Trade as a Catalyst for Expanding Access to Fortified Food in East and South Africa

Since the 1990s, ESA (East and South Africa) countries have progressively implemented food fortification, starting with salt iodization and expanding to additional staples. Today, among the 26 countries covered in the report, 21 mandate salt fortification, 13 wheat flour, 10 edible oil and maize flour, and 5 sugar. Despite this progress, micronutrient deficiencies remain widespread. In this context, strengthening regional trade should be explored as a potential means to help improve availability, affordability, and access to fortified products.

Altai Consulting was thus commissioned by GAIN to assess how regional trade can contribute to increasing consumption of fortified foods in ESA. The study aimed to clarify current trade dynamics for fortified food vehicles, identify key barriers hindering trade, assess the desirability of promoting regional trade, and highlight concrete entry points and targeted opportunities for action by governments and partners.