Wednesday, 18. March 2015
Hotel Bern, Bern 08:30-18:30
Food programmes alone are often not enough to alleviate chronic malnutrition. This conference on 18 March 2015 in Bern seeks to show how social innovations in nutrition can offer new solutions to chronic malnutrition.
Two billion people suffer from chronic malnutrition, sometimes called "hidden hunger". Food programmes alone are usually not enough to combat this hidden hunger. Disease and inadequate hygiene, for example, hinder the body’s absorption and utilisation of nutrients.
The event is organised by the SDC's Employment and Income Network and Ashoka, an international organisation promoting social entrepreneurship, along with the consulting firm Hystra. "Hidden Hunger and Social Business" offers an insight into new social innovations in nutrition that aim to comprehensively improve nutrition, i.e. by considering healthcare, hygiene issues and access to clean water. Particular focus is placed on mothers and babies in the critical first 1,000 days of a child's development from the start of pregnancy, as well as on school children.
The event aims to generate a better understanding of social entrepreneurship's potential in the area of nutrition, including by showing how to better exploit synergies between social entrepreneurs, development organisations and traditional companies. It is also an opportunity for exchange between the various actors involved in nutrition. Two workshops will be held in the afternoon alongside various presentations and discussions.
