The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), in partnership with the UN’s UNITLIFE Trust Fund, has successfully concluded a series of impactful nutrition-focused projects in Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Senegal, targeting malnutrition and strengthening long-term food resilience.
Funded by AED 5.5 million from MBRGI’s 1 Billion Meals campaign, the initiatives supported sustainable food strategies designed to empower local communities. These projects focused on climate-smart agriculture, women’s economic engagement, and community-driven nutrition efforts.
In Niger, a 12-month project with Goal Global promoted bio-fortified, climate-resilient farming, reaching over 168,000 people and enabling access to more than 1.4 million nutritious meals annually.
The DRC initiative, implemented over 17 months in collaboration with UN Women, established a biofortified cassava food chain, benefiting over 128,000 individuals and supporting approximately 1.1 million meals each year.
In Senegal, a two-year project with Action Against Hunger focused on integrated food resilience, reaching 33,000 people and enabling access to an estimated 3.9 million nutritious meals annually.
Prof. Philippe Douste-Blazy, Chairman of UNITLIFE’s Steering Committee, praised the strategic partnership for offering long-term solutions to food insecurity.
“MBRGI’s support has been vital in helping vulnerable communities build resilience and address their nutritional needs sustainably,”
he said.
Launched in 2022 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the 1 Billion Meals campaign aims to provide food aid globally. The initiative forms part of MBRGI’s broader humanitarian efforts, which reached nearly 149 million beneficiaries in 118 countries in 2024.
UNITLIFE continues to scale innovative, women-led approaches to tackle chronic malnutrition through sustainable development.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
