Prevention and Treatment of Malnutrition

The Problem We Are Addressing

Borno State, and particularly Maiduguri, has become the epicenter of a deepening nutrition emergency, fueled by years of armed conflict and massive population displacement. Hundreds of thousands of people from rural areas now live in and around Maiduguri, placing unbearable strain on local markets and a health system already weakened by budget cuts and chronic underfunding. Health facilities are unable to meet the overwhelming demand, and UN agencies and humanitarian actors cannot fully cover the growing needs.

The result is a perfect storm of vulnerability: high poverty and unemployment, especially among women and youth, has eroded household resilience. Local food systems are disrupted, leaving communities dependent on imports or aid distributions. Children aged 6–59 months lack access to adequate, affordable, and appropriate complementary foods, while poor feeding practices, harmful beliefs, and limited nutrition knowledge further undermine child growth and development. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, themselves undernourished, struggle to provide sufficient care, perpetuating intergenerational cycles of malnutrition.

This crisis is compounded by social marginalization, gender inequality, and human rights abuses that disproportionately affect displaced women and children. With few economic opportunities and limited access to land or resources, women are often unable to provide nutritious meals for their families. The absence of locally produced, culturally familiar, and nutrient-dense foods forces communities to rely on external support, which is neither sustainable nor sufficient.

Against this backdrop, acute malnutrition affects one in five children under five, with many facing a 9–11 times higher risk of death compared to their well-nourished peers. Without locally owned and innovative solutions that both address malnutrition and restore economic dignity, the crisis in Maiduguri will only deepen, leaving a generation of children at risk of stunting, disease, and preventable mortality.

Our Approach

Since late 2024, EVC has piloted a locally driven food fortification initiative that addresses malnutrition while strengthening women’s economic participation.

- Women-led production: Four vulnerable women are employed in a shared kitchen space to produce fortified foods.
- Local ingredients: Cereals, pulses, nuts, and dried fruits are sourced from nearby farmers, ensuring affordability and community ownership.
- Culturally appropriate products: Nutrient-dense formulations include Tom Brown and other traditional foods, making them acceptable and familiar to households.
- Community partnerships: Collaboration with a local health facility integrates fortified foods into the treatment of severe and moderate acute malnutrition.
- Farmer engagement: 35 farmers are included through equitable purchasing agreements, strengthening local food systems.

Expected Results (2025–26)

- Establish a dedicated production facility to expand output.
- Increase the workforce from 4 to 25 women, providing sustainable employment.
- Scale up production from 1,200 kg to 22,000 kg per month.
- Reach over 14,000 malnourished children and pregnant/breastfeeding mothers annually.
- Expand partnerships to include 120 local farmers, creating stable markets.
- Develop a sustainable business model where 70% of production is sold to NGOs and institutions, subsidizing free distribution to the most vulnerable.

Results Achieved (to date)

- Production of 1,200 kg of fortified foods monthly.
- Nutritional support delivered to 350 children with severe acute malnutrition.
- Four vulnerable women trained and employed in food processing and business skills.
- 35 local farmers connected to reliable, equitable markets.
- Early monitoring shows documented improvement in nutritional status among children receiving fortified foods.

Future Vision

Our vision is to transform this pilot into a sustainable social enterprise that not only combats malnutrition but also creates lasting economic opportunities for women and farmers. By scaling up production, diversifying partnerships, and embedding the model into local health and food systems, this initiative will reduce dependency on external aid and ensure that vulnerable children and mothers in Borno State have reliable access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally familiar foods.