A central priority of this work is shifting from reaction to prevention. While treatment of acute malnutrition remains critical, the Innovation Fund also emphasizes earlier identification of risk, smarter targeting, and interventions that prevent wasting before it becomes severe. Through grants, partnerships, and technical expertise, we support approaches that enable more proactive and sustainable responses.

Projects:

• The impact of an integrated prevention package on the continuum of care of child wasting covering prevention, screening, referral, and treatment of wasting (IRAM Study) in Mali.

• Relapse to Acute Malnutrition Prevention “RAMP” Study in South Sudan: evaluating interventions to sustain recovery after SAM by tackling infection and nutrient gaps during the high-risk post-recovery period.

Nutrition and health are deeply interconnected. By combining nutrition prevention and treatment with essential health services, integrated models reach more vulnerable populations, improve adoption and effectiveness, reduce costs, and place people at the center of care.

Projects:

Preventing malnutrition with nutritional supplements through the delivery channel of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) in Burkina Faso.

Integration of SQ-LNS with immunization to improve vaccine uptake, malnutrition treatment outcomes, and cost effectiveness in Chad and Niger.

We invest in innovative, evidence-based solutions to improve the effectiveness, affordability, and scalability of wasting treatment, enabling sustained recovery and reaching more children in need.

Projects:

The modified dosages for acute malnutrition (MODAM) study: novel approaches for the management of childhood wasting in Ethiopia.

Advancing use of simplified approaches in Adamawa Province, Nigeria.

Preventing relapse from wasting: the role of sociodemographic, child feeding, and health care determinants and of wasting prevention interventions in Mali and Burkina Faso.

Enhanced understanding of micronutrient deficiencies and gut health during and after treatment for acute malnutrition and identifying links to treatment relapse in South Sudan.

We support research to improve maternal nutritional status during pregnancy and breastfeeding in highly food insecure settings, including work on targeting as well as appropriate supplementation composition and use. These efforts aim to address key maternal deficiencies, reduce newborn risk, and support healthier early life trajectories.

Projects:

Generating evidence on targeting and cost-effectiveness to inform balanced energy protein (BEP) supplementation programs for undernourished pregnant women to reduce low birth weight in Bangladesh.

Edesia supports innovations within the manufacturing and supply chain for ready-to-use foods. This support covers a variety of projects from supporting local production capacity-building, to improving supply chain and beneficiary tracking, to optimizing product and packaging.

Projects:

Assessing the Performance of 7-Day vs 1-Day Packaging for SQ-LNS.

Research & Development support for Novel RUTF formulations for acceptability testing in Ethiopia.

Support of Local Production:

India: Increasing Nutrivita’s SQ-LNS capabilities.

Madagascar: Increasing Tanjaka’s SQ-LNS capabilities.

Haiti: Expanding Meds & Food for Kids warehouse and security infrastructure.

Nigeria: Adding extrusion capabilities at NutriK to enable greater use of local ingredients.