Agrilinks

Explore two local family farms and the Colanta facility in #Colombia through the eyes of Adina Kuncz, a Food Systems Specialist at USAID.? ? See a glimpse of a USAID partnership that helps small- and medium-sized dairy farms increase milk production, cut costs, and ensure safe, affordable, and nutritious food access. Watch now: https://lnkd.in/eNpHJD62 Feed the Future, Cooperativa COLANTA

Job Opportunity! Kansas State University’s College of Agriculture seeks a highly qualified Program Director to lead the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Climate Resilient Cereals (CRCIL). This role involves overseeing a team within the Dean’s Office and managing international research collaborations aimed at enhancing climate-resilient cereal breeding systems. Learn more ??

What is a nutrition investment? Although many development partners, DFIs, and impact investors recognize the need to invest in sustainable food systems that ensure greater availability and affordability of nutritious foods for all, there was no common definition of the types of businesses and projects they should be targeting. To help USAID and its partners execute its nutrition financing activities effectively, Wellspring Development Capital Ltd developed a nutrition-lens investing framework. Feed the Future Market Systems and Partnerships (MSP) is now sharing the framework more widely to help increase both the quality and volume of nutrition impact generated by the impact investing community by providing clear guidance on what constitutes a “nutrition investment”. https://lnkd.in/dGDDcZbT The framework includes:? ? A nutrition-lens investing theory of change, highlighting key impact pathways (e.g., production, processing and packaging, storage, distribution, and marketing) that investors can target???? ? Deal screening criteria linked to food products and impact pathways ? A downloadable Excel tool that investment officers can use to speed up the screening process This initiative is timely as we look forward to the upcoming Africa Food Systems Forum, where leaders and stakeholders from across the continent will gather to discuss and advance solutions for food systems transformation, to get nutritious foods to underserved markets. The forum offers a valuable platform to align our efforts and strategies with the latest insights and opportunities in the field. Thank you to Joel Moktar and Michael Shaw from Wellspring Development and Leah Lucas, formerly from Wellspring Development for leading this work, and to USAID champions Songbae Lee and Adina Kuncz Rebecca Egan This work was conducted through USAID’s Feed the Future Market Systems and Partnerships (MSP) Activity led by DAI. #AFSForum2024

August update! We’ve just launched our theme month on Sustainable Food Systems. Two key, global issues are at the forefront of this month: food insecurity and climate change. By relying on resilient and collaborative approaches, we can build food systems that relieve world-wide hunger while reducing environmental impacts. Don’t forget to join us tomorrow, August 13 at 9:00am ET, for our theme month webinar, where we’ll hear from policy makers, academics, and private sector investors on approaches to building sustainable food systems.

Bridging the nutrition financing gap is critical for impact, and today, we're proud to spotlight the Nutritious Foods Financing Facility (N3F). USAID is supporting N3F in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Incofin Investment Management, and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). This innovative fund leverages public and private capital to invest in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), ensuring that more nutritious food reaches communities in need. Together, we're fostering a nutritious and resilient food system that benefits millions in Sub-Saharan Africa.? USAID Chief Nutritionist patrick webb emphasized that “N3F fills a critically important role in offering value chain support to make nutritious foods more available, accessible and, hopefully, affordable to families across the continent. I hope that many more donors will join hands with this exciting and innovative initiative.” #ImpactInvesting #GlobalNutrition

USAID is hiring! Come join us and inform our methods and methodologies on measuring, monitoring and evaluating climate adaptation strategies especially in the agricultural space. This is a direct hire position. Please note the deadline to apply has been extended to June 17.

This International Women's Day, Dr. Mahesh Chander takes you through a socio-technical innovation program he is working on that contains three key themes: -Invest in making finance available to women, youth, and Indigenous people; -Invest in women’s economic empowerment; and -Invest in agricultural solutions that work for women. Take a look at all the details. #GenderThemeMonth https://lnkd.in/gQcdrCmG

Livestock is both a vital source of nutrition and income stream for households.? When he’s not conducting research or collaborating with project partners, Dr. Josphat Muema, a project manager at Washington State University’s Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Animal Health, spends his workday visiting the field office in rural Kenya. There, he meets with field staff and research participants, learning how they spend earnings from selling livestock and assessing the nutrition standards of women and children. https://lnkd.in/ehMiuVZ8?

Ever find yourself staring into your fridge or pantry, wondering what to make? You’re not alone. ? Dive into the latest episode of the #USAIDKitchenSinkPodcast to hear from Adam Fry, Co-Founder and COO of Budgeat. Learn how BudgeEAT’s mobile app is revolutionizing meal planning and reducing food loss and waste. It’s a discussion about household food waste, changing the narrative, and how technology can help reduce it, that you don’t want to miss! Nika Larian, PhD, Feed the Future, USAID https://lnkd.in/emZjYk-N

Millions of women are ready, willing, and capable of ending hunger, which is why March is Gender Theme Month on Agrilinks! This month, we will focus on women's empowerment and highlight key evidence, experiences, and learnings in gender integration. Be on the lookout for our Gender Needs Review, which will be released later this month, for gender integration tools that can be used in agri-food systems. Learn more about what to expect here. #GenderThemeMonth https://lnkd.in/gZEBFy6X