Project Laser Beam (PLB) is a five-year, multi-million dollar
public-private partnership that seeks to eradicate child
malnutrition. It brings together the expertise of UN agencies
with that of Fortune 500 companies, and others in the private
sector, to work with local governments and companies to find new
solutions to old problems. PLB was unveiled in September 2009 by
PLB founding partners WFP, Unilever, Mondelez International
Foundation (formerly Kraft Foods Foundation), DSM and the Global
Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) by US President Bill
Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York.
The pilot projects will focus initially on Bangladesh and
Indonesia. These are countries where there are unacceptably high
rates of child malnutrition, but also a demonstrated commitment
by the government to tackle the problem. PLB partners will be
able to assist as these are also countries where they have a
presence and the ability to leverage existing resources and
knowledge. The projects will centr