In 2025, FFI advanced LSFF efforts across Eastern and Southern Africa through expanded technical assistance, strengthened partnerships, and targeted country support under a collaboration with UNICEF. Launched in October 2024 and running through May 2026, the partnership supported ten countries at different stages of fortification program development, with the dual goal of improving program design where mandatory fortification is not yet established and strengthening monitoring and enforcement systems where programs already exist.
Across the region, FFI tailored its assistance to country-specific needs, recognizing that fortification systems evolve through distinct phases—from feasibility assessment and strategy development to regulatory implementation and compliance monitoring. Working closely with UNICEF country offices, governments, and partners, including the World Food Programme and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, FFI helped countries address persistent micronutrient deficiencies through sustainable, nationally owned fortification systems.
Equipping Angola, Comoros, Namibia, and Zimbabwe to Implement Large-Scale Food Fortification Programs
Several countries made meaningful progress toward establishing or strengthening national fortification frameworks. Most notably, Angola and Namibia are ready to implement large-scale food fortification programs in 2026, thanks to assistance from FFI and UNICEF. And Comoros and Zimbabwe are closer to implementation as a result of similar tailored technical assistance.
In Angola, FFI facilitated the development of a national LSFF 5-year strategy (in Portuguese and English) through a participatory process involving government and partners. The strategy—covering wheat flour, maize flour, and edible oil—has been validated and is moving through national approval processes, marking a significant step toward mandatory fortification.
Namibia also made significant advances toward mandatory fortification. Building on earlier strategy development, FFI supported discussions to develop regulations and adopt regional standards, including expanding existing salt fortification regulations to include the fortification of commonly consumed foods such as wheat flour, maize flour, and millet flour.
In Zimbabwe, FFI supported the finalization of wheat and maize flour fortification standards, which are now being applied by industry. FFI also supported the provision of technical resources and training for millers to strengthen implementation and improve industry troubleshooting capacity.
Meanwhile, feasibility assessments helped countries evaluate new fortification opportunities. In Comoros, FFI conducted an assessment that identified rice fortification as a promising intervention due to high consumption levels and reliance on imported rice, while highlighting the need for strengthened inspection capacity at ports of entry and a regional fortification mandate to generate enough demand for food producers.
Building Capacity for Monitoring and Compliance
In countries with established fortification mandates, FFI focused on improving regulatory monitoring and enforcement systems. Training-of-trainers workshops in Ethiopia and Tanzania strengthened national capacity by equipping regulators, industry representatives, and civil society actors with practical monitoring tools and validated inspection approaches. These training programs created pools of national experts capable of supporting ongoing compliance and responding to emerging implementation challenges.
Mozambique demonstrated both progress and ongoing challenges. FFI completed refresher training on FortifyMIS, a digital platform used to collect and analyze fortification data, and implemented FFI’s “Pull Strategy,” a social accountability approach that engages civil society to assess private sector compliance with fortification standards. Findings showed that while fortification activities were occurring, compliance gaps remained—underscoring the continued need for stronger regulatory oversight and industry quality assurance systems.
In South Africa, where fortified foods influence regional markets, preliminary assessments revealed delays in the approval of revised regulations and uncertainty about current implementation levels. If given the opportunity, FFI plans to conduct a comprehensive landscape analysis to guide future efforts to strengthen the program.
Advancing Fortification Across Development Stages
Beyond country-level support, FFI strengthened regional coordination mechanisms across Eastern and Southern Africa. Through engagement with the Regional Coordination Mechanism and a regional data dialogue held in Ethiopia in October 2025, countries shared experiences and identified joint solutions to common challenges, including data management and program monitoring. Participants emphasized that many effective tools and data resources already exist but require greater national capacity and support to be used effectively.
FFI’s work across the region reflects a strategic progression of fortification systems—from early feasibility studies to fully operational programs that require strengthened compliance monitoring. Countries such as Angola, Namibia, and Zimbabwe advanced into more mature implementation phases, demonstrating tangible progress achieved through sustained technical assistance and partnership with UNICEF and national stakeholders.
While challenges remain—including coordination barriers, data gaps, and regulatory delays—FFI and UNICEF’s support in Eastern and Southern Africa highlights the value of adaptive, country-driven support. By strengthening policies, building technical capacity, and fostering regional collaboration, FFI continues to help countries move toward effective, sustainable food fortification programs that improve nutrition and health outcomes for millions across the region.
