As the numbers show, the food crisis in Liberia is staggering. After 14 years of civil war, 85% of Liberians have no access to healthcare, 70% depend solely on agriculture for their food production, and 50% are at “poor” or “borderline” food consumption. The sum is a country with 80% Food Insecurity.
OIC International’s Health, Agriculture and Nutrition Development for Sustainability Program (HANDS), aims to eliminate the current food gap and nutritional deficit in two of the most food insecure counties of Liberia: Grand Geddeh and River Ghee. Through the distribution of soy flour and soy beans, OIC International’s initiative will benefit over half a million Liberians over the next 5 years.
The ultimate goal of HANDS, however, is not only to help Liberians. Rather, our program strives to help Liberians help themselves. Through technical and vocational training, and entrepreneurship and business development, OICI’s HANDS project aims to develop Liberia’s workforce. Attention to Food and Agricultural Security, Developing Finance, and Health, Nutrition, and HIV/AIDS education, the initiative seeks to enhance the livelihood of Liberians. These combined efforts are a move toward the ultimate goal: Healthy, Self-Reliant Communities.
To address the chronic and acute malnutrition problems of targeted populations in Grand Gedeh and River Gee counties of Liberia, OICI has introduced the production of a new, innovative fortified cereal, Super Gari, using locally sourced through the HANDS program.
Super Gari is a fortified cereal made of three ingredients: gari, defatted soy flour, and micronutrient mix. Through the HANDS program, OICI produces Super Gari to provide food rations to program beneficiaries, train beneficiaries in a new skill, bolster the local cassava value chain, and promote the development and marketing of a local value-added food product. In addition, as part of the HANDS program, OICI teaches improved agricultural techniques for cassava farming to beneficiary farmers on program demonstration farms. In addition to linking them to local markets, the HANDS program purchases cassava from the farmers for use in Super Gari production.
To achieve these goals, OIC International is partnering with LOIC, WISHH (World Initiative for Soy in Human Health), Malnutrition Matters: Food Technology Solutions, and Shelter For Life International.
Together with our partners, we recognize that a specific plan is necessary to accomplish our long-term goal of eliminating the current food gap and nutritional deficit in Liberia. Here’s our strategy:
- Implement agricultural, agro-processing and entrepreneurship training
- Develop and distribute fortified cassava blended cereals
- Build and rehabilitate community infrastructure
- Promote better feeding and care practices to mothers and children
- Implement school snack program and take-home rations for girls
Through these measures we expect to increase food availability and food access, improve food utilization, and expand opportunities for education. Together, these ends make up the final expected result of OIC International’s Health, Agriculture and Nutrition Development for Sustainability: Development of programs ensuring good Health, productive Agriculture, and positive Nutrition habits – programs that Liberians can Sustain with their own HANDS.