Mother feeding her daughter porridge at her home in East Gojam, Ethiopia.
Photo: Genaye Eshetu

Addressing Malnutrition Through Locally Sourced Solutions

Ethiopia faces significant challenges in combating malnutrition and low dietary diversity. Despite the availability of diverse agricultural resources, many communities lack access to nutrient-rich foods and the knowledge to prepare balanced meals. That’s where Mittin comes in—a simple, impactful solution made from locally available cereals and legumes.

By combining these ingredients, Mittin delivers a richer nutrient profile than traditional porridge flour, making it an ideal solution to address malnutrition sustainably.

Improving Nutrition with Mittin’s Nutritional Profile

Mittin’s formulation combines locally available cereals (e.g., teff, barley) and legumes (e.g., grass peas, faba beans) in a 3:1 ratio. This blend enhances the nutrient profile, particularly in terms of protein, iron, and zinc content, compared to traditional barley-only porridges. Enrichment with additional ingredients such as carrots, Ethiopian kale, and eggs further increases its nutrient density, supporting the dietary requirements of children under five and mothers.

The table below compares the nutritional content of Mittin to standard barley-based porridge, demonstrating its superiority in addressing micronutrient deficiencies.

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Through Mittin

The Mittin initiative integrates a market-based approach by training local women as Nutrition Sales Agents (NSAs). These women receive capacity-building support in production, business management, and marketing. By engaging in the production and sale of Mittin, NSAs not only earn income but also gain respect and recognition within their communities.

One notable example is Yetneberu Geto, an NSA in Amhara, who reported improved health outcomes among her customers: “Tilik, a mother, is one of my customers. Her child was underweight. She repeatedly bought Mittin because her child enjoyed it. Over time, her child’s weight improved.” As a result, Yetneberu has received more recognition from the Health Extension workers and appreciation from the mom. Her narrative illustrates how economic empowerment intersects with community health benefits, underscoring the multidimensional impact of Mittin.

Challenges in Scaling Nutrition Interventions

While the programme has seen remarkable progress, some challenges persist:

-> Cost and Accessibility: Rising raw material costs and limited availability of ingredients in certain areas.

-> Community Perceptions: Initial scepticism about Mittin’s locally sourced nature and nutritional claims.

-> Conflict and Instability: Ongoing conflict in the region has disrupted production and distribution, reducing customer outreach.

The resilience of NSAs and the adaptability of the programme have mitigated some of these issues, but further strategies are needed to ensure sustainability.

Future Opportunities to Scale Nutrition Solutions

The Mittin initiative presents several opportunities for further development:

1. Recipe Optimisation: Research into additional ingredients and standardised guidelines to maximise nutritional outcomes.

2. Product Line Diversification: Development of other nutritious, locally sourced products such as fortified snacks or high-energy biscuits.

3. Community Awareness: Enhanced education campaigns to build trust and increase adoption of Mittin among households.

4. Strengthening Value Chains: Creating local associations of NSAs to streamline production, access finance, and scale operations.

The Transformative Impact of Mittin on Nutrition and Livelihoods

Mittin exemplifies a scalable, community-led solution to malnutrition and economic empowerment. By combining nutrition interventions with a market-based model, the programme addresses both immediate health needs and long-term socio-economic challenges. However, realising its full potential will require continued research, investment in local capacity, and efforts to overcome structural barriers.

As a locally driven initiative, Mittin demonstrates the efficacy of integrating nutrition and entrepreneurship in creating sustainable, impactful change. Further exploration and investment in such models will be critical in advancing global health and development goals.