Fresh Food Vouchers: a fresh approach to better nutrition in Djibouti

Taking a visionary leap toward healthier futures, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Solidarities and the Ministry of Health, launched a fresh food initiative. Generously funded by France, this pilot project is set to be a game-changer in contributing to improved dietary diversity and nutrition for the children and women of Djibouti.

Enabling access to fresh food through economic empowerment

What may be taken for granted in many countries is a different reality in Djibouti. Meals mainly consist of cereals, oil/fat and sugar.  Vegetables and Fruits are not regularly consumed, due to limited availability and access. These factors contribute to malnutrition, a persisting public health issue in Djibouti which was also highlighted through the multisectoral assessment on food and nutrition security carried out in April 2023.

In November 2023, this changed for 750 vulnerable households with children under the age of 5 and with pregnant and breastfeeding women in Djibouti City. Neima, a mother of 10 children, is one of the direct beneficiaries of the pilot project. “We eat more and better now,” she says as she walks across the stalls in Riyadh Market, the biggest fresh food market in the capital city.

Households targeted for the pilot project are beneficiaries of the national social safety net programme, Programme National de Solidarité Famille (PNSF). Each month, they receive 10,000 Djiboutian francs directly from WFP to meet essential food needs. Through this pilot project, they receive an additional 5,000 Djiboutian francs exclusively to purchase fresh food items from local traders. “I used to buy only pulses, cereals, and oil to make our meals. This additional amount loaded in my card really allows me to buy meat. I also buy fruits and vegetables for my children out of the list of recommended products,” said Neima.

A network of partners for improved nutrition

The fresh food voucher initiative goes beyond providing cash transfers for restricted food items purchases. It also involves promoting dietary diversity and good nutrition practices, food safety and quality requirements.

Like the other beneficiaries, Neima received some advice from a group of WFP-supported counselling mothers before heading to the fresh food market and contracted shops. With them, she got better knowledge on nutrition basics such as food choices, nutritional values of food items, and good breastfeeding practices.

Meanwhile, WFP partnered with seven fresh food traders, in addition to the existing thirty-three partner retailers selling staple food commodities. As members of this network, they receive strict trainings on food quality, safety, and management.

Local traders, like Ilias and Zam Zam, are already witnessing positive results. Ilias, who sells chicken and eggs noted increased product movement and customer traffic. According to him, it’s because he’s paying attention to the quality of his products and always ensures availability. At Riyadh market where Zam Zam manages a fresh fruits and vegetable stall, the trend is the same. There is great hope her business will thrive and wishes the project will continue for a longer period. “If the project continues, I will sell more and to more people. Those people who bought fruits and vegetables on very rare occasions will be able to eat better”, she adds.

By empowering families to include fresh food items such as meat, fruits, and vegetables in their meals through cash assistance, WFP and its partners contribute to improved overall nutrition. This unique initiative contributes to addressing the root causes of malnutrition that results from inadequate quantity and quality of household food intake, quality of children’s food intake through dietary diversity and infrequent meals as well as lack of nutritional knowledge and proper food handling.