Sahelian urban areas face a triple burden of malnutrition with the persistence of undernutrition, multiple deficiencies and the progression of overweight and associated pathologies.
The Meriem project (Mobilising Sahelian companies for innovative large-scalerespo against malnutrition, 2018-2023), supported by the Agence française de développement and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is being implemented in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso by a consortium of partners led by GRETand Hystra. With the aim of improving food supply in the cities of Niamey, Bamako and Ouagadougou, it supports local companies in developing and marketing fortified products for women of childbearing age and young children, two groups that are most exposed to malnutrition. At the beginning of the project, a qualitative study was conducted in the three capitals to deepen knowledge of eating habits of the targeted populations. This work opened avenues to develop appropriate and attractive local products, position them on the market and build adequate communication.
This document is intended for public and private actors involved in preventing malnutrition in urban areas in the Sahel region. It shares the results of this study, enriched with lessons learned from other GRET projects.
