MBRGI implements AED 5.5mln worth of projects to address malnutrition across 3 African countries
Through the 1 Billion Meals campaign, MBRGI contributed AED 5.5 million to UNITLIFE programs in Niger, DRC, and Senegal. This funding supported long-term food security strategies.
The MBRGI-UNITLIFE partnership prioritizes sustainable approaches to combating malnutrition, including climate-smart agriculture, locally tailored solutions for market system development, and community empowerment through nutrition-focused initiatives. Such approaches help address the root causes of malnutrition while providing sustained support to hunger-stricken regions.
MBRGI's support enabled UNITLIFE to implement projects in Niger, DRC, and Senegal, focusing on increased local food production, women's empowerment and economic engagement. These programs foster the development of a more inclusive and resilient food system.
Sustainable solutions
Prof. Philippe Douste-Blazy, former French Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Steering Committee of UNITLIFE, underscored the importance of sustainable, long-term solutions in addressing malnutrition: 'Our strategic partnership with MBRGI is crucial in expanding these solutions, empowering vulnerable communities not only to confront food security challenges but also to build resilience and effectively manage their nutritional needs.'
Philippe Douste-Blazy expressed gratitude for MBRGI's support through the 1 Billion Meals campaign, which has been instrumental in enabling UNITLIFE to reach a broader population in Niger, DRC and Senegal, ultimately empowering them to improve their lives.
Impact
The strategic partnership between Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) and UNITLIFE has successfully completed a series of impactful projects to combat malnutrition and strengthen food resilience across several African countries. While the projects have concluded, they continue to enable communities to sustainably access nutritious meals year after year.
In Niger, a 12-month project with Goal Global focused on promoting bio-fortified and climate-resilient agriculture. The initiative reached 168,826 beneficiaries and continues to enable access to over 1.4 million nutritious meals annually by supporting sustainable farming practices.
In DRC, a 17-month initiative in partnership with UN Women established a biofortified cassava food chain. Designed to empower women and enhance community nutrition, the project benefited 128,558 individuals and continues to facilitate access to approximately 1.1 million nutritious meals annually.
In Senegal, a two-year project with Action Against Hunger focused on promoting integrated food resilience. The initiative reached 33,223 beneficiaries and has strengthened local systems to enable access to an estimated 3.9 million nutritious meals annually.
Fighting hunger
In 2022, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the 1 Billion Meals campaign, which provided food aid to those in need across 50 countries, achieving its targets before the end of Ramadan of that year.
MBRGI implements charitable and humanitarian programs across five key areas: Humanitarian Aid & Relief, Healthcare & Disease Control, Spreading Education & Knowledge, Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Empowering Communities. In 2024, MBRGI's spending across these key pillars amounted to over AED 2.2 billion, impacting nearly 149 million beneficiaries in 118 countries.
Launched in 2019, UNITLIFE, a UN trust fund, combats chronic malnutrition globally through a multi-disciplinary approach. The fund explores innovative funding opportunities to address gaps in global health and food systems, including investing in scalable, sustainable agricultural projects and programs empowering women to address malnutrition within their communities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
5 days ago
- The National
Stunted brain development, illness and trauma: How famine will affect Gaza's children forever
Children who survive Gaza's starvation crisis will suffer permanent damage as a lack of food affects their growth and brain development, experts told The National. Nearly 12,000 children under the age of five were found to be acutely malnourished in July, the UN said. It was the highest monthly figure recorded to date in Gaza. Famine was declared in the enclave by an international hunger monitor, after Israel blocked aid from entering the strip, depriving 2.2 million people of a daily supply of food and medicine, as well as sufficient shelter. Officials in Gaza have said more than 190 people, including at least 96 children, have died of hunger. Many Palestinians fear what is to come, as Israel discusses a move to reoccupy Gaza and aid distribution sites run by the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation turn into death traps. But the war will have a lasting effect on those who survive. The first three years of a child's life are crucial, with their brains developing faster during their first 1,000 days than at any other time in their lives, said Lynnda Kiess, a nutritionist at the World Food Programme. "Poor nutrition during that window leads to irreversible damage to the child's growing brain which can be seen at school and their economic performance later on," she said. Save the Children said 43 per cent of Gaza's breastfeeding mothers needed treatment for malnutrition. Some women have reported having no breast milk as they grow more weary, hungry and thirsty. The effects a lack of vitamin A, iron, folic acid and zinc can have on pregnant women and children can only be seen after it is too late to reverse the damage. "In the case of vitamin A, children develop night blindness or eye malformations – and by then that's very, very late," Ms Kiess said. When a child is denied a steady supply of nutritious food, as has been the case in Gaza for the past 22 months, not only is their growth interrupted, but the development of their immune system is also harmed, making them more prone to illnesses. The children of Gaza who survive the war are unlikely to reach their full potential, Ms Keiss warned. "The cost of missing that 1,000-day window, and not being able to provide the nutrition in that window on an individual, community and societal level, is an opportunity lost," she explained. World Bank studies have shown that countries can lose up to 10 per cent of their GDP due to malnutrition. "Good nutrition contributes to human capital development and, if we don't have that, then it sets back countries for economic development in the future," Ms Kiess added. Children who have had insufficient access to food can develop learning difficulties. Rob Williams, head of the War Child Alliance charity, said pupils in Gaza who have been out of school for two years will also have to battle post-traumatic stress disorders when they return to the classroom. These challenges, exacerbated by food insecurity, can cause difficulties with simple matters such as concentrating in class, because of the interruption to the child's cognitive development. "In general, a child who has experienced malnutrition might have a lower IQ score, with an average of seven to 10 points less than their peers who grew up in the same country but without acute malnutrition in that age," Mr Williams said. He also made reference to the Barbados Nutrition Study, a 55-year project that looked at adults who experienced malnutrition in their first year of life, showing they were more likely to develop behavioural problems. "Beyond physical injury and deaths, which have been visible, there will be invisible internal injuries that will play out over years and may lead to life-long challenges for a whole generation that would achieve less than they might otherwise," Mr Williams said.
Zawya
7 days ago
- Zawya
Achieving sustainability in food system
As conflicts and climate emergencies worsen and the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic persist, a glimmer of hope is found in a report indicating that global hunger has decreased. The Independent Stakeholders' Report at the UN Food Systems Summit in Addis Ababa, co-authored by multiple United Nations agencies, found that global hunger declined slightly in 2024 after peaking in 2021 and 2022, thanks to progress in Asia and South America. 'It's inspiring to observe the global progress in combating hunger, but we must acknowledge that this progress is not uniform,' stated UN Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Dr Qu Dongyu at the summit. Nevertheless, 8.2 per cent of the global population — estimated between 638 and 720 million individuals — continued to experience hunger last year, and the conditions were deteriorating, especially in Africa, where the rate stands at 20.2 per cent. "Famine drives unrest and weakens harmony. Hunger must never be viewed as a tool of war," Antonio Guterres stated during the summit, using a video link. Food security, which ensures that everyone has access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, is a complex challenge with significant ethical, economic and social implications. It is not only about having enough food, but also involves the accessibility, availability and proper utilisation of that food, as well as the stability of the food supply. The report highlighted the significant distance remaining to achieve its objective of eradicating global hunger by 2030. Present estimates indicate that approximately 512 million individuals will remain undernourished by the decade's conclusion, with 60 per cent residing in Africa. AFP quoted Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, as stating, 'Global hunger statistics have shown minor enhancements when compared to 2022 and 2023." Nonetheless, advancements have not been uniform worldwide, as food insecurity persisted in many sub-regions of Africa and Western Asia. A worsening hunger crisis has plagued Gaza for weeks due to Israel's tight control over all resources, igniting increasing global outrage over individuals perishing from starvation in the area. 'Conflict persists in fuelling hunger from Gaza to Sudan and elsewhere,' stated UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during his online address. The World Health Organization has alerted that malnutrition in the occupied Palestinian territory has hit "alarming levels" since Israel enforced a complete blockade on Gaza. During his speech at the Addis Ababa summit, Dr Saud bin Hamoud al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, mentioned that Oman has made considerable progress in various food and nutrition security indicators. "Important initiatives encompass the Food Security Strategy, National Nutrition Strategy, National Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy, Environment and Natural Resources Strategy, and the Genetic Diversity Strategy for Local Livestock," he stated. Oman stands out among the Gulf countries for its strategic planning and rigorous policies aimed at preserving its status as a food-secure nation. Self-sufficiency in food, characterised by reduced reliance on imports, is continuously increasing in the Sultanate of Oman. Guided by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the country has developed a comprehensive food security strategy that outlines various goals aimed at enhancing the nation's food supply in areas such as production, importation, storage and distribution. Oman's 2040 Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy seeks to enhance sustainability in the agricultural sector through investments, boost economic income, generate job opportunities for citizens, assist rural communities and address structural disparities in agriculture. The nation placed third in the Arab region and 35th in the Global Food Security Index for 2022. The index relies on assessment criteria drawn from universally recognised components of the food security concept, which include food accessibility, food availability, food quality and safety, food sustainability and adaptability, with a comparison encompassing 113 nations. 2025 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Middle East Eye
05-08-2025
- Middle East Eye
Majority of Palestinians are too weak from starvation to access aid, report says
Seventy percent of Palestinians in Gaza are experiencing extreme weakness from starvation, hindering their ability to access humanitarian aid, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) said on Tuesday. "The physical exhaustion is so profound that many are unable to make the long journey on foot to distribution sites or carry heavy loads even if they receive assistance," said the organisation in a statement as it released the findings of a survey of Palestinians in Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, Gaza City and North Gaza. "The survey exposes the life-threatening consequences of the American and Israeli-backed distribution scheme and the severe psychological toll on a population with no safe haven," the statement said. The organisation also said Palestinians trying to access the militarised-backed distribution scheme said they witnessed people, including family members, being deliberately targeted, shot, and killed by soldiers.
