Centre receives grant to improve nutrition in Zambia

The Centre of Excellence for Nutrition (CEN) on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU) received a grant of R355 000 from Sight & Life to improve nutrition in Zambia.

Sight & Life is a nutrition think tank and humanitarian initiative, committed to fighting micronutrient malnutrition.  This grant will enable the centre to set up a longer-term project in Zambia, linking with the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) initiative.

According to Prof Johann Jerling, the director of CEN, SUN aims to scale up nutrition interventions known to be effective in developing countries. “Zambia has been one of the first countries to commit to scaling up nutrition at the highest political level. The National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) is the executing arm for this initiative. ”  
During a multi-stakeholder consultative meeting last year, a number of factors preventing the effective implementation of SUN activities were identified.

One of the drawbacks that were identified, included inadequate leadership. The purpose of the initial project is to identify the needs and then create a leadership capacity development programme for the NFNC to enable them to implement the SUN initiative.  

Prof Johann Jerling, the director of the Centre of Excellence for Nutrition at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University.