In the Sahel countries, malnutrition affects the development of young children and their mothers over the long term. In Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, one in two women has anaemia and at least one third of children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition.
Although the prevalence of malnutrition is lower in cities than in rural areas, the population in Sahelian cities is rapidly increasing and precarious neighbourhoods in peri-urban areas have very high rates of malnutrition. In addition, cities are confronted with the coexistence of acute and chronic undernutrition, nutritional deficiencies and excess bodyweight, which affect all levels of society.
Quality manufactured fortified food products have strong potential to prevent malnutrition in young children and their mothers, by providing nutritional value suited to their needs. However, Sahelian businesses have difficulties producing and distributing quality fortified food products in a market they perceive as complex and unfavourable. A local supply exists, but it is rarely of good quality and is insufficient to sustainably meet the needs of families living in cities. Imported products are inaccessible for the majority of the population, and humanitarian nutritional programmes, which depend on international assistance, are only occasionally aimed at the most vulnerable populations.