After President Bidya Devi Bhandari launched the Baliyo Nepal initiative last week, the private sector today took the first step around the common goal of fighting malnutrition.
Baliyo Nepal’s innovative – a non-traditional approach to bring together the whole of Nepali society –relies on many diverse sectors backing the cause; and today the first group of businesses joined the movement, committing their support to Baliyo Nepal’s efforts at reducing chronic malnutrition in the country. This was first of its kind event, where both food and non-food companies have committed to the movement.
The first private sector partners of Baliyo Nepal include major food producers, service sector companies and manufacturers, reads a press note issued by the Baliyo Nepal. “Businesses as diverse as Mega Bank, Nimbus, Thamel Remit and Triveni Group committed to support the movement against hidden hunger, confirming that they saw it as in their interest to jointhe initiative that helps this country to thrive,” the press note reads, adding that
During the programme, the chairman of Baliyo Nepal Dr Swarnim Wagle emphasised that signing these Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) is one of the landmark steps in the fight against malnutrition. “Nepal has become the pioneer country where private sector has come forward and joined the ongoing government initiatives in the willful fight against malnutrition,” he said, adding that Baliyo Nepal is positive that this partnership will start the new avenue where the private sector can play the role of a true enabler to this movement. “BLC and KL Dugar Group along with Baliyo Nepal will be launching ‘Lito’ for 6months to 24 months children, which will enrich their nutrition intake.”
Likewsie, Avinash Farms and ShrinagarAgroFarm with this partnership will enhance their egg availability across Nepal. Other businesses are giving commitments to directly support Baliyo Nepal nutrition promotional programmes.
On the occasion, chief executive of Nabil Bank Anil Shah, who is also a member of the Baliyo Nepal Board, said, “We have been overwhelmed by the appetite of Nepali businesses, who share our dream to give the next generation the best future possible.”
What could our future hold if every child was as strong as Everest, he said, adding that the movement is not just about malnutrition, it’s about the collective dreams of Nepal. “Of course, everything starts with the right nutrition. We will build a Baliyo Nepal together.”
Likewise, deputy director at the Private Sector Partnership Development for Nutrition at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Kamel Chida, who was present at the signing ceremony said that the vision of Baliyo Nepal is a future where every Nepali child could grow into their full potential and with them the nation too. “That is a big challenge, and a huge opportunity, but we have a team of inspiring and committed partners to make a great start in making the movement a reality,” Chida said, hoping that more partners will join and strengthen that movement with their participation.
Almost a dozen companies including Avinash Farms Pvt Ltd, Bhuramal Lunkarandas Conglomerate (BLC), Himalayan Bank Limited, K L Dugar Group, Mega Bank Nepal Limited, Nabil Bank Limited, Nimbus Pvt Ltd, QFX (Team Quest), ShreenagarAgro Farm Pvt Ltd, Thamel Remit and Triveni Group attended the event and signed individual MoUs with Baliyo Nepal.
Baliyo Nepal is a national movement focused on engaging the nation in the fight against malnutrition. It is led by an independent board of diverse Nepali leaders spanning government, civil society and the private sector.
Former vice chair of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr Swarnim Wagle leads Baliyo Nepal, where Global Executive Committee Member of Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) in Geneva, and President of the Civil Society Alliance for Nutrition, Nepal Dr Uma Koirala , former Captain of National Cricket TeamParas Khadka, , vice president of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Nirvana Chaudhary , and chief executive office of Nabil Bank Anil Shah are members.
The Baliyo Nepal Nutrition Initiative’s first programme aims at reducing the risk of nutritional deficiencies among children aged 6 to 23 months by promoting healthy complementary feeding options, partnering with companies to grow the consumption of eggs and fortified porridge. The newly-launched organisation will work with the food industry to increase the supply of affordable and nutritious food. It also works to generate demand for more nutritious food by building a movement through social marketing and behavior change interventions to engage citizens. This initial promotional activity will be focused in selected municipalities before going nationwide.
Partners’ food products must meet a high nutritional standard, either by being naturally rich in nutrients or being fortified to acceptable levels; to verify nutritional standards, Baliyo Nepal will be following the Australian Government’s Health Star Rating system and require all products to have a 3 star rating or higher. Other private sector partners have made commitments to support the initiative with funding and value-in-kind support; with their assistance, the Baliyo Nepal brand will be brought to life in a series of educational and marketing activities, including films, corporate sponsorship and packaging design.
The organisation has been funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who issued a grant to the Chaudhary Foundation to support the set-up of Baliyo Nepal. The Gates Foundation continues to support the organisation by connecting Baliyo Nepal with foundation partners in nutrition science, product development, consumer marketing and behavior change. Baliyo Nepal is now governed by a diverse board of leaders from Nepali civil society.
Baliyo Nepal’s innovative – a non-traditional approach to bring together the whole of Nepali society –relies on many diverse sectors backing the cause; and today the first group of businesses joined the movement, committing their support to Baliyo Nepal’s efforts at reducing chronic malnutrition in the country. This was first of its kind event, where both food and non-food companies have committed to the movement.
The first private sector partners of Baliyo Nepal include major food producers, service sector companies and manufacturers, reads a press note issued by the Baliyo Nepal. “Businesses as diverse as Mega Bank, Nimbus, Thamel Remit and Triveni Group committed to support the movement against hidden hunger, confirming that they saw it as in their interest to jointhe initiative that helps this country to thrive,” the press note reads, adding that
During the programme, the chairman of Baliyo Nepal Dr Swarnim Wagle emphasised that signing these Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) is one of the landmark steps in the fight against malnutrition. “Nepal has become the pioneer country where private sector has come forward and joined the ongoing government initiatives in the willful fight against malnutrition,” he said, adding that Baliyo Nepal is positive that this partnership will start the new avenue where the private sector can play the role of a true enabler to this movement. “BLC and KL Dugar Group along with Baliyo Nepal will be launching ‘Lito’ for 6months to 24 months children, which will enrich their nutrition intake.”
Likewsie, Avinash Farms and ShrinagarAgroFarm with this partnership will enhance their egg availability across Nepal. Other businesses are giving commitments to directly support Baliyo Nepal nutrition promotional programmes.
On the occasion, chief executive of Nabil Bank Anil Shah, who is also a member of the Baliyo Nepal Board, said, “We have been overwhelmed by the appetite of Nepali businesses, who share our dream to give the next generation the best future possible.”
What could our future hold if every child was as strong as Everest, he said, adding that the movement is not just about malnutrition, it’s about the collective dreams of Nepal. “Of course, everything starts with the right nutrition. We will build a Baliyo Nepal together.”
Likewise, deputy director at the Private Sector Partnership Development for Nutrition at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Kamel Chida, who was present at the signing ceremony said that the vision of Baliyo Nepal is a future where every Nepali child could grow into their full potential and with them the nation too. “That is a big challenge, and a huge opportunity, but we have a team of inspiring and committed partners to make a great start in making the movement a reality,” Chida said, hoping that more partners will join and strengthen that movement with their participation.
Almost a dozen companies including Avinash Farms Pvt Ltd, Bhuramal Lunkarandas Conglomerate (BLC), Himalayan Bank Limited, K L Dugar Group, Mega Bank Nepal Limited, Nabil Bank Limited, Nimbus Pvt Ltd, QFX (Team Quest), ShreenagarAgro Farm Pvt Ltd, Thamel Remit and Triveni Group attended the event and signed individual MoUs with Baliyo Nepal.
Baliyo Nepal is a national movement focused on engaging the nation in the fight against malnutrition. It is led by an independent board of diverse Nepali leaders spanning government, civil society and the private sector.
Former vice chair of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr Swarnim Wagle leads Baliyo Nepal, where Global Executive Committee Member of Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) in Geneva, and President of the Civil Society Alliance for Nutrition, Nepal Dr Uma Koirala , former Captain of National Cricket TeamParas Khadka, , vice president of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Nirvana Chaudhary , and chief executive office of Nabil Bank Anil Shah are members.
The Baliyo Nepal Nutrition Initiative’s first programme aims at reducing the risk of nutritional deficiencies among children aged 6 to 23 months by promoting healthy complementary feeding options, partnering with companies to grow the consumption of eggs and fortified porridge. The newly-launched organisation will work with the food industry to increase the supply of affordable and nutritious food. It also works to generate demand for more nutritious food by building a movement through social marketing and behavior change interventions to engage citizens. This initial promotional activity will be focused in selected municipalities before going nationwide.
Partners’ food products must meet a high nutritional standard, either by being naturally rich in nutrients or being fortified to acceptable levels; to verify nutritional standards, Baliyo Nepal will be following the Australian Government’s Health Star Rating system and require all products to have a 3 star rating or higher. Other private sector partners have made commitments to support the initiative with funding and value-in-kind support; with their assistance, the Baliyo Nepal brand will be brought to life in a series of educational and marketing activities, including films, corporate sponsorship and packaging design.
The organisation has been funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who issued a grant to the Chaudhary Foundation to support the set-up of Baliyo Nepal. The Gates Foundation continues to support the organisation by connecting Baliyo Nepal with foundation partners in nutrition science, product development, consumer marketing and behavior change. Baliyo Nepal is now governed by a diverse board of leaders from Nepali civil society.
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