Sub-Saharan Africa

In East Africa, IGN led efforts to expand the Regional Coordination Mechanism focusing on iodine nutrition, initially established with UNICEF in 2019, into a broader food fortification platform and involving partners such as GAIN, FFI, Nutrition International, and more. This expanded mandate now guides harmonized regional policies, fortification standards, and improved monitoring for salt and other fortified foods. The October 2024 Regional Consultation in Mombasa, Kenya resulted in a shared regional roadmap for salt iodization and food fortification, endorsed by 25 countries.

In West and Central Africa, IGN has partnered with UNICEF and regional bodies like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to improve iodized salt trade and policy. In Ivory Coast, IGN supported a national action plan based on trade dynamics and food iodine contribution studies, helping strengthen salt regulations and create a repository of trusted importers.