Nutrition International, formerly the Micronutrient Initiative (MI), is an international not for profit agency based in Canada that works to eliminate vitamin and mineral deficiencies in developing countries.Plus 5 Review of the 2002 Special Session on Children and World Fit for Children Plan of Action: Response by Canada, p. 16. Although often only required by the body in very small amounts, vitamin and minerals – also known as micronutrients – support an array of critical biological functions including growth, immune function and eye function, as well as foetal development of the brain, the nervous system, and the skeletal system. Micronutrient deficiency is a form of malnutrition and is a recognized health problem in many developing countries. Globally, more than two billion people live with vitamin and mineral deficiencies.Flour Fortification Initiative, GAIN, Micronutrient Initiative, USAID, The World Bank, UNICEF, Investing in the Future: A United Call to Action on Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies, 2009, p. 1
History In 1990, leaders attending the World Summit for Children set the goal of virtually eliminating micronutrient deficiencies.UNICEF, Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s, #13. In 1992, Micronutrient Initiative was established as a secretariat within the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to support progress toward that goal. In 1993 IDRC recruited an executive director for the secretariat and transferred 2–3 of its staff to the new organization.Sanghvi T, Ross J, Heymann H., "Why is reducing vitamin and mineral deficiencies critical for development?" Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 2007, 28(1S), p. 167. Venkatesh Mannar took over in June 1994 as the executive director. Until 2000, MI was governed by a steering committee composed of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the IDRC, UNICEF, The World Bank, and USAID. In 2000, MI became an independent not-for-profit organization.UNICEF Canada, Global Child Survival and Health: A 50-year Progress Report from UNICEF Canada, p. 68. Joel Spicer became president in February 2014. In 2017, the organization formally rebranded to Nutrition International to more accurately reflect their expanding scope, reach, and impact.
Work The organization advocates for, and provides funding and technical assistance for salt iodisation, the distribution of multi-micronutrient powders, the fortification of staple foods such as wheat flour with vitamin A, iron and folic acid, and dietary supplementation with vitamin A, iron, zinc, and folic acid. Since 1997, with funding support from the Government of Canada, Nutrition International has provided more than eight billion doses of vitamin A for use by UNICEF and national governments.
Nutrition International is credited with playing a pioneering role in engaging corporations and trade associations at both the global and national level in partnerships to improve nutrition.Harvard University - John F. Kennedy School of Management, The Conference Board, International Business Leaders Forum, Business as a Partner in Overcoming Malnutrition: An Agenda for Action, p. 12.
Organization The staff of Nutrition International includes scientists, nutritionists, and policy and development experts. In addition to its headquarters in Ottawa, the organization has offices in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Pakistan.
Publications Annual Report 2012–2013 Investing in the future: a united call to action on vitamin and mineral deficiencies, Micronutrient Initiative, Flour Fortification Initiative, GAIN, USAID, The World Bank, UNICEF, 2008 uture.pdf Best Practice Paper: Micronutrient Supplements for Child Survival (Vitamin A and Zinc), Sue Horton, France Begin, Alison Greig & Anand Lakshman, Copenhagen Consensus Center Practice Paper: Micronutrient Fortification (Iron and Salt Iodization), Sue Horton, Venkatesh Mannar & Annie Wesley, Copenhagen Consensus Center Solution in a Pinch: The Micronutrient Initiative’s Double Fortified Salt strategy tackles two problems in one go, The Micronutrient Initiative
References
External links Nutrition International iZiNCg New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) UNICEF - Micronutrients Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition Helen Keller International