Université de Montréal - Office of Research Services and Development

Published purpose

The project aims to build the capacity of Francophone Sub-Saharan African countries to cope with a double nutritional burden, that is, the coexistence of malnutrition and overweight. This coexistence is the result of a rapid nutritional transition, involving an increase in consumption of fat and simple sugars, which contributes to greater risks of obesity and degenerative diseases. The project's medium- and long-range impact is to contribute to a gradual reduction in the incidence of nutrition-related chronic deseases. Université de Montréal executes this project's main activities in partnership with the Institut régional de santé publique of Cotonou, Benin, and its network of partners and collaborators. These activities involve reviewing the many academic degrees and developing educational material to harmonize training programs and university diplomas. The project contributes to a better diet for urban schoolchildren, and reaches families and communities by executing the "Initiative écoles amies de la nutrition". To this end, material is being created, follow-up is being managed in schools, and four students from Université de Montréal are doing internships.