (LO) Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) for the treatment of childhood diarrhoea in select states; • Increase the coverage of Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) programs for preschool children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women to strengthen National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI);
• Facility based newborn care, nutrition and survival to promote practices of delayed cord clamping, Vitamin K injection at birth, KMC, early initiation of breastfeeding and IFA for lactating mothers in line with India Newborn Action Plan (INAP);
• Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN);
• Improve production, monitoring and consumption of iodized salt through technical support to salt producers, state governments and central government to achieve Universal Salt Iodization (USI) and strengthen implementation of National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Program (NIDDCP); • Introduce and promote the use of fortified staples (Rice, Wheat flour, Double Fortified Salt, milk and oil) through social safety programs of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Mid day meals (MDM) and Public distribution system (PDS) to improve the nutritional status of the most vulnerable.

Ottawa, Canada

a. Maternal health and Child care (for e.g. Maternal and child micro-nutrient/ dietary supplementation/ Food fortification for children, women and general population/ Iron Folic Acid supplementation/ Vitamin A supplementation)

Madhya Pradesh

Alirajpur, Dindori, Anuppur, Betul, Dhar, Balaghat, Ratlam, Barwani, Mandla, Khargone, Chhindwada, Shahdol, Seone, Jhabua, Sheopur, Hoshangabad, Burhandpu, Khandwa, Sidhi, and Umaria.

To improve the nutritional status of the beneficiaries of public distribution system with introduction of double fortified salt.

Other

Nutrition International is non-profit organization.

Providing technical support to the Government of Madhya Pradesh (GoMP) in introducing DFS through PDS in 89 tribal blocks spread across 20 districts of Madhya Pradesh. Technical support includes the following: 1. Technical support towards development of tender document for the procurement of DFS. 2. Develop design and layout for the DFS salt packets. 3. Development of DFS technical training module 4. Conduct TOT at the state and district levels officials, warehouse in-charge, and FPS shop owners and quality controllers. 5. Development of Behavioural change communication strategy and communication material and its roll out.

Families benefiting public distribution system.

Yes

NGO/Development organisations

Departments of state government

Yes

Baseline is ongoing.

Endline is yet to start.

No

NA

Based on the advocacy of NI, state has procured DFS for one year and the DFS was launched by Honorable Chief Minister of the state. In addition to this, BCI campaign was also launched in the same event.

Yes. NI will provide technical support to the state for scaling up this initiative to the entire state of Madhya Pradesh.

Project is ongoing.

The procurement of DFS took longer than expected.

Project is ongoing.

Nutrition International is privileged to be the technical partner of state government of Madhya Pradesh in introducing Double Fortified Salt through Public Distribution System. Through this program, DFS is expected to benefit 2.5 million families of 89 tribal blocks across 20 districts of the state. As an organization, NI is committed to support state governments in addressing micronutrient deficiencies benefiting the most vulnerable sections of the population especially women and children. - Sucharita Dutta, Country Director – India, Nutrition International.