Ghana Nutrition Improvement Project: Co-designing a P.ACT to tackle infant malnutrition
Credit: Ghana Nutrition Improvement Project
Description: The Ghana Nutrition Improvement Project (GNIP), initiated by the Ajinomoto Foundation in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), aims to combat child malnutrition, which remains a significant challenge in Ghana, with a national stunting prevalence of 21% as of 2018. The project focuses on KOKO Plus, a nutritional supplement designed to enhance traditional complementary foods, thereby improving the dietary quality for children. Since its inception in 2009, GNIP has evolved into a multi-stakeholder partnership that promotes nutrition education and distributes KOKO Plus through local health workers and retail shops. As of 2020, the initiative had reached 86,000 mothers across 57 districts, with plans to expand to 178 districts by 2025, targeting 490,000 beneficiaries. Utilizing the P.ACT methodology, GHS and TAF conducted workshops to identify key success factors and opportunities for strengthening their partnership. They established metrics for monitoring success and discussed financial sustainability strategies to ensure long-term viability. The collaboration emphasizes a shared commitment to improving infant nutrition and enhancing community health practices while addressing challenges such as distribution in rural areas and achieving profitability. The project reflects a comprehensive approach to public-private partnerships aimed at fostering better health outcomes for Ghanaian children.