NIGER – The public food company, Kerry Group has unveiled a US$1.14 million (€1 million) commitment to improve food security, nutrition and the overall livelihoods in the Tahoua Region of Niger.
The four-year project supported by Kerry Group, will be implemented by leading international NGO, Concern Worldwide and brings RAIN (Realigning Agriculture to Improve Nutrition) to West Africa.
Through the programme, the initiative will make lasting improvements to food and nutrition security by tackling hunger and undernutrition.
According to the company, the second phase of the RAIN programme targets to make a positive, long-term impact on the lives of some of the world’s poorest people.
RAIN has an objective of increasing food production and encouraging a more diverse, nutrient-rich diet, promote key health practices for improved maternal and child nutrition.
Additionally, it works to improve access to reliable and safe water sources and reduce inequalities experienced by the extreme poor and vulnerable, particularly women and girls.
“As the world’s leading Taste & Nutrition company, we recognise the positive impact Kerry can have on the millions of people who consume our products every day. However, many of the world’s poorest people are beyond our direct reach.
The RAIN programme offers practical support to some of those most affected by hunger and malnutrition,” said Edmond Scanlon, Kerry Group Chief Executive during the launch of the programme on World Food Day 2018.
Anne O’Mahony, International Programme Director, Concern Worldwide said: “With Kerry Group’s support, Concern has the opportunity to build on the learnings from RAIN in Zambia by extending development programming to a new country, with a continuing focus on integrating sustainable agricultural and nutritional practices.
Our partnership with Kerry Group is an opportunity to secure lasting and meaningful change in some of the world’s poorest communities.”
This builds on the success of the previous Kerry funded RAIN project in Zambia and the extension is in line with the group’s ambition to support better nutrition for all.
Since 2011, Kerry Group has contributed US$1.42 million towards the pioneering work carried out by Concern Worldwide, the developer of the RAIN project, in the Mumbwa District of Zambia.
The award-winning RAIN project aims to identify sustainable, scalable and replicable solutions for prevention of under-nutrition and influence international policy in relation to prevention of childhood stunting.
