Universal ‘Nutrition’ and Health coveragethrough businessby African Health and Wellbeing Initiative(AfHWIN) with Japan

The Ajinomoto Foundation (TAF)
Yusuke Takahashi

yuusuke_takahashi@aji-foundation.org

１. Background : Why Nutrition improvement is important?

⚫Malnutrition causes unhealthy
growth of body and brain.
⚫Missing “First 1,000 days”
are not irreversible.
● Support for nutrition has a highreturn to society →U‘N’HC(16$ economic growth for1$ input)
Economic
impact
1USD
Bain scans ofnormal of/ malnourished
No. of malnourished children
under 5 yearsSub-Sahara

Increasing only in Sub-Sahara Africa© 2021 The Ajinomoto Foundation

2.Ghana Nutrition Improvement ProjectAjinomoto Co., Inc. started this project in 2009 to develop a Social Business Model tosolve social issues in Ghana (stunting and anemia of the infants), and handed it overto The Ajinomoto Foundation in 2017. All the processes are carried out
through Public-Private-Partnership with Ghanaian local people to make it Sustainable.

⚫ Product：➢ “KOKO Plus”: add to traditional complementary food“koko (maize porridge)” to avoid stunting and anemia.
➢ Developed with University of Ghana.
➢ Produced by local company, Yedent Agro Foods Processing,
mainly with local ingredients of Soybean powder.

⚫ Distribution:➢ By local sales & marketing organization ” EXP social
marketing foundation (ESM)”.
➢ Affordable price with US$ 0.1 (0.50 cedis) / sachet⚫ Penetration / Education:➢ Collaborate with Ghanaian Government.
Community Health Workers of “Ghana Health Service”
conduct Nutrition Education to mothers and introduce“KOKO Plus” as a practical way to improve theirbalanced complementary feeding to infants.

Source: Journal of Nutritional Science,3. Effectiveness of Collaboration through the AfHWIN
FY2019Delegation from the African Business Council to Ghana(January 2020)<Arranged and supported by Japanese government>➢ We were able to meet with people we would not have been able tomeet with at a single company or organization.
➢ We could discuss how to solve health and nutrition issue inGhana, and move forward smoother by synergetic approach.

3. Effectiveness of Collaboration through the AfHWIN
FY2020Collaboration with TAF&Sysmex (Japanese manufacturer Diagnostic Medical Equipment and services)
Contributed to synergetic approach to nutrition and healthby building new partnership through AfHWIN
Ministry of Health(Teaching Hospital)

Diagnosis(health)Ghana Health Service(Regional, District Hospital, etc.)

NewCommunity health centers

Nutrition(prevention)© 2020 The Ajinomoto Foundation5

3. Effectiveness of Collaboration through the AfHWIN
FY2021 (ongoing)
Collaboration with TAF&Sysmex& NEC (Japanese IT solution company)
Contributed to synergetic approach to nutrition and healthwith IT tools for strengthening behavior change of beneficiaries.
Public health nurses
execute health checkup withthe digital guidance
according to user attribute

Data isuploadedto Cloud

A. Nutritious food distribution

B. High quality diagnosis

Capacity building in hospital3. Future：Achieve Universal ‘Nutrition’ and Health coverage(UNHC) through business from Ghana as a gateway of Africa
TAF share over 10 years’ experience in Ghana with Public and Private sectors,
and release the information and network to be utilized for contributing UNHC
Training ofbeneficiaries(mothers)

Training oftrainers (nurses)

Human resource
development

PPP for nutrition education

Economic growthwithlocal industries

Maternal andChild Health BookUNHCin Africa!

FosteringPartnership&Initiative

Utilization of Japaneseknowledge&current technology© 2021 The Ajinomoto Foundation

AfHWIN

Let’s dive into AfHWIN!

We can actualize Universal Nutrition and Health
Coverage by speeding up businesses
through genuinely synergetic partnershipThank you© 2021 The Ajinomoto Foundation