The Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (SAF) is proud to present this closing statement, held on June 30, 2025. This significant event marked the culmination of the first phase of the NICE project, reflecting on its four-year journey of fostering urban nutrition.  

Implemented by the Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (SAF) – Bangladesh, in consortium with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), ETH Zürich, and Sight and Life (SAL), the NICE project championed locally-led action to improve nutrition in urban environments. 

We were honored to host Md. Saidur Rahman, Secretary, Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as our Chief Guest. Special Guests included Md. Daud Miah ndc, Director General, NGOAB; Dr. Syeda Zinia Rashid, Programme Manager, Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh; and Md. Saiful Islam Mazomder, Joint Secretary, Policy Support Branch, Local Government Division, MoLGRD&C. 

The workshop commenced with a welcoming speech by Farhad Zamil, Executive Director, SAF Bangladesh. Moshfequel Alam, Project Manager, NICE project, then delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining the remarkable achievements of the NICE project over its four-year tenure. 

A highlight of the event was the insightful panel discussion on “Urban Nutrition in Action: Reflections, Sustainability, and the Road Ahead.” Moderated by Dr. Nusrat Jahan, Deputy Director, Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC), the panel featured esteemed representatives from FPMU, BIRTAN, the Ministry of Food, and the Deputy Civil Surgeon, Rangpur. Their invaluable support and collaborative efforts with local governments in Dinajpur Municipality and Rangpur City Corporation were instrumental in achieving the project’s successes. 

The interactive question-and-answer session saw enthusiastic participation, with attendees expressing great appreciation and engaging actively with the panelists. Their positive reception and eagerness for the next phase of NICE underscores the project’s impactful contributions. 

We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Md. Shahid Uz Zaman, Executive Director, Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO), our implementation partner for the NICE project, who delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging everyone’s contributions to this successful workshop. 

Key Action Points for Future Impact: 

This workshop underscored two critical areas for advancing urban nutrition governance and ensuring lasting impact: 

• Strengthen Multisectoral Platforms: Scale up successful City Nutrition and Food Systems Committees, fostering deeper collaboration and advocating for urban nutrition governance. 
• Develop a Sustainability Strategy: Our focus is on integrating NICE interventions into local government plans and budgets, actively seeking diverse funding like public-private partnerships.