International Development Grant
Double Nutritional Burden
Project Number: CA-3-S064359001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $2,999,116.00
Start Date: April 01, 2008
End Date: July 31, 2014
Duration: 6.3 years
Project Description
The project aims to build the capacity of Francophone Sub-Saharan African countries to cope with a double nutritional burden that is the coexistence of malnutrition and overweight. This coexistence is the result of a rapid nutritional transition involving an increase in consumption of fat and simple sugars which contributes to greater risks of obesity and degenerative diseases. The project's medium- and long-range impact is to contribute to a gradual reduction in the incidence of nutrition-related chronic deseases. Université de Montréal executes this project's main activities in partnership with the Institut régional de santé publique of Cotonou Benin and its network of partners and collaborators. These activities involve reviewing the many academic degrees and developing educational material to harmonize training programs and university diplomas. The project contributes to a better diet for urban schoolchildren and reaches families and communities by executing the "Initiative écoles amies de la nutrition". To this end material is being created follow-up is being managed in schools and four students from Université de Montréal are doing internships.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of the end of the project July 2014 include: 1) In Benin two new regional university-level nutrition programs were put in place: i) a master’s program in nutrition and community health with 10 graduates already and ii) a professional licence program in nutrition and dietetics with 17 graduates and 75 suscibed students and five doctoral candidates in nutrition at Université de Montréal who are working on the project (four are recipients of a scholarship from the former CIDA). 2) In Benin and Burkina Faso 140 health food or nutrition professionals representing more than eight African countries took intensive courses in community-based management of severe malnutrition and “nutritional transition” (changes in diet and lifestyle especially in urban communities) and chronic diseases such as obesity diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. 3) In Cotonou and Ouagadougou about 7 000 primary school pupils (from 12 schools) are benefiting from improvements in health hygiene and nutrition through a pilot project of the Initiative des écoles amies de la nutrition (IEAN). Nutrition training has been provided to all teachers and members of IEAN school committees (made up of eight members per school including parents pupils a health officer a community representative and teachers). 4) In Benin a food guide has been developed and about thirty local resource persons are trained to distribute and promote the guide among the people of Benin. 5) Advocacy tools have been developed and disseminated to fight diabetes. A presentation and a calculator showing the medical costs of the disease have been tested in four West African countries. Some thirty health and nutrition professionals and students in Benin have been trained in advocacy and the use of these tools. These results help to build the capacity of Francophone countries in West Africa especially Benin and Burkina Faso to address the double nutritional burden.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
Université de Montréal - Office of Research Services and Development
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Donor country personnel
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP