FAO serves as a great source of knowledge and information, establishing various thematic knowledge networks to put information within reach of everyone. Apart from maintaining a large Internet site it brings out several publications, newsletters, reports and books, creates numerous CD-ROMS and hosts dozens of electronic fora. 

The Nutrition Foundation of India (NFI) – the Co-Facilitator of this network - is a non-governmental voluntary agency dedicated to the upliftment of the nutrition status of Indians. It plays a catalytic role of advocacy and education to focus attention on major nutritional problems; provides leads for practical action in overcoming these problems; and combats inadequacies in the implementation of ongoing nutrition programmes.

The Foundation follows the practice of constituting specific Task Forces, composed of leading experts in a given area, for the purpose of formulating specific research programmes and for monitoring the progress of their implementation periodically. A major objective of NFI is the dissemination of knowledge conducive to the promotion of the optimal nutritional status of individuals and population groups through: -  

• Nutrition education to people of different income groups, urban slums and rural areas in health/nutrition welfare programmes. 
• Diet counselling for individuals and groups. 
• Dissemination of information on nutrition to students of schools and colleges, and to the general public. 

NFI wonderfully complements the nutritional components of the Food and Nutrition Security Community.

Thus the objectives of this knowledge network closely align with those of the facilitating agencies.

Gavin Wall
FAO Representative
FAO India
New Delhi

Prema Ramachandran
Director
Nutrition Foundation of India
New Delhi