MBRGI Invests AED 5.5 Million In Sustainable Projects To Combat Malnutrition Across Africa

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) has successfully completed several projects aimed at tackling malnutrition in Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Senegal. These efforts were part of the 1 Billion Meals campaign, which was conducted in collaboration with the UN's UNITLIFE Trust Fund. This partnership began in 2022 to support underprivileged communities worldwide by enhancing nutrition access and promoting dignified living conditions.

In 2022, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum initiated the 1 Billion Meals campaign. This effort provided food assistance to those in need across 50 countries, achieving its goals before Ramadan ended that year. The campaign contributed AED 5.5 million to UNITLIFE programs in Niger, DRC, and Senegal, supporting long-term food security strategies.

The collaboration between MBRGI and UNITLIFE prioritises sustainable methods to combat malnutrition. This includes climate-smart agriculture, locally tailored market system development solutions, and community empowerment through nutrition-focused initiatives. Such approaches address the root causes of malnutrition while providing ongoing support to regions affected by hunger.

In Niger, a 12-month project with Goal Global promoted bio-fortified and climate-resilient agriculture. This initiative reached 168,826 beneficiaries and continues to provide access to over 1.4 million nutritious meals annually by supporting sustainable farming practices.

Prof. Philippe Douste-Blazy, former French Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Steering Committee of UNITLIFE, highlighted the importance of sustainable solutions for addressing malnutrition. "Our strategic partnership with MBRGI is crucial in expanding these solutions, empowering vulnerable communities not only to confront food security challenges but also to build resilience and effectively manage their nutritional needs."

In DRC, a 17-month initiative with UN Women established a biofortified cassava food chain. Designed to empower women and enhance community nutrition, this project benefited 128,558 individuals and continues to facilitate access to approximately 1.1 million nutritious meals annually.

Long-Term Impact on Food Security

The strategic partnership between MBRGI and UNITLIFE has completed impactful projects that combat malnutrition and strengthen food resilience across several African countries. Although these projects have concluded, they continue enabling communities to sustainably access nutritious meals year after year.

In Senegal, a two-year project with Action Against Hunger focused on promoting integrated food resilience. The initiative reached 33,223 beneficiaries and strengthened local systems to enable access to an estimated 3.9 million nutritious meals annually.

MBRGI's Broader Humanitarian Efforts

Launched in 2019, UNITLIFE is a UN trust fund that combats chronic malnutrition globally through a multi-disciplinary approach. The fund explores innovative funding opportunities to address gaps in global health and food systems by investing in scalable agricultural projects and programs empowering women within their communities.

MBRGI implements charitable programs across five key areas: Humanitarian Aid & Relief; Healthcare & Disease Control; Spreading Education & Knowledge; Innovation & Entrepreneurship; Empowering Communities. In 2024 alone, MBRGI’s spending across these pillars amounted to over AED2.2 billion impacting nearly 149 million beneficiaries in 118 countries.

With inputs from WAM