Co-designing intervention and implementation strategies for success

Alliance Against Iron Deficiency (AAID)

Alliance Contre la Carence en Fer (ACEF)

AAID/ACEF is a group of diverse interest-holders dedicated to tackling iron deficiency (ID) and anaemia (IDA) in Benin.

Our vision is to decrease the evidence-to-practice gap through multidisciplinary and multisectoral collaboration, centred on community needs and wants.

Our mission is to co-design effective intervention and implementation strategies to prevent and treat ID and IDA in women and children in Benin.

We meet quarterly to: discuss opportunities and challenges related to our ongoing efforts and the landscape of ID/IDA, nutrition, and health in Benin more broadly; discuss research findings and next steps; serve as a platform for feedback loops and participatory engagement; and learn about initatives and efforts in the nutrition and global health space from other groups and partners as invited guest speakers.

Our goals are to:

Support the acceptance, adoption, scale-up and sustainability of effective, evidence-informed nutrition interventions and behaviour change strategies to prevent and address iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia.
Collaborate with communities to co-design locally appropriate and equitable implementation strategies and knowledge mobilisation.
Maintain a feedback loop between community members, grassroots organizations, Beninese NGOs, government and institutional partners, industry partners and researchers to inform Alliance priorities, ongoing/future research activities, interpretation of findings, and next steps.
Facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building across research activities, organizations, and communities, to ensure that evidence and community knowledge are accessible and can inform decision-making, while strengthening the capacity of community members to contribute to the research and development of strategies. Read about our commitment to language equity as a foundation for collaboration here .

How Communities Inform Our Work

Interventions often fail because they are designed for communities and women, rather than with them, meaning women are passive beneficiaries instead of co-designers. This approach creates a gap between intervention design and delivery and the lived realities and inequities that shape women's access to interventions. Community engagement through co-design closes this gap by ensuring the design and implementation of interventions are context-specific, builds community ownership, and centres women and equity, leading to more equitable, effective, and sustainable outcomes. Read more about our co-design process here.

Commitment to Translation and Accessible Knowledge

We are committed to ensuring knowledge is accessible and translatable across the different cultural contexts communities and partners involved in our activities and research. We support communication and knowledge exchange across French, Fon and English throughout the research process including data collection, anaylses and dissemination. This, includes live translation and back-translation of cross language data collection, coding, verification and all knowledge mobilisation outputs, to help maintain meaning, context and sentiment across languages. This work is enabled by dedicated team members with local context and languages, alongside professional translation and interpretation from team members as part of the Working Group.

AAID/ACEF Core Team

Get to know our team!

Co-founders:

Co-founder

Dr. Kristin Connor is an Associate Professor of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease in the Department of Health Sciences at Carleton University where she runs an interdisciplinary and translational research programme (www.connorlab.ca). She is passionate about improving and supporting maternal, fetal and child health. Her expertise lies in understanding how early life nutrition, including hidden hunger, and maternal health states influence maternal and pregnancy health, and shape the developmental and health trajectories of the fetus and child. Her research interests focus on novel ways to predict individuals at-risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, suboptimal development, and later chronic disease, and novel interventions to optimise maternal health and early developmental trajectories to reduce the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes, poor child growth, and chronic diseases in later life. Her leadership experience and roles include serving as Vice-chair and member of the Advisory Board for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute for Human Development, Child and Youth Health, Councillor for the Society of Reproductive Investigation, Associate Editor for the Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, and gradaute of the Corporate Governance Programme at the Wharton Business School. She is funded through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Molly Towell Perinatal Research Foundation, and Lucky Iron Fish Enterprises, amongst others.

Co-founder

Eddy Donhouede is a Program Initiative Manager and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) specialist with CARE International Bénin/Togo, with extensive experience in nutrition and community-based programming in Benin. He has expertise in data management, mixed-methods research, program monitoring and evaluation, and translating evidence into actionable learning. His work has included maternal and child nutrition, food security, WASH, and women’s economic empowerment, as well as engagement with government, local organizations, and communities to strengthen nutrition initiatives. Eddy holds a Master’s degree in Rural Economics and Farm Management from the University of Abomey-Calavi.

Co-founder

Anne Pringle is a Research Coordinator with the Connor Lab at Carleton University, supporting research and partnerships focused on iron deficiency and anaemia prevention in Benin. She has more than 10 years of experience in global health, social impact, and international development, with expertise in program management, partnership development, community engagement, and impact measurement. Anne previously led global nutrition partnerships across Benin, India, Peru, Tanzania, and Guatemala. She holds a Master of Applied Science in Environmental Applied Science and Management and a Bachelor’s degree in International Development Studies.

Sub-project leads and planning committee:

Co-lead and planning committee

Olivia is an PhD graduate student in the Connor Lab at the Department of Health Sciences at Carleton University. Olivia’s background is in interdisciplinary health science, including social and early life determinants of health. As a Zimbabwean with an interest and expertise in global health, Olivia’s research aims to understand the individual, community, and external factors that influence the success and implementation of community-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of iron deficiency in West Africa. Ultimately, her goal is to inform intervention design and provide evidence for adapting and scaling interventions that tackle hidden hunger to suit local and population needs.

Co-lead and planning committee

Ange-Marie Nicodème Esse, de nationalité béninoise, est titulaire d’un Master en Promotion de la Santé. Expert en santé communautaire, il est passionné par la promotion de changements durables à travers des interventions innovantes et un fort engagement communautaire. En tant que co-fondateur et coordonnateur national de Health Access Initiative (HAI) au Bénin, il pilote des projets et programmes d’impact visant à réduire les inégalités en matière de santé et à aborder les déterminants sociaux de la santé, avec un accent particulier sur la nutrition, la santé reproductive et la santé environnementale. Sous sa direction, HAI a mis en œuvre plusieurs initiatives transformatrices, notamment la vulgarisation de l’innovation Lucky Iron Fish dans les zones rurales et périurbaines du Bénin pour lutter contre la carence en fer chez les femmes et les filles en âge de procréer. Ange-Marie dispose d’une solide expérience dans la gestion et le suivi-évaluation de projets, la recherche-action participative et le plaidoyer. Son leadership remarquable lui a permis d’implémenter des initiatives qui autonomisent les couches vulnérables à travers l’éducation, le plaidoyer et l’influence des politiques, pour un accès équitable aux services de santé.

An agronomist by training, I hold a Master's degree in Human Nutrition and Food Security obtained

from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin). For over five

years, I have devoted my expertise to nutrition research and community action, with a particular focus

on the nutrition of children, adolescents, and women of childbearing age.

Currently Executive Director of Nutrition For Life (N4L), a Beninese non-governmental organization

dedicated to nutrition research, innovation, and community engagement, I lead nutrition education projects in schools and communities, including the organization of nutrition initiation camps for children.

My professional background has led me to collaborate with organizations such as UNICEF, the World Food Programme, Care International Benin/Togo, and the Institute of Research for Development, on

various research projects.

With solid expertise in project writing, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, and scientific writing, I combine methodological rigor with field-based commitment to translate research into concrete action for the benefit of the most vulnerable communities.

An active member of the Alliance Against Iron Deficiency (AAID), a multisectoral collective committed to combating anemia in Benin, I wish to collaborate closely with various stakeholders to implement coordinated and sustainable interventions aimed at improving the nutritional status of the population, particularly with regard to iron.

Cyrus is a PhD student in Food Science and Nutrition at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Kenya, under the Intra-Africa mobility program funded by the European Union. He holds a Master’s degree in Human Nutrition and Food Security and conducts interdisciplinary work that combines scientific research, field interventions, and advocacy for sustainable nutrition policies in sub-Saharan Africa. His research focuses on the nutritional, bioactive, and cultural significance of jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius) in Kenya, through an in-depth study of varietal diversity, processing methods, and traditional uses. He has previously served as a research assistant, data analyst, and junior consultant on projects related to school feeding, dietary diversity, iron deficiency prevention, and food and nutrition security. His field experience spans several regions of Benin and Kenya, with notable contributions to academic research and applied interventions alongside organizations such as UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Vegetable Center, among others. Cyrus is committed to bridging science and community realities to promote sustainable and resilient food systems in Africa.

Co-lead and planning committee

Dr. Diane Roselyne Akuèmaho DJOSSINOU is a nutrition and agricultural policy specialist with over 15 years of experience in food security, nutrition, agricultural development, policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation, and multi-stakeholder coordination in Benin. She holds a PhD in Food Sciences and Nutrition from the University of Montpellier and IRD, with doctoral research focusing on women’s food and nutrition before and during pregnancy in Southern Benin.

She currently serves as Permanent Technical Secretary of the National Council for Guidance and Monitoring of the Agricultural Sector (CNOS) in Benin and as a partnering research professor at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Abomey-Calavi. She is also Chair of the Board of Directors of Nutrition for Life (N4L), a Beninese NGO committed to advancing nutrition and well-being. Through N4L, she engages with partners and initiatives addressing nutrition challenges in Benin and contributes to the ACEF/AAID Working Group.

Her work brings together scientific expertise, policy and programme experience, and a strong commitment to translating evidence into action for improved nutrition, particularly among women and vulnerable populations.

Laurent DADJEDJI, Interprète de conférences et traducteur, Responsable Département Gestion de conférences à METAMORPHOZ GROUP SARL.

Près d'une dizaine d'années d'expérience dans la traduction, l'interprétation et la gestion de conférences dans la sous région Ouest Africaine, notamment Bénin, Togo et Nigeria.

Consultant en interpretation pour les Institutions suivantes: Lucky Iron Life, CARE International, Plan International, Ambassades des États-Unis, Banque Africaine de Développement (BAD), Union Africaine, FAO, CEDEO, OMS, ONUCT, ONUDC, JICA, SMC Suède, Digni Norvège, Fondation Goodluck, ARTAO.

Interprète formé au programme PAMCIT ( PAN-AFRICAN MASTERS CONSORTIUM IN INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION) à Lomé ( TOGO).

Youth committee members:

Capella DOVONOU est passionnée par l’innovation agroalimentaire et la valorisation des produits locaux. Titulaire d’un Master en Sciences et Technologies Agro-Alimentaires, elle est fondatrice de la startup Saveurs Nouvelles, à l’origine de la marque Écoya (lait de souchet et yaourts à base de soja). Elle est également promotrice de SN Connect, un événement qui célèbre l’innovation entrepreneuriale. Multipotentielle et créative, elle met ses compétences au service de projets visant à améliorer la sécurité alimentaire dans le monde.

Vinablo Ronis Carrèl FAGNINOU est Diplomé des sciences sociales, Facilitateur de Projet. Point Focal Communal de Health Access Initiative (HAI Bénin), Activistes de santé Communautaire. Membre de la Fédération Internationale des Jeunes pour l'Eau et le Climat (UN1FY). Membre de Global in Health Bénin. Il s'intérèsse à l'Education Environnementale, à l'égalité du genre, à la protection des enfants et lutte pour la réduction des inégalités sociales en santé tout en œuvrant pour la reorientation du système sanitaire vers une approche pangouvernementale. Il ambitionne voir un monde plus juste et une Afrique prospère.

Judor Dieu-donné SOTCHENOU, originaire du Bénin, Biologiste médical, j'exerce également en tant que consultant junior en santé publique et spécialiste en promotion de la santé. Avec un engagement profond envers l'amélioration du bien-être collectif, je combine mes connaissances scientifiques et mon expertise en santé pour contribuer à des initiatives novatrices dans le domaine de la santé publique. Je suis un passionné de voyage et de musique.

Ruth ATINGNON est titulaire d’une licence en Nutrition et diététique obtenue à la Faculté des Sciences de la Santé (FSS). Passionnée par la santé, l’alimentation et le bien-être, elle a orienté son parcours académique vers la compréhension de la relation entre la nutrition, la prévention des maladies et l’amélioration de la qualité de vie.

Actuellement, elle travaille en tant que chargée de la mobilisation sociale et du plaidoyer à Health Access Initiative où elle se consacre à l’animation et au renforcement des capacités de la communauté comme en étant un pont entre la communauté et l’organisation.

Emma, a masters student at Carleton University, is passionate about health literacy and knowledge translation, which are areas she considers essential for advancing equity and empowering traditionally marginalized communities. Her work aims to promote youth advocacy and health literacy, ultimately to inform policy and practice grounded in evidence and community needs.

AAID/ACEF core working group members:

Angèle Rose ATTA - Chargée de Programmes, FADEeC NGO
Alain TROUKOU - Directeur Qualité Programme et Mobilisation de Ressources, CARE Benin/Togo
Daniel DJODJOUHOUIN - Coordinateur Programme Sécurité Alimentaire et Nutrition, CARE Benin/Togo
Célestin TOGNON - Government representative
Stephanie Bergeron, Chief Operating Officer, Lucky Iron Life

Governance Structure

AAID/ACEF operates through a collaborative governance structure led by team members in Benin and at Carleton University in Canada, with a multidisciplinary and multisectoral Working Group contributing to the Alliance’s priorities and activities. The planning committee sets the agenda and provides the administrative support for the quarterly meetings. Community and youth engagement are integrated to ensure that lived experience and local knowledge inform the Alliance's activities and priorities.

Conflict of interest & transparency

AAID/ACEF is intervention-neutral and is dedicated to exploring all evidence-based products, tools, and approaches to addressing iron deficiency and anaemia in Benin. The Alliance’s activities and research are guided by the mission to prevent and address iron deficiency and anaemia in Benin, with an emphasis on evidence, equity, community priorities, and local context. Research activities and priorities are guided by local needs and input from teams in Benin and at Carleton University, and seek to align with Beninese Government nutrition plans and policies.

Meeting highlights

Not already part of our alliance and want to get involved?

As we continue our efforts to adapt and scale interventions, we hope to grow our working group with interested partners.

Interested in getting involved or presenting at our meetings? Contact us!

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