Weighing children at a child nutrition centre in Indonesia, one of two countries where Project Laser Beam is bringing the public and private sectors together to stamp out hunger. Copyright: WFP/Indonesia

At the heart of WFP’s partnership with the private sector is Project Laser Beam (PLB), a US$50-million project to eradicate child malnutrition, with an initial focus on Indonesia and Bangladesh.

It takes a holistic approach by designing and implementing food, health, hygiene and other projects, all tailored to local conditions. This multi-sectoral model is designed to be scalable, sustainable and replicable.

• PLB aims to make child malnutrition a more winnable battle by taking and breaking what can appear to be an impossible task into manageable ideas and projects.

These include the development of locally manufactured, nutrient-rich ‘smart’ foods, nutrition and hygiene education, clean water and income generating schemes which promote access to nutritious foods.

A new approach

Ways that companies can engage in this battle against malnutrition are offered in a catalogue of interventions, all with a price tag, and all of which form part of the multi-sector approach to tackling child malnutrition.

PLB is an exciting way for the private sector to join the fight against hunger. Every child deserves a well nourished start to life. There is still too much amazing human potential being lost to malnutrition. PLB is part of putting that right.

Project Laser Beam

Project Laser Beam (PLB) is a five-year, US$50 million public-private partnership that seeks to eradicate child malnutrition. It brings together the expertise of UN agencies with that companies like Kraft Foods, Unilver, DSM and others in the private sector, to work with local governments and companies to find new solutions to old problems. Find out More