IKS
GROUP OF COMPANIES

The goal of the Project was to reinforce and sustain the reduction of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among poor children and women in Central Asia through parallel attention to supply (production and distribution); demand (public awareness and demand creation); and regulation (quality control, implementation of regulations and legislation, and trade facilitation). The specific objectives were to (i) obtain and sustain use of iodized salt by 90% of households; (ii) sustain fortification of at least one third of wheat flour consumed domestically; (iii) build capacity of the private and public sectors to produce quality fortified food; (iv) develop regulatory institutions or incentive schemes to facilitate fortification and ensure the trade of quality fortified food among Central Asian countries; and (v) build awareness of consumers about prevention of IDD and IDA, and benefits of micronutrient-enriched food.

The consultants of IKS Consulting has been engaged in performing of the following assignments: (i) advise and train salt industries and flour mills in developing business plans, marketing, and financial management; (ii) advise the participating countries in matters related to nutrition policies, micronutrient deficiency and its different remedies, and nutrition surveillance; (iii) advise flour mills in technical matters related to flour fortification; (iv) advise salt industries on technical matters related to salt iodization; (v) review the legal frameworks for food fortification and the situation of trade of wheat flour and salt among participating countries, and suggest adjustments to these policies to increase the availability of fortified flour and salt in these countries.