ARISE-NUTRINT
ARISE-NUTRINT Project: Advancing Nutritional Health for Adolescents and Youth in sub-Saharan Africa
The ARISE-NUTRINT project (Adolescent Nutritional Intervention and Education) is an innovative, large-scale initiative focused on reducing nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) among adolescents and youth in sub-Saharan Africa. With the rising burden of poor nutrition and diet-related health conditions, this project addresses a critical need for health literacy and improved dietary practices among the youth. ARISE-NUTRINT operates as a multi-country collaboration that seeks not only to influence individual health choices but also to shape impactful, long-term policy changes across the region.
Key Objectives
Conduct comprehensive studies to uncover the primary health risks linked to poor adolescent nutrition. The research aims to analyze dietary patterns and other lifestyle factors that contribute to NCDs in youth populations across sub-Saharan Africa.
The project will design and implement an Adolescent Nutrition Fluency Intervention (ANFI), a program aimed at improving nutrition literacy and empowering adolescents to make healthier dietary choices. Additionally, the project will assess the public health impacts of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation as a policy measure to reduce sugar consumption.
ARISE-NUTRINT will establish the Africa Think Tank for Adolescent and Youth Health (AATAYH), which will work to translate research findings into actionable policy recommendations for long-term, sustainable adolescent health improvement. This platform will foster dialogue and partnerships with policymakers, educational institutions, and healthcare providers to support a holistic approach to adolescent health.
ARISE-NUTRINT will study the impact of taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages as a public health strategy to reduce sugar intake. The project aims to generate empirical evidence on the effectiveness of SSB taxation, which can serve as a model policy recommendation for governments seeking to reduce sugar consumption among youth.
Collaborative Partners and Networks
ARISE-NUTRINT is led by the University of Ibadan Research Foundation, in partnership with internationally renowned institutions such as Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg (Germany), University of Nairobi (Kenya), Stellenbosch University (South Africa), and University of Cape Town (South Africa). This diverse and interdisciplinary network brings together expertise in public health, nutrition, epidemiology, and policy-making, enabling a holistic approach to tackling adolescent health challenges.
Funding and Project Duration
The project is generously funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe program, with an official start in January 2023. Scheduled to run over four years, ARISE-NUTRINT has been provided the resources to sustain a multi-faceted approach, from educational programs to policy advocacy.
Expected Impact and Outcomes
By promoting better dietary practices, ARISE-NUTRINT aims to significantly reduce the incidence of NCDs among young populations in Africa.
The research conducted on SSB taxation and adolescent nutrition will provide governments with actionable data to inform public health policies.
Through ANFI, adolescents will gain essential knowledge about nutrition that they can carry into adulthood, fostering a generation of health-conscious individuals.
The think tank, AATAYH, will create a lasting infrastructure for health policy development focused on adolescent needs, ensuring that health literacy and intervention programs continue beyond the project’s completion.