Project Lead(s): Florence Mwarania, Damaris Odeny
Although breast milk is the ideal diet for an infant until 2 years of age, other nutritious and safe foods should be given after 6 months until early in the second year of life in addition. Many mothers living in poverty in rural parts of Africa are unaware of the importance of weaning children on complementary foods rich in protein, and instead use diets composed entirely on cereals.
Distribution bottlenecks, also referred to as the “tragedy of the last mile”, continue to be a major hindrance to access of essential supplies, including complementary foods. This project addresses “the last mile” through a social enterprise, using women’s self-help groups to package, distribute, and sell complementary foods to mothers at their home, while allowing the women to make a profit.
The “Mile for the Brain” project has a dual objective: (1) To provide access to protein-rich enhanced complementary food to mothers in rural areas, currently distribution bottleneck. (2) To promote the economic empowerment of women through social enterprise.