Sanku
Organization Details
Sanku is a social enterprise dedicated to combating malnutrition by making it affordable and accessible for small- and medium-scale millers in Eastern Africa to produce fortified flour. The organization equips millers with fortification technology and provides them with high quality and affordable nutrient premix, ensuring that communities have access to essential vitamins and minerals in their staple foods. With up to 95% of people in parts of Eastern Africa relying on small rural flour mills for their daily food, fortification is critical in addressing hidden hunger. Sanku recently launched the first-ever Nutrient Premix Blending Facility in Eastern Africa, a significant milestone in scaling food fortification efforts. Through its innovative model, Sanku bridges the gap in nutrition security by reaching over ten million people daily with fortified flour, particularly in underserved communities.
Impact Story
Sanku exists to close the nutrition gap for millions in East Africa by ensuring small and medium-scale millers can produce affordable, fortified flour. In 2015, a baseline study by the Government of Tanzania and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) revealed that only 2.5% of Tanzanian households consumed fortified flour. Recognizing this gap, Sanku launched operations in Tanzania, equipping 70 mills in the Morogoro region with its cost-effective fortification technology. By 2017, a study by Helen Keller International (HKI) showed that household consumption of fortified flour in the region had risen dramatically to 72%. A subsequent 2018 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reinforced the importance of fortifying maize flour at small and medium-scale mills, linking increased folic acid intake among women of reproductive age to a reduction in birth defects. Despite these gains, further scale-up is needed to ensure consistent access to fortified flour year-round for vulnerable communities.
Today, Sanku and its partner millers are reaching an estimated 3.8 million women of reproductive age and 2.8 million children under five with nutritious food daily. This impact translates into preventing approximately 1,770 maternal deaths and 700 child deaths every year, addressing malnutrition at its root and saving lives. Families that once faced nutrient deficiencies now have access to fortified staple foods, supporting stronger immune systems, improved cognitive development in children, and better overall health. By partnering with governments, donors, and millers, Sanku is scaling its innovative model to ensure that every meal is nutritious, every family is healthier, and every community thrives.