A Pocket-Sized Famine Fighter

Last year, reports of an impending famine in Niger did little to rouse action within the global giving community. Though thousands have died from the predicted food shortage, many thousands have been saved, thanks to the work of one woman's company. Until recently, Fatchima Cissé ran a small nutritional food company in her native Niger, selling to relief agencies at no profit. With help from Doctors Without Borders, Cissé linked up with a tiny French food company, Nutriset, to distribute its Plumpy'nut food supplement. The calorie-packed paste does not need to be rehydrated, saving scarce water supplies, and can be eaten straight from its package, meaning mothers and those without means to travel to food centers or hospitals can still benefit. The company now counts 50 developing nations as thankful clients, has new centers in development in other African nations, and produces nearly 30 metric tons of the food daily. – YaleGlobal