In 2015 the following projects have been supported by the Van Dam Foundation.

1. The Agriculture, Nutrition and Health nexus in Ghana.
The van Dam Foundation supported two MSc students to carry out fieldwork to study the association between crop diversity and dietary diversity among young children in Ghana. The prevalence of malnutrition in terms of stunting and wasting is high in rural Northern Ghana. Agriculture plays an important role in access to food, as agriculture represents the population’s main livelihood activity in the area. Hence, multiple programs aim to address malnutrition by increasing agricultural production. The position of women is one of the pathways through which agriculture affects children’s dietary nutrient adequacy and nutritional status, as women tend to prioritize the nutrition and health of their children. An empowered and healthy woman, is better able to control resources needed for good care, in turn stimulating the nutritional status of her children. Diversifying agricultural production is another pathway through which agriculture may affect children’s dietary nutrient adequacy and nutritional status. A more diverse production in the household may result in more diverse foods consumed by children in the household.

Two studies were supported; .
a. Women’s position, dietary nutrient adequacy and nutritional status of children in Ghana
Froukje Takens (MSc student Sociology, Wageningen University) studied how the position of mothers is related to dietary nutrient adequacy and nutritional status of children of 6-23 months old. The position of mothers included the health status and different domains of empowerment, like decision-making power, mobility, attitude towards and freedom from domestic violence, socio-economic status, marital characteristics etc. Mothers (n=51) were interviewed to assess the degree of maternal empowerment regarding different domains. Interviews were held with key stakeholders in the area. Results of the research implicated that different aspects of the position of women seem to relate differently to child nutrition. Whereas some domains do not affect children nutritional outcomes, others seem to benefit or harm children’s diet. First, findings revealed that stunted children (chronically undernourished) are more likely to have mothers who do not experience domestic violence, do not experience physical mobility constraints and are older. In other words, based on these indicators, results imply that empowered women have children with better nutritional status in terms of stunting. Second, findings showed that wasted children (acute undernourished) are more likely to have mothers with an impaired health status i.e. mothers with a better health status have children a better nutritional status in terms of wasting. Therefore it is concluded that policies and interventions need to consider the different impacts of domains of mother’s position on children’s nutritional outcomes and hence be sensitive to the context and culture. For further details, see the final report.Final report Women’s Position and Child Nutrition Froukje Takens

b. The association between the diversity of crop production and nutritional indicators of rural households in Ghana
Sofia Argyropoulos (Msc student Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University) investigated how household production diversity is correlated with dietary diversity and nutrition of infants and young children living in rural farming communities in northern Ghana. The nutrition indicators included: (i) coverage of household nutrient requirements supplied through household production (ii) the individual dietary diversity score and (iii) the nutritional status of children 6 to 23 months old. We found that higher household crop production diversity is associated with higher coverage of nutrient needs of household members by household production. Total household production used for own consumption covered 70.3% of macronutrients and 43.4% of micronutrients household needs and provided less than 40% of fat, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, folate, and vitamin C needs. The study did not show associations between diversity of household production and dietary diversity of children 6 to 23 months or nutrition status of these children. This suggests that household production diversity does not necessarily translate into improved diets of infants and young children. Markets may play an important role in this relation. For more details, see final report. Final_Thesis_Sofia_16-03-2016_PDF

2. Dutch Water Limited: .
The Foundation supported the organisation Dutch Water Limited (DWL)  financially to enable the organisation to purchase tables appropriate for food handling to be used in the production hall. Also an injection mould mal was purchased to enable children to produce their own drinking mug.

The production of stainless steel tables in the production space of DWL replaced the wooden tables that did not comply anymore to the governmental laws related to food handling. The material has been purchased and the tables have been manufactured by DWL maintenance staff.  The costs for the material appeared to be higher than budgeted for, and the difference was covered by DWL. The tables are now in use and allow DWL to fill their water jerrycans according to the guidelines.

The “Injection Mould Mal’ was purchased and allows children who receive Healthy Drinking Water through DWL in their homes and institutes, to make their own drinking mug. The mal was manufactured and tested in India, and after successful approval, shipped to DWL to start producing the mugs. The production of drinking mugs for each child supports the hygiene of drinking water as no longer hundreds of children consume water from the same mug with a high risk of transferring infections.

For more information on DWL, see this link