Project Design Document

BecA-ILRI Hub Project Design Document Page limit: 10 Research Initiative: Africa - Australia Food Security Initiative BecA-ILRI Hub and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Partnership Funded by: Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the CSIRO 1. Full title of the proposed project Harnessing the nutritional and economic benefits of amaranth for improved and sustainable livelihoods in Eastern Africa 2. Short title of proposed project (no more than 6 words) Amaranth for food and nutritional security 3. Abstract (250 word summary of proposal) Needs to focus on Phase 3 and not a summary of what the project achieved during Phase 2. Think about your 5 minute CNN interview and what the key points were. Estimates of food insecurity and malnutrition indicate that Africa still has the highest proportion of undernourished people in the world. In East Africa, diet is mainly composed of cereals, predominantly maize, rice, cassava, sorghum, starchy roots, among others. Cereals provide almost two-thirds of the dietary energy supply, but are a poor source of proteins and micronutrients especially after refining. Quantitatively, insufficient food supplies that lack diversity are the twin problems affecting the region. Although short-term interventions such as supplementation and fortification still need to be reinforced, investment in sustainable food-based strategies is urgently needed to combat hunger and micronutrient deficiencies. Amaranth grain contains 30% more protein than most common cereals, like maize and rice and is rich in micronutrients. This proposal seeks to diversify the diet and provide livelihoods of poor farming families in rural areas of Kenya and Tanzania by increasing the production and consumption of grain and leaf amaranth. The project will comprise all phase 2 collaborators (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, AVRDC, Sokoine University of Agriculture, BecA_ILRI hub and CSIRO Animal, Food and Health Sciences) and additionally include Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Real Impact and ASARECA. The team seeks firstly to understand aspects relating to increased productivity of grain amaranth through crop management and sustainable seeds supply. Secondly, diet diversification by blending grain amaranth or its products in common staple diets and/or new recipe formulations will be implemented. Lastly, the main drivers influencing the consumption and demand of amaranth and its value added products will be explored and strengthened by establishing market linkages, nutrition education and increased communication with consumers. It is anticipated that poor rural farmers will benefit nutritionally as well as increasing their income level. This will result in healthier and wealthier farming communities.

4. Background rationale for the proposal (refer to the selection criteria and ensure that analysis in this section covers off on questions asked) Restrict discussions on the outcomes of Phase 2 to approximately half a page; include key outcomes from Phase 2 that will be carried forward into Phase 3. Challenges, how these have been addressed to date and how they will be delivered against in Phase 3. A compelling, pressing constraint to food security is to be addressed (1) who will be the beneficiaries and the number? Context, fit, relevance (2) Refer to partnership theory of change ProteinEnergy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency have been and continue to be the main food and nutrition insecurity associated problems in sub-Saharan Africa. Young children, lactating and pregnant mothers are the most vulnerable groups. Local diets in the region are based on starchy staples like maize, rice and cassava which are poor in protein content and quality and micronutrients density. Currently, the rate of acute malnutrition is at 30%, twice the World Health Organization's accepted emergency threshold of 15%. Considering children below 5 years in Kenya 35.3% are stunted, 6.7% wasted and 16.1% underweight (Government of Kenya, 2010), while in Tanzania 43.8% of the underfives are stunted, 29.4% underweight and 12.3% wasted (World Bank, 2006). Over 40% and over 70% of preschool children in Africa are iron and Vitamin A deficient. This is alarming. During phase II research work, it was demonstrated that grain amaranth is rich in energy and contains a high amount of quality protein, containing essential amino acids like lysine which is absent in the above mentioned starchy staples. More importantly, it is rich in micronutrients of health concern in the region including iron, zinc and calcium. The productivity of the crop is comparable to that of maize or even better in arid and semi-arid regions due to its high water efficiency. In phase two project selection of high yielding nutritious grain, vegetable and dual purpose varieties was done. Consequently, use of these varieties for increased productivity will be followed in phase 3. Based on the superior nutrition outputs, use of grain amaranth for home or household blending and fortification of common staples in East. African diets is proposed as an intervention towards better nutrition and increased incomes for small holder farmers and the rural poor. Strengthening existing networks within the amaranth value chain and building news partnerships particularly with the provate sector will development partners is seen as instrumental. This will be the first move towards sustainable eradication of malnutrition in East Africa and is in line with CSIROs theory of change. 5. Project Plan 5.1 Overall project outcome statement (reference the Partnership Theory of Change) Who will be the project beneficiaries? Male/female? Numbers Scaling strategy (4) Sustainability strategy (or business model) (6) R vs D content (7) The project will benefit poor rural farming households by improving the availability of nutritious food products in parallel to increasing income. A special focus will be given to empowering youth and women. This will be achieved through improved dietary diversification, increased production and consumption of grain and leaf amaranth in Eastern Africa. The structure below will be used for out reach and dissemination of information in both Kenya and Tanzania. In each of the countries, 6 different zones are identified for project implementation. Research outputs from universities and AVRDC will be channeled to the community through collaborative efforts of the development partners. Amaranth Nutri-commercial Villages (ANVs) s have been identified in each of the target zone. A total of 280 ANVs, each consisting of 100 households of an average 6 people per household will be reached out to making it a total of 168, 000 direct beneficiaries. It is assumed that the ratio of males to females will be 50%. Indirectly, this will benefit upto 1,000,000 people.

Lessons learnt from the VBAs will be transferred into the neighbouring counties/regions, a multiplicator effect needed for upscaling within the countries involved and eventually to the entire E.African region (Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan). Linkage with private sector players and policy briefs will be instrumental for ensuring sustainability. Through a vigorous nutrition education, demand for nutritious food products will be created which will spur increased production. By linking with the cereal millers association, proportionate blending of amaranth in common staples will be key toward attaining food and nutrition security.

East Africa

Kenya Northern

Tanzania

Eastern
Machakos Makueni

Central
Juja Nyeri

Western
Bondo Lugari Busia

Southern

Arusha Meru Moshi

Dares salaam Morogoro Dodoma

ANV

ANV

ANV

ANV

nth ANV

Figure 1. Regions identified for the implementation of the amaranth project in Kenya and Tanzania

5.2 Project logic diagram utilizing the same format as the partnership theory of change Impact logic, unpack (5)

Impact Pathway for Amaranth Project

Goal Increased amaranth production and consumption contributes to sustainable economic, food and nutrition security in East and Central Africa

Purpose

The linkage between research, private/and or public institutions and small holder farmers collaboratively leads to developing and applying new knowledge on amaranth that contributes to sustainable economic growth, food and nutrition security in East and Central Africa

End of partnership out comes

Improved access, availability and consumption of amaranth based foods in East and Central Africa

Partcipating scientist in amaranth research and institutions incorporate adoption partners and pathways in bioscience design & implemetation

Intermediate out comes

Small scale farmers, traders, processors and policy makers increase production and productivity, food nutrition and safety and their economic well being by participating in the amaranth value chain

BecA-hub and partners engage selected private sector, civil society, farmer and governmennt stakeholders to design, implement and promote results from bioscience research

Project out comes

Targeted local communities enhance dietary and income diversity through increased production and consumption of amaranth

Project outputs Increased amaranth production Strengthened market linkage between production and consumption Participatory dietary diversification Capacity of local communities and partner institutions strengthened

Project Activities

1. Development and uptake of amaranth production technologies 2. Enhancing on farm production and productivity (yields & acreage) 3. Improving seed supply systems

1. Raising awareness on the nutritional benefits of amaranth 2. Establishing and strengthening market linkages 3. Enhancing value addition at household & community level 4. Improving and promoting the distribution and postharvest handling practices

1. Promoting consumption of amaranth blended staples 2. Developing and availing amaranth recipes to local communities 3. Strengthening local communities, millers and SMEs to prepare amaranth blended recipes 4. Engagement of policy makers to prioritize and support amaranth initiatives 5. Exploring possibility of using amaranth as feed

1.

2.

3. 4.

Training value chain participants including farmers and SMES Training on soft skills: innovation platforms, partnership brokering MSc, PhD and ABCF fellows Training in business development

5.3 Table of Outputs, Activities etc

S.No 1 1.1 1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 1.1.4 1.1.5 1.2 1.2.1 1.2.2 1.2.3 1.3 1.3.1 1.3.2 1.3.3 1.3.4 2 2.1 2.1.1 2.1.2 2.2 2.2.1 Output/Activities Increased amaranth production Development and uptake of amaranth production technologies Effect leaf harvesting on grain yield for dual purpose varieties Variety selection based on agro-ecological zones Nutritional quality of irrigated vs non irrigated grains Effect of thinning, spacing, fertilizer/manure on yields Develop an APSIM module for modelling amaranth production and nutritional quality Enhancing on farm production and productivity (yields & acreage) Training of farmers on production practices (fertility, crop management: thinning, spacing, water) On farm trials Apply APSIM model to quantify returns and risks from amaranth production with farmers and traders Improving seed supply systems Seed bulking and cleaning at village and SME level Seed packaging Creation of awareness on the importance of quality seeds Availing clean seeds at the market Participatory dietary diversification for consumers Promoting consumption of amaranth blended staples Nutrition education on importance of amaranth to identified targeted communities Consumption studies in case study schools and hospitals on morbidity Developing and availing amaranth recipes to local communities Determination of amaranth proportions that result to maximum nutritional benefits without compromising taste or price of staples Profiling the nutritional content of the blends Documentation on recipe development for maximum nutrient bioavailability Strengthening local communities, millers and SMEs to prepare amaranth blended recipes Supporting Partners GAIN/Real Impact/ PEC/ CSIRO Cereal Millers Association 2.2.1 Proportion of grain amaranth in common staples blends 2.1.1 2.1.2 Number of education programmes launched and the target communities Indicators for mordidity reduction in schools and hospitals in target groups Lead Partner: JKUAT/SUA FIPS, PEC, Real Impact, FIPS, PEC, Real Impact, AVRDC/JKUAT/SUA CSIRO AVRDC/JKUAT supported by BAFAM Grain Amaranth, East African Seed 1.3.1 1.3.2 1.3.3 1.3.4 Number of seed bulking sites, amount and price of seeds/50g Number and type of seed packages developed Number of promotional campaigns on quality seeds Number of differentiated seed varieties availed 1.2.1 1.2.2 1.2.3 Number of farmers and training sessions Number of on farm trials Number of farmers and traders using APSIM model CSIRO Partners Lead Partner: JKUAT/AVRDC/SUA Supporting Partners JKUAT 1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 1.1.4 1.1.5 Optimum number of leaf harvest for maximum grain yield Number of varieties suitable for specific agroecological zones Nutrient content of irrigated vs non-irrigated crops Yield per acre for well spaced, manured/fertilized plants Model for amaranth production and nutritional quality Indicators

2.2.2 2.2.3 2.3

2.2.2 2.2.3

Nutrient content of amaranth blended recipes Number of recipes documented and their bioavailability

2.3.1

Providing local communities, millers and SMEs with information on proportionate blending of amaranth with common staples Demonstration trials at village/cottage industry level Training on value addition at household, community level and indutrial level Influencing policy in favour amaranth blended policy in maize flour Radio, TV and print media communications Engagement of policy makers to prioritize and support amaranth initiatives Poverty Eradication Commission (PEC), Kenya/ CSIRO

2.3.1

Number of meetings with local cmmunities, millers, smes on proportionate blending of staples with amaranth Number of demonstration trials at village level, number of people Number of trainings on value addition Number of meetings with policy makers on amaranth Number of radio, TV and print media communications

2.3.2 2.3.3 2.3.4 2.3.5 2.4

2.3.2 2.3.3 2.3.4 2.3.5

2.4.1 2.4.2 2.4.3 2.4.4

Summarize cost-benefit analysis from the investment from improved amaranth value chain Produce policy brief on amaranth benefits for diet diversification, nutrition and income Invite key representatives from ministries to project events (field days, workshops) Submission to PEC recommending identified actions to enable amaranth to improve diets and increase incomes for the poor Exploring the use of amaranth plant and grain as a feed source for livestock production Feed trials on cavies (linkage to BecA project on cavy culture) Strengthened market linkage between production and consumers Amaranth value chain analysis, determining the current demand and supply, gaps in the chain, including baseline information on the current production capacity, nutrition status and consumption level of amaranth Complete ex ante impact assessment of enhanced amaranth value chain on household diet and livelihood and economic perfomance of participating businesses Prioritize feasible options for overcoming identified gaps in current and prospective value chains Identification of key stakeholders who will market test preferred options to overcome constraints and drive demand and increased consumption Implement selected case studies where enhanced amaranth value chain operations are tested, for example: Entrenching amaranth in school feeding programmes, hospitals and prisons Improving and promoting the distribution and postharvest handling practices establishing communal centres for postharvest handling and storage Lead Partner: GAIN Supporting partners BecA- Cavy Project team

2.4.1 2.4.2 2.4.3 2.4.4

Cost benefit analysis for improved amaranth value chain players Number of policy briefs generated Number and type of project events organized Recommendations identified for action to improve diets and income

2.5 2.5.1 3 3.1

3.1

Baseline and endline report on the current and future production and consumption patterns of amaranth

3.2

PEC/ JKUAT/SUA/AVRDC/CSIRO Private sector engagement: 1. Annico (blended flours)

3.2

Number of farmers/businesses using ex ante impact assessment techniques Number of prioritized options for filling in gaps within the amaranth value chain Number of stake holders involved in market testing

3.3 3.4

3.3 3.4

3.5 3.5.1 3.5.2

2. BAFAM (seed supply) 3. East Africa Seed 4. NutriAfric (seed, grain)

3.5 3.5.1 3.5.2

Number of case studies implented Number of school, hospital or prison feeding programmes launched Number of new postharvest handling practices lauched

3.5.3

Availing amaranth based food products in retail outlets and supermarkets- Facilitate private sector to avail products Capacity strengthening of all amaranth value chain members Training of value chain participants including famers and SMEs in: business practices marketing and communication HACCP, safety and packaging

5. Lugari Grain Amaranth Cooperative Organization Lead Partner: ASARECA Supported by: BecA hub, JKUAT, SUA, AVRDC

3.5.3

Number of amaranth based foods in the market

4 4.1

4.1

Number of trainings for value chain players

4.2 4.3 4.4

MSc, PhD and ABCF fellows Training on soft skills: innovation platforms, partnership brokering Media communication for project participants and stakeholders

4.2 4.3 4.4

Number of MScs, PhDs and ABCF fellows trained Number of trainings on soft skills Number of media communications

6. Research Team and Partnerships Principal Investigator/s Dr. Daniel N. Sila from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya Co-Principal Investigators S. No 1 2 3 4 Name Dr. Paul Kusolwa Dr. Tsvetelina Stoilova Mr. Enock Msinguzi Mr. Moses Odeke Affiliation Sokoine University of Agriculture AVRDC-World Vegetable Centre Global Alliance for improved Nutrition (GAIN) ASARECA Areas responsible for Project Leader, Southern Tanzania: Responsible for amaranth production and diet diversification Project Leader, Northern Tanzania; Responsible for amaranth production and diet diversification Strengthened market linkage between production and consumers Capacity strengthening of all amaranth value chain members

Partners (e.g. Other national agricultural research institutes; regional organizations; CSIRO, other Australian research agencies, NGOs, private sector etc.) Partners should be people/organizations that are critical to the delivery of the project goals. If an organization has not been identified indicate the key role and responsibility and what steps will be undertaken to identify the partner and secure their commitment. Partnership/partnership strategy (3)

Organization

Partnershi Key Contacts p Category

(eg Research, Development) Research Prof. Manny Noakes Dr. Malcolm Riley Dr. Andrew Fletecher Dr. Mario Herrero Dr. David Priest Louise Larbuschagne Paloma Fernandes Leonard Obidha 1. Ann Muthoni 2. Peter Okech 3. Cyrus Wangombe 4. Peter Masava 5. ????

Role(s)

Confirmed
(Yes/No)

CSIRO

Nutrition Nutrition Agronomy/crop management APSIM Modelling Increased amaranth productivity in Eastern & Western Kenya, Southern and Northern Tanzania - Increased amaranth productivity in central Kenya - School, hospital and prisons feeding programmes - Biofortification of maize flour with amaranth flour Policy direction Promotion of amaranth blended recipes

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Negotiating

Farm Input Promotions Africa Ltd Real Impact, NGO Cereal Millers Association, Kenya Poverty Eradication Commission, Kenya Private sector 1. Annico 2. BAFAM 3. NutriAfric 4. Lugari Grain Amaranth 5. East African Seeds Co.

Development Development Development Development Development

1. Marketing amaranth based recipes 2. Seed production & increased productivity 3. Seed production and recipe development 4. Production, milling and marketing of amaranth 5. Seed bulking and supply

7. Capacity Building Identify capacity building activities to be undertaken to the project and how this allows the project to deliver against its goal and the overarching Program Logic. Please identify activities linking to overall program capacity building activities led by Rob Skilton. Capacity building content (9) Provide details on split of male and female and how this will be addressed

It is anticipated that during the life time of the project, human capacity will be built in African institutions in the area of amaranth production, nutrition, diet diversification and consumer behaviour and mechanisms of improving demand/expanding market. The proposed capacity building scheme is given in the Table below. Type of capacity building (students, industry, village etc) MSc PhD Project leaders and associates Farmers, SMES Type (formal or learning through action) Formal Formal Informal, soft skills Learning by doing Number of People 8 2 20 6000 Proposed resourcing mechanism (Project, ABCF, other) ABCF/Project Funds AusAID scholarship Project Funds Project funds/ASARECA

As indicated above, 3 forms of human capacity building aspects are anticipated: 1. Students training this will involve MSc and PhD training. Most of the MSc students will benefit from the ABCF challenge fund during the course of their training. a. PhD training students/staff from the respective research institutions will be encouraged and supported to apply for AusAID scholarships. This will be dependent on the call for proposals. Focus areas for the training will include: i. Amaranth crop management practices for increased yields and income generation ii. Role of amaranth blended recipes in reducing protein-energy malnutrition in subSaharan Africa b. MSc training it is anticipated that there will be 8 MSc trainees shared between the research institutions. Women will be given preferential treatment, with a minimum of a third of all the slots given to young women. Focus areas for the MSc trainees will include: i. Effect of leaf harvesting and thinning on the yield and nutritional properties of amaranth (2 students: 1 JKUAT, 1 SUA) ii. Effect of agro-ecological zones on the yield and nutritional properties of amaranth (1 AVRDC) iii. Modelling amaranth production and nutritional quality using APSIM model (1 JKUAT) iv. Diet diversification by blending amaranth with common staples (3 students: 1 JKUAT, 1 SUA, 1 AVRDC) v. Understanding amaranth value chain: use of ex ante impact assessmen tools towards increased amaranth productivity and consumption (1 JKUAT/CSIRO) 2. Staff training members of staff, and trainers of trainers (ToTs) will be exposed to soft skills training, partnership brokering and media communications. ASARECA will be responsible for sourcing trainers and providing training materials Farmers and SMES will be trained on amaranth productivity, crop management, business practices, marketing and communication, quality assurance, household diet diversificationand recipe development, nutritional benefits of amaranth, among others. Most of this training will be village based or held on demonstration sites distributed around the project areas.

3.

Capacity building in terms of equipments is as proposed below: Cold storage facility for storing seed samples and blended recipes before nutrition analysis Anthropometric equipments for determining the effect of amaranth blended recipes on malnutritionindicators for school going children/villages Local cooking equipments (improved stoves) for illustrating the best cooking methods for improved nutrition outputs Low cost, low energy locally made drying unit for grains/leaves for shelflife extension and value addition

8. Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) Indicate how the project will report achievement s at the project outcome and output(s) level including the methodology to be utilized to collect and analyze appropriate data. Also indicate who will take the lead and be responsible for M and E within the project and indicative level of resources required including human and financial resources. How will you know if you are succeeding or have been successful? (8) If you cant track your outcome then perhaps you need to rethink what the outcome should be? Below is an indicative Logframe to guide in the implementation of this project. A provisional list of indicating all theperformance indicators, especially for the project outputs is provided, besides and the respective and sources of verification. Assumptions have been given for each output. Data will be collected through mixed methods approach. For example, periodic qualitative and quantitative data collection will be conducted through use of questionnaire and focus group discussions. In some cases, by experimental analysis will be conducted where proof of concept is needed. However, to enhance understanding of the current level of amaranth productivity, and to help in setting measurable targets, a baseline survey will be carried out. Evaluation of partnership impact wil be continuous with quarterly review of milestones and taking the necessary corrective action in time. End line surveys will be used to judge the impact of the project. Financial and technical reporting will be done biannually or as per the demand of the donor. This Project will be periodically tracked through organized and regular data collection, collation and analysis, before feeding the data into the Performance Monitoring Plan. In addition, all the generated information for each performance indicator will be entered into the M&E System. Where data for particular indicators are either missing or are of questionable standard, the PI plus the M&E Focal Person shall conduct rapid ground-truthing and data audit to correct the anomaly. As part of Project Review, the Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) will be critically reviewed, especially during the Portfolio Review Meetings. The Principal Investigator will compile the PMP monitoring information every quarter (using standard Reporting Template). These compilations will finally feed into the Official Quarterly, Semi-Annual, Annual and Final Project Reports. Similarly, these Reports will be used internally to guide all the Project Implementation Team, as well as draw crucial lessons from them. To ensure tracking and documentation of performance and impacts on the targeted groups, periodic evaluation of all partner interventions will be undertaken, and quarterly review of meetings held to assess performance against the milestones. This is expected to ensure timely and necessary corrective action taking. As already indicated, end-line surveys will be used to judge the impact of the project. Financial and technical reporting will be done biannually or as per the demand of the donor. Title: Harnessing the nutritional and economic benefits of amaranth for improved and sustainable livelihoods in Eastern Africa S.No Variable Indicators and Targets Sources of Assumptions Verification 1 Outcome Funds are Percent change in productivity of Dietary diversification released on time grain amaranth and better livelihoods Number of people with improved from increased dietary diversification production and consumption of grain amaranth 2 Outputs 2.1 By end of the 2015, high Number of farmers who have List of farmers and Funds are yielding nutritionally adopted amaranth growing farmer groups in the released on time dense amaranth varieties Percent change in yield of grain region A strong link successfully grown in 12 amaranth Baseline and endline exists between regions12 regions in reports partners Percent change in Level level of Kenya and Tanzania Stable political understanding and adoption environment in Report on amaranth of amaranth in focus groups farmers the region Percent change in Understanding the farmers attitudes on amaranth at farm level Training reports (Knowledge Attitudes and List of participants

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Practices) Number of people trained Number of improved seed supply systems Number of amaranth fortified products Number of new recipes /products based on grain amaranth Proportion of people eating amaranth based foods Number of new linkages between the community and nutrition stakeholders Level of acceptability of amaranth based foods within different communities Level of adoption and consumption of the blended amaranth products Number of players in the grain amaranth market value chain Volume or qQuantity of amaranths flour available for blending Number of women groups engaged in amaranth production Percent change in Increased household consumption and use of grain amaranths Amount of Household household income generated from amaranths Percent Change change in living standard (possession, houses, social services)

End of year reports Records on seed systems Records on amaranth fortification List of new amaranth based recipes Household diet diversification reports Stakeholder meeting reports Record on linkages Sensory analysis report Consumer study report Value chain report Formulation manuals List of women groups Amaranth consumption report Endline report of income Endline report on livelihood changes Farmers willing to grow amaranth Communities will be willing to consume amaranth product

2.2

Acceptable nutritious prototype amaranth blended flours and recipes developed

2.3

Amaranth consumption and dietary diversity increased from baseline by 2017

Households are willing to use amaranth

2.4

Improved income inincome in 720 small holder farmers familiesfarmers families in Kenya and Tanzania by 2017

9. Leveraging existing R4D and development initiatives in the region We all know that our projects are not the only R4D activities in the region, how are we leveraging off other activities in the region and what is our unique position/opportunity? OK to identify other sources on investment within the team in this area and how you are managing the different income sources to achieve impact. Using AusAID money to leverage other investment is a good outcome. A number of initiatives occur in the region with similar goals as outlined below:

Amaranth project funded by McKnight Foundation and Gates Foundation in Uganda working on grain amaranths for improved nutrition, optimizing production systems and market development Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (SRL) program, led by VEDCO (Uganda) University of Ibadan improved nutrition on leaf and grain amaranths Micronutrient fortification strategies for staple food products in Tanzania and Kenya under the USAID funded Feed the Future Innovation Engine.

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Our strategy is complementary and has the additional benefit of exploiting the micronutrient density and high quality protein content of amaranth beside being an avenue for livelihood diversification through increased incomes. Fortification by blending common staples with grain amaranth can leverage the same objective of improving livelihoods in poor farming families.

Kenya Agricultural Productivity and Agribusiness Project (KAPAP) on amaranth productivity supported by the World Bank which envisages an integrated approach in order to synchronize research, extension and farmer empowerment and other stakeholders initiatives Ministry of Planning in Kenya under the Poverty Eradication Commission focused in using amaranths as a solution to food security in maize based farming system. Emphasis on utilization of amaranths for complementing maize flour. PKL in Abidjan and Promasidor in Lagos processing infant foods can be approached to make similar trials to include amaranths in their work. Innovation platforms have been made in the case of the cavies project in Cameroun/Congo Helen Keller International advocating the utilization of orange fleshed potatoes for pro-vitamin enhancement in rural and urban communities Tanzania INSTAP increasing nutritional status of staple foods they work on bioavailability through traditional processing (www.instapa.org/instapa) LUGARI Mill community driven development this is connecting with our effort as milling operation for processing grain amaranth for blending

This project will work with teams in the existing initiatives directly or indirectly for increased impact. Already work is being done with Poverty Eradication Commission, Lugari Grain Amaranth group among others. 10. Total project budget and project duration Please complete the table below for each organization receiving project funds. Capital equipment to include significant/specialized pieces of equipment/infrastructure that is required to deliver on project out comes; this should not include routine laboratory equipment such as computers and centrifuges include these in operating. e.g. Table 1. BecA Item Description 1 Salaries 2 Operating 3 Travel 4 Capital (major pieces of equipment and infrastructure > $10K). 5 Overheads Total AusAID funded(Aus$) 349,180.00 312,500.00 53,400.00 25,600.00 91,150.00 1,002,655.00 Other (Aus$)

11. Promoting environmental and gender benefits, and managing ethical issues and risks Please provide information on how the project will support positive outcomes for the food security of women and children, this is not a statement that the project will not impact negatively on women, children or the environment. All projects are likely to need human ethics approval through CSIRO before they commence; see Jocelyn if you have not already. The team will seek for ethical approval and consent for all participants in the studies for baseline surveys household productivity in the involved communities under the guidance of CSIRO. As women are predominantly involved in recipe formulation and cooking in E. Africa, engaging them in productivity and nutrition

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interventions at household level will be critical. Joint initiatives with NGOs working with children and women groups will provide an easy pathway toward achieving the project results. Consent and approval from local governments, head of households, and opinion leaders in communities will be the first entry point for accelerated uptake and adoption. By working closely with these teams, forming cooperative groups, clustering farmers for collective bargaining, it will be easier toconduct training on crop management, demonstrate on process/pathways for diversifying diets using grain amaranth and the related nutritional benefits, and creating linkages with markets. The farmer training design can be led by AVRDC who have a lot of experience.

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