Establishing a biofortified cassava food chain to empower women
UN Women : project lead
Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi Foundation : First Lady’s foundation supporting the project
Réseau Congolais des Acteurs de l’innovation (The DRC Network of Innovation Actors) : local actor supporting the project
Réseau National des Femmes Rurales (Network of Rural Women's Associations) : local actor supporting the project
Democratic Republic of Congo, provinces of Kinshasa, Kongo-Central, Kwango provinces, where cassava production is significant.
We support 600 women in producing Vitamin A bio-fortified cassava (a nutty-flavoured, starchy root vegetable consumed by 75% of Congolese people), and we equip them to transform cassava flour into healthy foods for children, which they can sell on Buy from Women, a digital platform connecting women farmers to buyers. Finally, we roll out messages on good nutrition for mothers and children, which is key to improving feeding practices in the community.
Cassava is a commonly-consumed root vegetable and cassava flour is a primary ingredient for children’s foods. However, it does not meet nutritional requirements, resulting in chronic malnutrition. Moreover, when cassava is not processed correctly, it can lead to cyanide poisoning resulting in Konzo, a disease that paralyzes the lower body.
Bio-fortified cassava – that is cassava seeds which nutrient content in vitamins and minerals has been increased. We train the women on transforming cassava flour into tasty food products for their families and communities. The cassava is bio-fortified to increase its Vitamin A content, essential to strengthen the immune system, reduce child blindness and maternal mortality.
The project builds on UN Women AgriFed training centers, where women are trained on food production, transformation and sales techniques, – we will introduce vitamin A-enriched cassava.
Partner: UN Women
Africa