Ottawa (March 8, 2019)—HarvestPlus is honored to be a consortium member in a global nutrition program that was recognized on International Women’s Day 2019 with an award from the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH).

Representatives from the Enhancing Nutrition Services to Improve Maternal and Child Health in Africa and Asia (ENRICH) Programme and its consortium partners accepted the CanWaCH Partnership Award at a ceremony in Ottawa. The award is given to individuals or organizations that have demonstrated notable contributions to Canada’s advancement of global health for women and children while effectively showcasing the power of partnership in their work.

The five-year ENRICH Programme, funded by Global Affairs Canada, focuses on improving the health and nutrition status of mothers, newborns, and children in select regions of Bangladesh, Kenya, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Tanzania. ENRICH’s overall goal is to contribute to the reduction of maternal and child mortality by addressing critical health issues.

HarvestPlus has led efforts within ENRICH to reach farmers in Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan, and Tanzania with staple crops biofortified with critical micronutrients, and to provide farmers and their families with training on how to grow and prepare these health-improving crops. HarvestPlus also collaborates with local governments on capacity strengthening for seed production companies.

“Being a partner in the ENRICH Programme has allowed HarvestPlus to efficiently deliver biofortified crops to vulnerable women and children who will benefit from these crops’ important nutritional attributes. We look forward to continuing this impactful work,” said Anna-Marie Ball, director of external affairs and chief of staff at HarvestPlus. She attended the awards ceremony on behalf of HarvestPlus.

ENRICH is implemented by World Vision Canada (WVC) and Nutrition International, and consortium members are HarvestPlus, the Canadian Society for International Health, and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.