Skip to main content

Global Food Aid: Africa

July 15, 2020 | Food Security

There is an urgent and persistent need in Africa for quality, nutritious food to help combat the prevalence of infant mortality, malnutrition, and other chronic diseases. The Alaska Global Food Aid Program is meeting the demand with hundreds of thousands of meals to these areas. We also conducted research with new products (randomized controlled trial of canned herring in Guinea-Bissau) and forms (wild Alaska seafood powder in Republic of Congo).

Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau, the eleventh poorest country in the world, benefitted first-hand from the nutritional power of both canned salmon and canned herring through the Alaska Global Food Aid Program. The International Partnership for Human Development (IPHD) had been seeking a viable protein source to improve the diets of the children in their McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. The school children liked the canned salmon and cooks found it easy to integrate with local foods.

We again partnered with IPHD, this time to help mitigate malnutrition in the rainy season. The Alaska Global Food Aid Program tapped our nutritionist, Dr. Nina Schlossman, and her Tufts University research team to conduct a randomized controlled field study with Alaska canned herring in three villages, demonstrating that adding herring to the diets of children under 5 years of age was able to mitigate weight loss (wasting) during the three-month lean season. The canned herring was part of ASMI’s activities to strengthen the evidence base of its products among diverse populations, this dovetailed with IPHD’s initiatives to work with local parent-teacher associations to increase school participation (primarily among girls), promote malaria prevention, repair and improve schools and their sanitation systems.

Read more

Congo Republic (Brazzaville)

In Congo Republic (Brazzaville), we worked with International Partnership for Human Development (IPHD) to bring Alaska seafood powder to their schools as a result of the consumer demand and desire to provide a highly nutritious form of Alaska salmon without shipping the cans. The powder added vital nutrients and flavor school lunches for almost 5,000 children during the entire year.

Read more

Liberia

In Liberia, Samaritan’s Purse provided Alaska canned herring as a super supplement to victims of war, rape, abuse, and to orphans and individuals with HIV/AIDS. Over nine months, the super nutrition of the herring improved growth and development. The results were statistically significant and showed improved nutrition status, especially of those living with HIV/AIDS. Read the Liberia Project Report.

Read more

Uganda

World Help in Uganda targeted the most vulnerable by serving Alaska canned salmon and herring in orphanages. The results were excellent, and participants found the salmon and herring easy to integrate with local ingredients and incorporate into local dishes.

Read more