Ever wondered how global initiatives are reshaping food security in West Africa? Here’s how BioAnalyt and CRS together have forged partnerships and innovative approaches driving change.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), established in 1943, has been a relentless force in promoting global human development and fighting poverty and disease. In June 2022, CRS embarked on an initiative, the Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) project, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This 18-month endeavor launched in West Africa aims to enhance the effectiveness of food fortification in staple foods across the 15 countries of the West African region. CRS is implementing the second phase of this initiative in West Africa in collaboration with GIZ, the government ministries, and the National Fortification Alliance of these West African countries to:
- Identifying key stakeholders in the LSFF landscape across West Africa
- Exploring public-private partnerships in LSFF governance and implementation
- Addressing challenges and proposing measures to enhance the effectiveness of fortification alliances in the region
Through this initiative, CRS identified common obstacles to food fortification such as enforcement limitations, including limited enforcement capacity, poor coordination, inactive alliances, and low commitment. These challenges underscored the critical role of partnerships in fortification efforts (1).
In support of the Food Fortification Project in West Africa, BioAnalyt, and its non-profit technical service provider, QuImpact, have partnered with CRS to support technical capacity reinforcement and provide essential resources. This includes supplying portable iCheck devices for precise micronutrient analysis. QuImpact offers tailored training sessions to empower local stakeholders with advanced analytical skills and additional technical support.
Joint Efforts Across West Africa
BioAnalyt and QuImpact in collaboration with CRS conducted training sessions in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal, Togo. These sessions focused on training:
- The fortification statuses in the country,
- Quality assurance and quality control
- Sample analysis and reporting
- Qualitative and quantitative testing
- Hands-on training for iCheck devices to analyze crucial micronutrients like vitamin A, iodine, and iron in staple foods such as edible oils, salt, and flour.
Here’s more insight into these training sessions:
Ghana: A staggering 78% of children under two years old fail to meet the necessary dietary diversity criteria, as indicated by their low minimum dietary diversity scores. Collaborating with CRS, BioAnalyt’s objective was to strengthen the oversight of fortified foods through the distribution of rapid test kits (iChecks). To achieve this, we conducted training for 40 attendees that included from including laboratory and regulatory bodies, on how to effectively utilize the devices. By enhancing regulatory compliance and promoting effective food fortification practices, we aim to significantly improve public health outcomes by addressing micronutrient deficiencies.
Côte d’Ivoire: Despite experiencing economic growth, Ivory Coast continues to grapple with challenges related to nutrition and food security. CRS’s Food fortification project represents a significant stride in enhancing fortification efforts. This involves bolstering the capacity of public sector institutions including regulatory structures in monitoring and controlling fortified foods with practical application of rapid tests for analyzing micronutrient levels. As technical capacity-building service providers, BioAnalyt and QuImpact have managed to contribute to this by training 56 trainees, focusing on analytical methods and devices. This in turn allows the regulatory authorities to understand the methods of analyzing and enforcing the right fortification methods.
Senegal: With high rates of deficiencies affecting women and children, has implemented various fortification initiatives through bodies like the Senegalese Committee for the Fortification of Foods with Micronutrients (COSFAM). Here’s where BioAnalyt and QuImpact stepped in along with CRS to train 60 attendees and to help ensure that the ministries involved in food fortification could understand the solutions we provide. This helps drive the quality and reinforces the existing food fortification framework. However, at the country level, some gaps require attention where we could ensure sustainable, high-quality food fortification programs that effectively control and prevent micronutrient deficiencies.
Togo: The establishment of Togo’s National Committee for Food Fortification (CNFA) in 2009 aimed to coordinate fortification efforts for widespread consumption among the Togolese population. However, the national fortification alliances currently face sustainability challenges. The main objective of the training was to strengthen the capacities of the regulatory structures on the regulatory control and monitoring system as well as the practical use of rapid tests for the analysis of iodine, iron, and vitamin A in fortified foods. Despite facing challenges with the shortage of resources to train 60 personnel, team BioAnalyt and QuImpact managed to deliver an enriching experience. We hope to support the local authorities in advocating for food quality control and nutrition enrichment.
Advancing Food Fortification Through Partnerships
BioAnalyt’s partnership with CRS in the LSFF project in West Africa marks a significant stride in combating nutrition deficiencies. By strengthening regulatory oversight and fostering public-private collaborations, these initiatives aim to improve the quality and reach of fortified foods, particularly benefiting vulnerable groups like women and children. This collaborative effort exemplifies the potential for impactful change through concerted action and innovation in global health.
Stay tuned for more updates and follow our journey as we continue to collaborate and contribute our bit to this cause. If you would like to know about the technology we work with, feel free to contact us here.