Strengthening Agrifood Enterprises for Development and Sustainability (SAEDS)
Malnutrition in Nigeria is a critical issue impacting both rural and urban populations, with children under five and pregnant women being particularly vulnerable. This problem is multifaceted, stemming from a combination of poverty, food insecurity, inadequate healthcare access, poor water and sanitation, and substandard dietary practices. According to the World Bank, these interconnected factors create a complex nutritional crisis that requires urgent and sustained intervention.
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are central to addressing Nigeria’s malnutrition challenge. These enterprises are often deeply embedded in local communities, providing essential goods and services to underserved populations. Their proximity to the grassroots makes them uniquely positioned to influence access to safe and nutritious foods.
Despite the crucial role that SMEs play in ensuring affordability, availability, and access of safe and nutritious foods, they face several challenges that limit their ability to grow and increase the production of nutritious foods. The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is engaging Ikore as an Enterprise Support Organisation to strengthen enterprises in the nutrition space. The end goal is to scale access to safe and nutritious foods, particularly to low-income consumers.
Ikore is partnering with GAIN under the Nutrition Impact at Scale Project to carry out the SAEDS activity. The 2-year activity, commencing in July 2024, aims to enhance the business development capacities of agrifood MSMEs across four key Nigerian states: Benue, Oyo, Lagos, and Kano. By focusing on five priority value chains—Vitamin A Maize, Vitamin A Cassava, Baobab, Iron Pearl Millet, and Fish—the project seeks to increase access to safe, nutritious food, promote sustainable agribusiness growth, and strengthen market linkages for MSMEs. The objectives of the 2-year activity include enhancing the business development skills of Agrifood SMEs; increasing market access and visibility for Agrifood SMEs; and improving access to financing for Agrifood SMEs.