National Nutrition Agency

13/09/2026

NaNA and Partners engage millers and importers amid nationwide Food Fortification monitoring

Recent Laboratory test conducted by the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) revealed a concerning decline in compliance by Millers, Salt producers and importers with national food fortification standards. The laboratory investigation look into Wheat Flour, Iodized Salt and edible oil. In July of this year, 188 samples were tested by FSQA, only 3% met the required standards, compared to 10% compliance recorded in 2024. “96% of salt, 91.9% of wheat flour and 75.8% of edible oil consumed in The Gambia are found to be either below or above the National food fortification standards, the Laboratory test revealed.

In response to this findings, the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), in collaboration with stakeholders including National Alliance Food Fortification (NAFF) supported by the World Food Programme(WFP) embarked on a five-day nationwide Food Fortification Monitoring to better understand the situation, identify gaps and strengthen compliance.

The Director General of NaNA Mr. Malang N. Fofana led a team in the greater Banjul Area engaging millers, importers and other key stakeholders to assess food fortification activities at key entry points. These engagements provided an opportunity to discuss compliance challenges, reinforce the importance of meeting national standards and identify areas requiring corrective action.

Another team visited the salt production sites at Bintang and Darsilameh in the west coast region, FSQA officials in URR and CRR as well as Mauro and Sahel Farms in the Central River Region looking at compliance along the food fortification supply chain. The exercise is being conducted within the framework of FSQA Act, 2011 and the Food Fortification Regulations 2020, which provide the legal and regulatory basis for ensuring that designated stable foods meet established National fortification standards.

Food fortification is an important public health intervention preventing micronutrient deficiencies by adding essential vitamins and minerals to staple food. A comprehensive report will be generated outlining findings and recommendations which will be shared with relevant stakeholders to facilitating action and strengthen compliance with food fortification standards in the Gambia.

10/09/2026

150 COMMUNITIES REACHED AS VYWoSP BRINGS HEALTH CLOSER TO HOME IN CRR & URR

The National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) and partners have just concluded a 7-day community sensitization on the Basic information on the Vulnerable Youths and women Support project as well as the utilization of the Health facilities renovated and other facilities built by the VYWoSP
The activity was carried out from the 31st of August to 6th of September 2026 across VYWoSP intervention areas in CRR & URR with over 150 communities engaged.
The sensitization was meant to improve better access to basic social services, strengthen community participation, and improve well-being while promoting positive social norms, gender equality, and demand for quality care.
The rehabilitation and equipping of these health facilities are key development priorities in the National Development Plan. But their full impact will only be felt when communities know about them and subsequently utilize the services.
The facilities are ready. The message is out. Now let’s use them.
A huge thank you to all community leaders, mobilizers, health workers, and partners for making this exercise a success.

09/09/2026

INVESTING IN NUTRITION IS INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE

National Nutrition Agency(NaNA) & UNICEF Gambia Chiefs Call on the Vice President H.E Mohammed BS Jallow to discuss Prioritizing Lifesaving Nutrition Commodities Financing.

On Wednesday, the UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Karl Fredrick Paul and The UNICEF Country Representative Ms. Nafisa Bint Rafique, the Deputy UNICEF representative Armand Gnabor and the Nutrition Specialist, Yankuba Sawo paid a courtesy call on His Excellency the Vice President, Mohammed B.S. Jallow at State House.

The diplomats were accompanied by NaNA Director General, Mr. Malang N. Fofana, Director of SBCC Mr Ousman Dem and Program Manager and UNICEF Focal Point, Mr Alieu Kujabi of the National Nutrition Agency. After their meeting with the Vice President, the UN diplomats said they were at the state house to discuss the possibilities of Creating a dedicated budget line for lifesaving nutrition supplies and Financing Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) for the treatment of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition. The meeting also discussed the importance and benefits of Investing in Nutrition saying a $1 invested in nutrition yields $23 in economic returns.

The delegation reaffirmed that sustainable investment in nutrition is an investment in the human capital, survival, development, and future productivity of Gambian children.

They renewed their commitment and collaboration with NaNA and reiterated their willingness to supporting the Government of The Gambia in building a resilient, nationally owned nutrition programs that can provide lifesaving treatment to children in need.

Together, we can ensure no child is left behind.

08/09/2026

INFLUENCE FOR IMPACT: SOCIAL MEDIA JOINS THE BREASTFEEDING MOVEMENT

As The Gambia commemorates World Breastfeeding Week 2026 the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) is taking the breastfeeding message beyond traditional platforms and into the digital space.

Because we know the power of social media to inform, inspire, and influence positive behaviour.
Recently, NaNA’s SBCC Directorate led by Director Mr. Ousman Dem convened social media influencers for a day-long engagement on how to harness digital platforms to promote, protect and support breastfeeding.
The engagement supported by UNICEF Gambia was meant to:
* Amplify awareness on breastfeeding
* Share accurate, evidence-based information
* Challenge myths and misconceptions
* Empower mothers to breastfeed confidently while balancing work, family, and everyday life

The session was graced by NaNA’s Senior Management Team led by Director General Mr. Malang N. Fofana and Deputy Director General Mr. Abdou Aziz Ceesay as well as the Representative of UNICEF The Gambia Mr. Bakary Dampha

The message was clear:
Every post can inform. Every voice can inspire. Every platform can make a difference.

To all influencers and content creators: Let’s influence for impact. Let’s champion breastfeeding.

05/09/2026

World Breastfeeding Week 2026: Stronger Commitment for a Sustainable Start in Life

As part of World Breastfeeding Week 2026, the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), through its SBCC Directorate, convened a day-long Corporate Meeting with public and private sector stakeholders to strengthen support for breastfeeding in The Gambia.

Under the theme: “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthening What Works”

Key discussions focused on:
* Policies and regulations that protect, promote and support breastfeeding
* Practical ways employers can help mothers balance breastfeeding and work
* The vital role of NaNA Radio and community radio in reaching families with accurate breastfeeding information

Speaking at the meeting, the Director General of NaNA Mr. Malang N. Fofana, Madam Fatou Darboe Ministry of Health and Bakary Dampha UNICEF Representative

All reaffirmed their institutions’ commitment to creating an enabling environment for mothers and children. Partners emphasized that breastfeeding is a vital investment in child survival, nutrition security, and a healthier future.

Stakeholders called for:
1. Early initiation of breastfeeding
2. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months
3. Continued breastfeeding up to 2 years and beyond
4. Stronger protection against inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes
5. Greater workplace support for breastfeeding mothers

With current exclusive breastfeeding rates at 54%, the call is clear: we need stronger collective action across all sectors to ensure every child gets a sustainable start in life.

Breastfeeding is everyone’s responsibility.
Together, let’s strengthen what works and support every mother to breastfeed.

03/09/2026

NaNA & UNICEF Hold Nutrition Sector Review Shaping Priorities for 2024–2028

The National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) has convened a Nutrition Sector Review as part of UNICEF The Gambia’s 2024–2028 Country Programme Mid-Term Review (MTR).

The meeting brought together key stakeholders to take stock of progress, reflect on achievements and challenges, and agree on priority actions to strengthen nutrition interventions for the remaining programme period through 2028.
UNICEF Deputy Country Representative, Armand Gnahore emphasized the need to:
- Scale up high-impact interventions
- Prioritize the most vulnerable children
- Align programmes with The Gambia’s national development priorities and UNICEF’s global strategic plan
- Keep child rights and the right to nutrition at the centre of improving children’s well-being

The Director General of NaNA, Malang N. Fofana called for Stronger coordination, accountability, and collective action, a strategic refocusing of interventions based on lessons learned, Closing implementation gaps and aligning with national priorities and global standards as well as Using the forthcoming National Position Paper on Nutrition Implementation to set clear, evidence-based priorities.
The outcomes will feed into UNICEF’s broader Mid-Term Review and help shape strategic priorities to improve nutrition outcomes for children in The Gambia through 2028.
Together, NaNA and partners remain committed to building a healthier Gambia where every child has access to the nutrition they need to thrive.

02/09/2026

*National Consultative Workshop on Multiple Micronutrient Supplements Underway in Bijilo*

The National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, and funding from the Sub-Saharan Africa Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend Plus Project (SWEDD+), Tuesday convened a three-day National Consultative Workshop on the integration of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for Pregnant Women and Adolescents in The Gambia.

The convergence brought key stakeholders from the Ministry of Health and other partners at the Baobab Holiday Resort to deliberate on the evidence, context, priorities, and strategic programming related to the introduction and scale-up of MMS in The Gambia. MMS provides a broader range of essential vitamins and minerals in addressing micronutrient deficiencies and improving maternal and adolescent nutrition outcomes.

Delivering the opening remarks, the Director of Health Services of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Momodou T Nyassi, underscored the importance of strengthening nutrition interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of women and adolescents. “Global research has demonstrated that MMS, which includes Iron, Folic Acid, and other critical vitamins like Zinc, Vitamin D, Calcium, and Vitamin B Complex, have tangible benefits. Studies have shown that MMS significantly reduces the risk of low birth weight, pre-term birth, and small-for-gestational age babies compared to Iron and Folic Acid” Dr Nyassi added. He noted that, the objective of the convergence is to review and contextualize the WHO recommendations, and establish strategic priorities for the effective introduction and implementation of MMS for pregnant women and adolescents in The Gambia.

The Director General of NaNA Malang N. Fofana stated that the consultative meeting is expected to generate context-specific priorities and recommendations to guide future programming and policy actions on MMS for pregnant women and adolescents in The Gambia while highlighting challenges on under nutrition such as stunting and wasting.

During the three-day meeting, participants are expected to work on policy alignment, through review of global evidence, with group assignments to propose relevant policy and regulatory pathways, system strengths, gaps, opportunities culminating into a national MMS roadmap. This will help in addressing micronutrient problems in The Gambia.

Ministry of Health The GambiaNational Nutrition Agency World Bank Group


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01/09/2026

“We are laying the foundation for a healthier and more resilient nation” Says NaNA Boss at the Validation of the National Nutrition Strategic plan 2027 - 2031

The Director General of the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) Mr Malang N. Fofana on Monday presided over the validation of the National Validation of the Draft National Nutrition Strategic Plan 2027 - 2031 at NaNA head office in Bakau. The two-day validation brought together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors supported by UNICEF.

The UNICEF Representative at the meeting Mr Yankuba Sawo assured the UN Agency’s support nutrition system strengthening while commending the longstanding cordial relations between national institutions and the UN body. He said the validation will look at critical areas of the strategic plan for a more responsive approach to reducing malnutrition in the Gambia, urging participants to provide inputs fit for purpose to the country needs.

In his opening statement the Director General of NaNA Malang N. Fofana said the document seeks to promote healthy diets, build resilience of vulnerable households and strengthen food systems in the country. Mr Fofana commended the government of The Gambia for supporting NaNA in developing the foundations through formulation of legal instruments in the implementation of the Nutrition act. “We are laying the foundation for a healthier and more resilient nation” he highlighted by imploring on stakeholders to work towards malnutrition free Gambia.

The vision of the Nutrition Strategic plan 2027 -2031 is a Malnutrition free Gambia that ensures a healthy and sustainable living for all and it has three strategies goals and objectives:

1. improve the nutritional status among adolescents, woren, Infants and young children.

2. Promote access to safe, diverse and nutritious foods through improved food and social protection systems.

1. Promote healthy diets and lifestyles to prevent and manage diet-related NoN-Communicable Diseases NCDs

Participants are expected to consolidate inputs for a comprehensive and more robust National nutrition strategic plan 2027 - 2031 at the end of the two day, paving the way for it’s launch by the end of September 2026.

01/09/2026

01/09/2026

Director of Social and Behavioral Change Communication at the National Nutrition Agency Mr. Ousman Dem speaking at the end of the of a five-day community mobilization training for Multi Disciplinary Facilitation Teams (MDFTs) under the implementation of the Gambia RISE project (Nafa/PEI/PPP) programs