PESHAWAR: The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Economic Transformation Project (KPRETP), has launched a new initiative aimed at improving nutrition outcomes through rural development and agricultural investments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The initiative, titled “Mainstreaming Nutrition: Improving the Impact of IFAD Investments on the Nutritional Quality of Diets”, was launched at the University of Agriculture Peshawar.
The programme seeks to make rural development investments more responsive to nutrition needs by improving the availability, affordability, accessibility and consumption of safe and nutritious food.
The initiative is part of a wider multi-country programme being implemented in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Rwanda and Benin. It particularly focuses on rural communities vulnerable to malnutrition and aims to promote healthier diets alongside stronger livelihoods.
Speaking at the launch, University of Agriculture Peshawar Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Sar Zameen stressed the importance of research and academic institutions in developing evidence-based solutions for nutrition and food systems.
He called for closer cooperation between government institutions, development partners, academia and the private sector to address nutrition challenges and improve food security.
GAIN Pakistan Country Director Farrah Naz said better nutrition requires coordinated action across the food system. She noted that agriculture, food processing, markets, storage, packaging and rural livelihoods all influence people’s access to diverse and nutritious food.
She said the partnership with IFAD and KPRETP provides an opportunity to integrate nutrition more systematically into rural development investments and improve their impact on communities.
IFAD representatives reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable rural transformation in Pakistan. They highlighted the importance of ensuring that agricultural and rural livelihood investments contribute not only to economic development and poverty reduction but also to improved nutrition.
KPRETP Project Director Ishfaq Khan said the project is focused on strengthening rural livelihoods and creating economic opportunities, particularly for young people. He added that support for smallholders, value chains and agri-food enterprises could also improve access to nutritious food in rural areas.
Chief Guest and Secretary Agriculture, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr. Muhammad Bakhtiar Khan, welcomed the partnership and stressed the need for coordinated efforts to tackle malnutrition.
He said agricultural development policies should be linked with nutrition objectives to achieve sustainable improvements in the health and well-being of rural households.
The event also included a presentation on findings from the initiative’s inception and diagnostic phase. The assessment identified key nutrition challenges, food-system constraints and potential areas where nutrition could be incorporated into project planning, implementation and investment decisions.
A high-level panel discussion, titled “Breaking Silos: Embedding Nutrition in Rural Development through Integrated Action and Strategic Partnerships,” also brought together representatives from IFAD, FAO, WFP, WHO, UNICEF, government institutions and research organisations.
Participants discussed the need for stronger cooperation across sectors and better use of evidence in agricultural and rural development planning. They also highlighted stronger connections among farmers, agri-food businesses, markets, financial institutions and technical service providers as important for improving both livelihoods and nutrition.
The Pakistan component of the initiative will focus on nutrition-sensitive policies and investment decisions, support for smallholders, cooperatives and agri-food enterprises, research and evidence generation, and stronger coordination among stakeholders working in agriculture, food systems and rural development.
The launch marks the beginning of the implementation phase following the completion of the initiative’s inception and diagnostic work. Stakeholders expressed support for continued collaboration to promote nutrition-sensitive investments and strengthen rural food systems in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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