The United Nations University has been spotlighted among TIME’s annual list of Best Inventions for Social Impact for its contributions to the development of the United Nations International Multiple Micronutrient Antenatal Preparation (UNIMMAP).
UNIMMAP is a standard formulation of a multiple micronutrient supplement (MMS) to address the increased nutritional needs of pregnant women, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where micronutrient deficiencies are most prevalent. It is included on the World Health Organization (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines.
The drive to create UNIMMAP began in the late 1990s with expert consultations and studies led by UNICEF, WHO and the UNU Food and Nutrition Programme. The initiative recognized the importance of global efforts to increase micronutrient intake through food, but also that in developing countries, rapid improvements in the natural diet can be difficult to achieve, especially to meet the needs of pregnant women.
Today, evidence continues to support the use of MMSs for pregnant women. In 2024, the Expert Consensus on an Open-Access UNIMMAP MMS Product Specification was revised to provide purchasers and manufacturers with unified guidance on the production of UNIMMAP MMS.
As UNU celebrates its 50th anniversary, past research collaborations, such as those leading to UNIMMAP, continue to inspire UNU to find solutions to multifaceted development challenges across issues such as health, gender, poverty and hunger.
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