“Designing From Tradition

“Designing from traditionand scaling up for localproduction: lessons from theEQUINUT Project”Ousmane R SEYE, Regional CEO WestAfricaHUMANITARIAN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYSYMPOSIUM . 19 July 2017

His Highness the Aga Khan: Founder and Chairman of AKDN

AGA KHAN DEVELOPMENT NETWORKThe ImamatAga Khan Development NetworkSocialDevelopmentEconomicDevelopmentAga Khan Fund forEconomicDevelopmentAga KhanAga KhanAgency forFoundationMicrofinanceCultureAga Khan University ofUniversity Central AsiaAga Khan TrustFor CultureAga Khan Education ServicesAga Khan Health ediaServices AviationServicesIndustrialPromotionServicesAga Khan Planning andBuilding ServicesAga Khan AcademiesFocus Humanitarian AssistanceAga KhanAward forArchitectureAga KhanHistoric CitiesProgrammeMuseums & Aga KhanExhibitions Music Initiative

AKDN’s Geographic Presence: 29 CountriesAGA KHAN FOUNDATION U.S.A.An agency of the Aga Khan Development Network

Mali development context Volatile political and securitysituation twined withvulnerability to climaticshocks 2.5 million people in Mali aremoderately to severely foodinsecure. 15.2% Global AcuteMalnutrition prevalence.

GOALDevelop a locally Readyto Use SupplementaryFood to prevent andtreat MAM:1. Culturally accepted.2. Scientifically proven.3. Economically viable.

EQUINUT’S JOURNEYFood Securityand NutritionProgramslaunchedOperational researchto understand whyMAM cases droppedin sites using DidégéEvaluation ofthe CMAM pilot2006Pilot CMAM sitesin 6 communities.2009Drop in MAMcases in sitesusing Didégé7/42Development, biofortification andsmall scaleproduction ofEQUINUTPavingthe wayto scale.Agreement onof 120 formulas ofDidégé collectedthroughout Mali.201520162017Evidence ofEQUINUT’s noninferiority andhigherAcceptability rateAgreement withCooperatives andWomen producers ofDidégéAgreement withPrivate Sector

DIDEGE Traditionally, consumedas: Ready to use food bywarriors and travelers. Complementary food duringthe lean season by ruralhouseholds. Now, consumed as: Snack by urban consumers. Energy food by wrestlersand other athlets. Supplementary food byschool aged children.DIDEGE ingredients include: peanuts,sugar, baobab fruit powder, cumin,and rice flour amongst others

FINDINGSEQUINUT complies with WHO requirements related to Ospecifications GLUCIDS 030-35%50-55%10-12%Aflatoxin free peanuts produced byfarmers to supply the production.

FINDINGS1.80% of acceptability withinchildren 24 – 59 months .2.EQUINUT non inferiority vscurrently used RUSF to treatMAM confirmed by RCTs.3.80% of the children treated forMAM with EQUINUT recovereda normal status after sixweeks of treatment asopposed to eight weeks

FINDINGS1.Weighted Average Price (WAP)of 100 g of EQUINUT is almost 0.10 lower than that ofimported RUSF.2.Consumer demand for DIDEGE( 0.10 to 0.25) both in urbanand rural settings.3.Financial incentive for womenproducers ( 200-400 per year)

EVOLVING PARTNERSHIPISSUES /CHALLENGES20172016PAVING THE WAY TO SCALERETAIL CONSUMER MARKETDEVELOPMENTRANDOMIZED CONTROLTRIALS201420122011PRODUCTION OF AFLATOXINFREE PEANUTFORMULATION, DEVELOPMENT,PRODUCTION ANDACCEPTABILITY OF EQUINUTBACKGROUND RESEARCH ONDIDEGEPARTNERSINNOVATION FORPOVERTY ACTIONPROTEIN KISEE LAFACULTY OF MEDICNEUNIVERSITY OF BAMAKOWFPINTERNATIONAL CROPSRESEARCH INSITTUTEFOR SEMI ARID TROPICSAKFFACULTY OF SCIENCESAND TECHNOLOGYNATIONAL INSTITUTEFOR RURALECONOMYMoH

LESSONS LEARNEDThe most important factor for successfulintervention was to build upon communityknowledges and practices.

LESSONS LEARNEDOwernership and proudness “As an association, we have had the privilege of being associated with agroup of scientists to find a solution to a problem common to ourpopulation” Community Based Organization Leader“They sent the product to a recognized Canadian laboratory. The resultswere the same, identical, while Canadians used a more recent method ofanalysis than the one we used. We had exactly the same result from A to Z.So the evidence that we have scientifically proven is true and nothing cancontradict that.” Faculty of Science Researcher"As lessons learned, health authorities and people all have realized thatour local products can be effective against malnutrition“ CommunityHealth Worker

LESSONS LEARNEDCreating a Steering Committee and a TechnicalWorking Group enabled to:1.2.3.4.ensure alignment to national health strategies,create ownership,clarify the future use of the research results,increase engagement, accountability andcommitment of partners, but also5. widen the partnership

LESSONS LEARNEDDemonstrating the economicviability of EQUINUT whileidentifying opportunities forminimum initial investment hasbeen critical to ensure privatesector buy in and engagement toproduce.

LESSONS LEARNEDAt each phase, in order tomaintain a positive workenvironment and climate,propriety rights should bereassessed, to reflect thecontribution of new partners.

CHALLENGEPositioning EQUINUT as RUSF will requirefurther research and perhaps re-formulationin order for WHO to formally recognize itsformulation as a therapeutic food. The risksin pursing such an approach will be, whetherit will be whether UNICEF and others willagree to purchase the necessary volumesand price points to make EQUINUTcommercially viable ?

THANK YOUAND WELCOME TOEQUINUT’S PARTNERSPLATFORM

Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development Tourism Promotion Services Industrial Promotion Architecture Services Financial Services Media Services Aviation . Aga Khan Development Network . AKDN’s Geographic Presence: 29 Countries AGA KHAN FOUNDATION U.S.A.