USAID cooperative agreement no. DAN-5120-A-00-1066-00 with the National Cooperative Business Association to improve the nutritional well-being of the population of selected developing countries, especially at-risk women and children

food processing and marketing technology to small and medium-sized food processing companies, government officials, and USAIDs in targeted developing countries. The National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) will implement the project by conducting assessments, technical consultations, and seminars. First, a team comprised of two volunteer U.S. food industry consultants and a SUSTAIN staff member will visit host countries to assess their food processing systems, evaluate concerns expressed by the USAID Mission and by the public and private sectors, and outline plans for both immediate and long-term action. Twelve assessment missions are targeted. Once the assessment is completed, SUSTAIN will send technical consultants -- again mostly volunteers -- to help solve specialized problems among small- and medium-sized food processing firms and organizations. A total of 27 short-term TA missions are targeted; requests for long-term TA will be handled by other programs. Issues identified in the assessments and consultations will be examined at industry-wide seminars and workshops (21 are targeted), which typically will be co-hosted by in-country organizations. Topics will include food processing and preserving techniques, packaging, labeling, quality control, waste management, food safety, and marketing. Technical information will be disseminated through "SUSTAIN Notes," a quarterly journal with a mailing of about 1,400, as well as through written reports on all overseas activities and quarterly and annual reports.