In Nigeria, undernutrition is causing vast social and economic damage. To address this, poor people must have better access to a diet rich in essential nutrients. Markets are a key source of food for a growing proportion of poor people, but a number of constraints prevent businesses from providing nutrition-rich foods that reach the poorest communities.
In the short term, supporting non-profit distribution systems is the most effective way to work with businesses to improve the diets of poor people. However, undernutrition is so widespread that nonprofit distribution cannot reach all those affected. Policymakers and donors need to increase and sustain public funding for non-profit distribution while exploring other ways to bridge the gap.
This policy breifing was produced as part of the Reducing Hunger and Undernutrition Programme, funded by DFID and is part of a project on strengthening agri-food value chains for nutrition.
Authors
