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Nutri’zaza was born of the determination of five committed players who share a common social and economic vision: a social enterprise can commit to the fight against malnutrition. Nutri’zaza‘s strengths lie in the diversity of its founding shareholders, the social mission enshrined in its articles of association, and its capacity for innovation.
In 2013, to mark the launch of Nutri’zaza, a social enterprise based on the Nutrimad development program initiated by GRET, a white paper was published detailing how the company wished to combat malnutrition. At the time, the facts were clear: over 50% of children under the age of five, or 1,300,000 children, were suffering from stunted growth (also known as chronic malnutrition). Ten years on, despite a relative improvement in percentage terms, the number of children in this situation in Madagascar has increased: 42% of children under the age of five, i.e. over 2 million youngsters, still suffer from chronic malnutrition. Madagascar is still one of the world’s poorest countries, with over 80% of the population living on less than two dollars a day.
Fighting malnutrition: 10 years of innovation
To combat child malnutrition on a long-term basis, the company sells fortified products for malnourished children and families: ready-prepared porridge, delivered by outreach workers to underprivileged neighborhoods in Madagascar’s major cities; sachets of porridge for home preparation; and cereal bars and sachets of moosli (muesli). Nutri’zaza strives to make these quality, locally-produced products accessible to all Malagasy families, including the most vulnerable.
In this country with its many challenges, the private sector is demonstrating its dynamism and capacity for innovation in response to socio-economic and health issues. In terms of public health, Nutri’zaza’s social objective is more relevant than ever. The company manages to reach a considerable audience: Nutrizaza distributes an average of over 42,000 rations a day, including 23,500 by the ladle to the most vulnerable populations, and employs 273 people.
An atypical company in SIDI’s portfolio, historically dedicated to financial inclusion and agricultural value chains, the alignment of this social enterprise’s mission with SIDI’s social mission makes it a central partner on the Grande Ile. This alignment is guaranteed by the inclusion of this social mission in Nutrizaza’s own articles of association.
A lasting partnership, a key to consolidating the company
SIDI is proud to have supported the development of this social enterprise for 10 years: through its patient capital, its participation in governance and its technical support, SIDI has contributed to the consolidation of Nutri’zaza. Alongside SIDI are GRET, the initiator of the Nutrimad project; TAF, a Malagasy agro-industrial group entrusted with the manufacture of Koba Aina, and the Association pour la Promotion de l’Entreprenariat à Madagascar[1]. The complementary nature of these shareholders, who all participate in the company’s governance, is a strength for Nutri’zaza. As such, each shareholder contributes his or her expertise and technical knowledge: SIDI is therefore particularly attentive to the balance of the company’s business model.
Over the past 10 years, SIDI has been able to accompany Nutri’zaza through its various deployment phases, made possible thanks to the support of institutional donors, notably the Agence Française de Développement and the European Union. Over the years, Nutri’zaza has diversified its product range, forging a strong partnership with Chocolaterie Robert to produce two new fortified products: a chocolate bar and a moosli for older children.
In 10 years, Nutri’zaza has demonstrated its capacity for innovation and resilience in the face of major external shocks, notably the COVID 19 health crisis. The teams must now continue their work to consolidate the business model.
[1 ] The founding shareholders also included Investisseurs et Partenaires, which sold its shares to the remaining shareholders in 2017.
