Why It Matters
Afghanistan faces one of the world’s most severe child nutrition and health challenges. Nearly half of Afghan children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition, limiting their potential before they even have a chance to thrive. Even mild undernutrition can cause lasting impacts on brain development, affecting a child’s ability to learn and grow.
Malnutrition is rarely caused by a lack of food alone. Poverty, conflict, inadequate healthcare, and limited access to clean water all create a cycle that endangers Afghanistan’s next generation. This challenge is deeply connected to education, as undernourished children are less able to attend and succeed in school, contributing to Afghanistan’s low literacy rates and limiting future opportunities.
Improving children’s nutrition and supporting their development is vital to Afghanistan’s future. A healthy, well-nourished child is more likely to learn, grow strong, and contribute to a brighter, more resilient nation.
What We Plan to Do
Barakat Nutrition is launching a locally driven initiative to support healthy growth and development for Afghan children. Our first product will be a fortified nutrition bar, designed to complement daily diets with essential nutrients that aid brain development, immunity, and overall growth. Modeled after trusted products in the U.S. and Europe, this bar will be adapted for Afghan families, providing an accessible way to add key nutrients to children’s daily nutrition. This is not a therapeutic food, but a supportive addition to everyday meals for children.
Each bar will feature a QR code linking parents and caregivers to a simple mobile application, providing easy access to information on child growth, nutrition tips, and milestone tracking. By sourcing ingredients from Afghan farmers whenever possible and producing locally, we aim to nourish children while creating jobs and strengthening Afghanistan’s economy.
This approach allows us to test how technology and AI can enhance product quality, distribution, and impact while meeting families where they are.
AI & Innovation
Afghanistan has a high rate of mobile phone connectivity, creating opportunities to use technology to support children’s health and development. At Barakat Nutrition, we are building on this connectivity by linking our nutrition bar with an AI-powered mobile application, giving parents and caregivers accessible tools to track growth, monitor milestones, and receive personalized nutrition guidance.
Our founders bring deep experience in building successful technology ventures and maintain close relationships with leading U.S.-based AI firms. We see this initiative as the first step toward a broader platform that uses AI and mobile tools to strengthen the work caregivers and communities are already doing for their children.
From predictive analytics to mobile diagnostics, we envision an Afghan-led system supported by global technology, ensuring the right support reaches the right child at the right time. We believe technology will not replace human care, but will strengthen the relationships and local systems that are essential for lasting change.
