Ottawa, CANADA – Nutrition International celebrated Canada’s ongoing support and long-time leadership and commitment to improving nutrition for the world’s most vulnerable at a recent event on Parliament Hill.

Joel Spicer, Nutrition International’s President and CEO, welcomed guests and thanked Canadians for their longstanding commitment in the fight against malnutrition.

Thank you Canada. As a country, we have walked the talk when it comes to fighting malnutrition and Nutrition International is one, very tangible example of that commitment and leadership in action. All Canadians have a right to be proud of that – because Canada’s support matters and it makes a real difference in the world.

– Joel Spicer, President and CEO of Nutrition International

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, along with parliamentarians, members of Nutrition International’s Board of Directors, and stakeholders from Canadian and international development organizations were in attendance to join in recognizing the importance of better nutrition for vulnerable populations – a key component to achieving new global targets, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

Improving the nutrition of women and girls is key to their empowerment, but it also benefits entire communities. That is why Canada is proud to partner with Nutrition International to help millions of women and girls reach their full potential and become powerful agents of change.

– The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie

Minister Bibeau accepted an award on behalf of all Canadians, presented by Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi and Nutrition International Board member, as an expression of Nutrition International’s appreciation for Canada’s commitment towards advancing global nutrition.

The event marked Nutrition International’s 25th anniversary and celebrated its decades of impact as well as its evolution from the Micronutrient Initiative into Nutrition International earlier this month.

Nutrition International also unveiled a bold new goal for 2030, which aims to transform the lives of one billion vulnerable people, especially women, adolescent girls and children, by improving their nutrition status. A new strategic plan to support this vision will follow later this year.

At Nutrition International, we’re not only taking stock of what has been accomplished in the past 25 years. We are looking forward to the change we want to see in the world – and we have set an ambitious goal between now and the Sustainable Development Goal deadline.

– Joel Spicer, President and CEO of Nutrition International

Improving nutrition has a range of positive effects, especially for women, children and adolescent girls. Better nutrition leads them to have access to better education, generating income, improving the health and wellbeing of their families, community and, ultimately, advancing their countries’ socioeconomic development.

Nutrition International works with countries – and collaborates with partners – to improve nutrition. Thanks to Canadian support, since 1998 more than eight billion vitamin A capsules have been procured by Nutrition International for distribution around the world. As a result, four million lives have been saved and 1.5 million children have been protected from nutritional blindness.

Statement to Canada’s House of Commons

Monsieur le Président, je me lève aujourd’hui pour souligner le vingt-cinquième anniversaire de L’Initiative pour les micronutriments – un acteur respecté partout au monde dans le domaine de l’éradication de la malnutrition. Cet anniversaire est marqué par un changement de nom pour Nutrition International, un nom qui reflète mieux leur rôle croissant comme partenaire de développement et défenseur de la nutrition.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 25th anniversary of the Micronutrient Initiative – a respected global player in the pursuit of a world free from malnutrition. Their 25th birthday is highlighted by a change in name, they are now called Nutrition International – a name that reflects the organization’s expanding role as a global development partner and advocate for nutrition.

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