IFAD, GAIN launch initiative to improve access to healthy diets in Bangladesh

The $2.4 million project will run for 30 months across Bangladesh, Pakistan, Rwanda and Benin

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) have jointly launched an initiative called “Mainstreaming Nutrition: Improving the Impact of IFAD Investments on the Nutritional Quality of Diets”.

The initiative was launched on Sunday, highlighting the need to improve access to healthy diets in Bangladesh through stronger integration of nutrition into agriculture, food systems, markets and rural development programmes.

The launch also marked the beginning of a two-day co-creation workshop attended by representatives from government agencies, development partners, UN bodies, academia, civil society organisations, agribusinesses and the private sector.

The scheme aims to strengthen nutrition components within ongoing IFAD-supported projects through technical assistance, behaviour change activities, market connections, stakeholder coordination and evidence-based interventions.

Economic Relations Division Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky said food security remains a key national priority and noted that the initiative aligns with efforts to support rural communities and strengthen policy measures.

The project, funded through a $2 million IFAD grant alongside $400,000 in in-kind support from GAIN, will run for 30 months across Bangladesh, Pakistan, Rwanda and Benin.

In Bangladesh, it will support IFAD-backed initiatives intended to improve access to safe, diverse and nutritious diets in rural areas.

Jennifer Crum, senior technical specialist for nutrition and social inclusion at IFAD, said the organisation has continued to strengthen nutrition-focused approaches across food production, processing, infrastructure and institutional development.

GAIN Bangladesh Country Director Rudaba Khondker stressed the need for stronger links between agri-food systems and health, education, climate and social protection initiatives to improve nutritional outcomes.

IFAD Country Director for Bangladesh Valantine Achancho said nutrition is closely linked to the ability of families to access safe and diverse food throughout the year despite climate-related challenges and rising costs.