Celebrating Success and Sustaining Impact
đź“Ť InterContinental Dhaka
đź“… 30 June 2025
After four years of rigorous implementation, innovation, and collective action, the Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE) project marked the successful completion of its first phase through a vibrant Closing Workshop held on 30 June 2025 in Dhaka. Hosted at InterContinental Dhaka, the event served not only as a celebration of impact but also as a strategic reflection on how to embed and sustain urban nutrition efforts for the long term.
Opening Reflections and Project Journey
The day began with opening remarks from Md. Farhad Zamil, Executive Director of SAF Bangladesh, who expressed appreciation for the multi-stakeholder approach that characterized NICE. He emphasized how collaboration between government, academia, NGOs, and the private sector was critical to the project’s success.
This was followed by a moving audio-visual presentation showcasing the journey of NICE, its scale-up across Dinajpur and Rangpur. The video highlighted stories of transformation — from farmers’ hubs to school gardens, from behavior change communication to city-level nutrition planning. Moshfequel Alam Talukder, Project Manager of NICE Bangladesh, presented a brief overview of the project, highlighting key achievements including the establishment of over 100 Farmers’ Hubs, school-based nutrition initiatives, capacity building of city authorities, and private sector engagement in nutrition and food safety.
Panel Discussion: Urban Nutrition in Action
A key highlight of the workshop was the insightful panel discussion titled:
“Urban Nutrition in Action: Reflections, Sustainability, and the Road Ahead.”
Moderated by Dr. Nusrat Jahan, Deputy Director, BNNC, the panel brought together voices from government, civil society, and academia to explore critical themes around urban nutrition systems and their future trajectory.
Key Panelists Included:
- Dr. Khaleda Islam, Professor, Institute of Nutrition and Food Science
- Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Director General, Food Planning and Monitoring Unit, Ministry of Food
- Dr. Md. Abdur Razzak, Principal Scientific Officer, BIRTAN
- Dr. Ruhul Amin, Deputy Civil Surgeon, Rangpur
- Dr. Akhter Imam, Deputy Director, BNNC
Major Discussion Points:
- The importance of local ownership and political commitment in sustaining urban nutrition programs.
- Integrating nutrition-sensitive planning into the mainstream urban development agenda.
- The need to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through urban food environments, especially given the changing consumption patterns in city populations.
- Strengthening multi-sectoral coordination — across health, education, agriculture, and local government — to avoid fragmented efforts.
The panel concluded that the second phase of NICE must deepen its focus on NCD prevention, youth engagement, and private sector collaboration, while continuing to work through city authorities to institutionalize change.
Community Voices: Stories That Inspired
Perhaps the most touching segment came from the field — teachers and students from Rangpur and Dinajpur shared firsthand experiences of participating in school nutrition activities under NICE. They spoke of learning about healthy diets, growing vegetables in school gardens, and influencing their families and communities to adopt better nutrition practices.
Their stories were a vivid reminder that real change often starts with simple, grassroots efforts — and that children are not just beneficiaries, but powerful agents of change.
Distinguished Guests: A Call to Action
The event was graced by several high-level guests who delivered encouraging remarks and reiterated their support for urban nutrition initiatives:
- Md. Saidur Rahman, Secretary, Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Chief Guest)
- Md. Daud Miah ndc, Director General, NGO Affairs Bureau
- Mohammad Saiful Islam Mazomder, Joint Secretary, Local Government Division, MoLGRD&C
- Dr. Syeda Zinia Rashid, Program Manager, Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh
They acknowledged the contributions of NICE in bringing nutrition into the urban development discourse and emphasized the need to carry the momentum forward into the second phase. All extended their best wishes and strong encouragement for Phase Two, urging stakeholders to focus on scalability, inclusiveness, and sustainability.
Closing Remarks: A Note of Gratitude
The workshop concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks from Dr. Md. Shahid Uz Zaman, Executive Director of ESDO, NICE’s implementing partner in Bangladesh. He extended gratitude to the government ministries, city corporations, Swiss partners, and community actors for their unwavering support. Dr. Zaman also reaffirmed ESDO’s commitment to continue working toward a resilient, inclusive, and nutrition-secure urban future.