Nutritious Foods Financing Facility (N3F)

Sub Saharan is one of the fastest growing economies; with GDP growth rates expected to reach 4% in 2025. Over the next three decades the region will experience the fastest increase in working-age population, with 12 m youth entering the labor market every year.

However, in many countries, fewer than 50% women meet the minimum standard for a diverse diet and most young children don’t eat any meat, fish or egg on a typical day. This is because ~72% of people are unable to afford a healthy diet, leading to micronutrient deficiencies, stunting and diet related chronic diseases. Addressing this chronic deficit can lead to well-nourished children who learn and earn more as adults and mothers that have healthier, safer pregnancies.

Local SMEs serve as a vital tool to help improve the region’s nutritious food availability, while creating the bedrock from which the region’s economy grows. They provide ~80% of the total calories in the region but have a finance gap of USD 245 bn.

Through debt financing and targeted technical assistance, this fund supports SMEs across the nutrition value chain - from production and processing to cold chain logistics and fortified products. We invest in businesses driving innovation, inclusion, and resilience within local food systems. Every dollar invested supports progress across health, education, gender equity, climate adaptation, and economic growth.

In its first year, N3F has improved access to safe, nutritious food for nearly 3 million people across 12 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa by supporting five SMEs in four countries and delivering over 647 million servings of nutritious food. The fund’s investees offer 20 different nutritious products and services - including fortified flours, legumes, fish, and poultry - at affordable prices, with 79% of consumers reached coming from low- and middle-income households. N3F also advances gender equality (60% of investees are women-owned or led, and 39% of employees are women), supports responsible employment, and promotes environmental sustainability through technical assistance and innovative projects