As part of our ongoing campaign “Good Health, Good Work,” we are pleased to share an insightful written piece by Aishwarya Choubey, Project Manager with the Workforce Nutrition program at GAIN. Her work focuses on improving the diets of employees, workers and on-field farmers via sustainable community projects. Here she highlights for us successful initiatives by GAIN like the Healthy Line Shops (HLS) Model that saw the socio-economic and health turnaround take place for thousands of workers working in the private-owned tea plantations in Assam (India). She illustrates how innovative models like the HLS Model are transforming supply chains and addressing nutritional challenges in worker communities. Her call to action is; we need more transparency with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting to ush forth better accountability and a more in-tune policymaking. -----------------------------------------------------------------
There are many opportunities for private companies and governments to collaborate, showcasing how innovative solutions can significantly enhance the lives of workers and corporate employees. The private sector indeed plays a vital role in ensuring a healthier future for working mothers and their families, in essence their children, as well as dependent adolescents.
These collaborative opportunities extend beyond simple financial investments. They involve harnessing and enhancing the social insights, existing resources, networks, and innovative capabilities of the private sector. By doing so, the private sector and development sector partners can help amplify the effectiveness of government initiatives.
While I do think the need for proper healthcare and balanced nutrition is well-known, many communities continue to face obstacles in accessing these essential services. Recognizing this challenge, GAIN has devised innovative solutions to address this gap. Through synergy, we can bridge the gap between awareness and access, ensuring that vulnerable worker populations and their families receive the essential nutrition and care they need.
In India, for instance with its Workforce Nutrition programme GAIN has integrated the supply-side interventions of healthier foods, along with awareness-raising activities for eating right and eating healthier, while staying under a budget. This has ensured that communities in Assam (India) are able to access the nutritious foods items that they need and had been previously missing from their food baskets. This comprehensive approach not only alleviates hunger and 'hidden hunger' or malnutrition in its many forms, but also nurtures the bodies and minds of those most in need, in effect breaking down barriers to access.
Investing in Workforce Nutrition Programs
My experiences in the tea estates of Assam, has led me to observe that many nutritional challenges persist, private sector giants like Unilever and Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE) however have collaborated with GAIN in India in this initiative to pioneer groundbreaking initiatives. Their Healthy Line Shop (HLS) model has transformed the landscape of supply chain management in the nutrition sector in the area. By ensuring a consistent supply of nutritious foods to their remote areas, these private sector companies working with the local governments support and development sector implementation partners, have been successful in empowering local businesses in up taking the right food baskets, while significantly improving lives of thousands in these communities. This model is not just about delivering heathier food and products; it represents hope and opportunity for better health for the communities in need, showcasing the transformative power of collaboration of collaboration.
Though indeed the efforts are not free from challenges. In light of the fact there is a prevalence of anemia especially in tea estates, there is an added challenge of supporting in providing iron supplementation and closing the alarming gap in anemia rates in the region. This initiative has needed a holistic approach as well, coupling with iron deficiency anemia supplementation, providing access to awareness with health and nutrition-centric education and encouraging local ownership for solutions. By focusing on behavior change and utilizing digital platforms well, the initiative has aimed to transform healthier dietary habits and improve health outcomes in the longer term, especially for female workers who are disproportionately affected. There is a need to commit to not only treating symptoms and their health results but also addressing the root causes of nutrition disparities, ensuring a healthier, more vibrant future for all.
Challenges and Opportunities for Businesses
Collaborating with the public sector often can present some challenges. Regulatory compliance, bureaucratic hurdles, and sustaining long-term commitments present significant obstacles. However, these can be turned into opportunities. Businesses can leverage their innovative capabilities to enhance service delivery, ensuring that healthcare and nutrition reach even the most remote corners.
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) provide avenues for impactful collaboration, requiring a deep understanding of roles and responsibilities. Initiatives like the Workforce Nutrition Alliance and Impact4Nutrition are prime examples, proving that when businesses, governments, and NGOs unite, transformative change is possible and inevitable.
In my view, transparency is key in collaborative efforts. Businesses are now reporting their health and nutrition initiatives under the Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework. This reporting not only showcases their efforts but also provides valuable insights to governments, aiding in policymaking and resource allocation. By making ESG reporting on health and nutrition indicators mandatory, governments can further amplify the impact of private sector initiatives, ensuring accountability and fostering continuous improvement.
All in all, the journey to bring forth a healthier future for mothers, children, and adolescents is a collective effort. It requires the unwavering commitment of the private sector, the strategic vision of governments, and the resilience of communities. As we navigate the complexities of collaborative initiatives, we must remain dedicated to turning challenges into opportunities, bridging gaps, and nurturing future generations. The path ahead is undoubtedly challenging, but with the private sector leading the way, it is illuminated by the promise of a healthier, brighter tomorrow.
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Photo Credit: GAIN
Aishwarya Choubey, with 6+ years of expertise in health and nutrition, has made a significant mark at organizations like NITI Aayog and Tata Trusts. Currently co-leading workforce nutrition programs at GAIN, she focuses on improving diets of workers and farmers through sustainable community projects. Aishwarya supports 15 corporations in implementing nutrition-sensitive initiatives and aids GAIN programs in Nigeria and Bangladesh. Her achievements include enhancing Maternal and Child Health Nutrition outcomes, contributing to NITI Aayog's State Health Index, and designing monitoring frameworks for the World Bank. Recently, she presented her work on last-mile nutrition delivery at the Global Micronutrient Forum, highlighting her lasting impact.