The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), EAT, Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), and Nutrition Connect have picked 15 winning solutions for the Dietary Shifts (DISH) competition 2024 that aims at generating local culturally appropriate solutions for improved dietary practices and sustained food systems.
The competition highlights the urgent need for nurturing and promoting sustainable dietary solutions. It will also address Kenya’s triple burden of malnutrition that have left nearly one in five children under five years of age stunted, 26 per cent of the overall population overweight and deficient of micronutrients that include zinc, iron, vitamin A and Iodine.
Dr. Eva Monterrosa, Programme Lead Consumer Demand Generation, GAIN said the 15 winners, picked from a pool of 454 applicants from across Kenya, underwent a competitive evaluation process, assessed by a multidisciplinary panel of experts as jury.
“The finalists of the DISH competition come from various backgrounds and offer different solutions from organic production of African green leafy vegetables to urban vertical gardens, to nutritious snacks for children. These local solutions can encourage healthier eating habits and support in ushering sustainable food systems in Kenya,” said Dr. Monterrosa.
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During the grand finale` event held at a Nairobi hotel, the winners were honoured in the presence of officials from the Ministry of Health, leaders from the private sector, development experts, academics, and civil society representatives.
Each winner was awarded $1000 (Sh129,550) and began a collaborative journey, supported by GAIN, EAT, FOLU, Nutrition Connect, to further develop their solutions. The competition is followed by two days of ‘Deal Room’ discussions where finalists will be guided by multidisciplinary experts to refine their solutions to create more holistic approaches to dietary challenges in Kenya.
The competition fosters innovative, locally relevant initiatives that encourage individuals in Kenya to transition to healthier diets, in line with the Planetary Health Diet (PHD). Developed by the 2019 EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, and Health, the PHD promotes nutritious food choices that benefit both human health and the planet.
“Shifting towards healthy and sustainable diets, as outlined by the Planetary Health Diet, may seem complex, but it is made possible through the collective expertise, passion, and commitment of local actors. DISH provides a unique platform to hear directly from these leaders and to support the implementation of systemic solutions that protect both human health and the health of our planet,” Lujain Alqodmani, Chief Action Officer at EAT, said.
This multi-partnership initiative comes at a crucial time as Kenya strives to improve its nutrition outlook due to significant challenges posed by malnutrition.
According to Michael Onchabo, Director Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), said food tells a story of tradition and resilience. He said: “Let’s embrace a dietary shift that honours our heritage while nurturing our health and our planet. Together we can cultivate a brighter, healthier future for all. Small changes in our diets can lead to big transformations not only in our food and land use systems but also in our health and the health of our planet. Let’s embrace a new way of eating for a better tomorrow.”
