The GAIN Student Challenge has been designed to raise awareness among students from Dutch universities about the global nutrition landscape and food system challenges. It offers practical, hands-on experience through collaboration on GAIN’s current projects.

Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) seeks healthier diets for all people, especially the most vulnerable, from more sustainable food systems. It believes that nutrition is a nonnegotiable pillar of development.

GAIN wants to encourage students in their work and wants youth input on the real project that they are working on. Students from various backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The GAIN Student Challenge is also designed to encourage interdisciplinary teamwork and creative problem-solving. It builds student’s capacity to pitch ideas and work in international, cross-cultural teams. During the challenge, students will attend expert-led sessions, receive coaching on interdisciplinary collaboration and pitching, and gain insights into the link between food systems and nutrition.

Winners of the GAIN Student challenge will receive a broader platform to present their solution and be invited to speak in front of GAIN’s respective project team, GAIN’s Senior Management team and Executive Director, and other relevant stakeholders. Their solutions might even be implemented in the field.

Eligibility Criteria

The student challenge is open to:

• Bachelor students (final 2 years) and Master students currently enrolled at Dutch universities (HBO or WO)
• Students who are living in the Netherlands at the time of the event
• Individuals from any academic discipline – we encourage diversity in academic, cultural, and personal backgrounds
• Students who are motivated to tackle real-world food system challenges and want to contribute to GAIN’s mission of improving access to healthier diets
• Participants who are available to attend the full two-day challenge in November 2025, including the overnight stay.

Logistics and Registration

The student challenge will take place on November 14th and 15th 2025  at a central location in the Netherlands. The challenge is open to max. 50 students from Dutch universities (HBO and WO), living in the Netherlands. Both Bachelor (final 2 years) and Master students are welcome, and we encourage students from all study backgrounds: diversity in personal, cultural, and academic backgrounds is valued for creative problem-solving.

There are no participation fees, and GAIN will provide food and accommodation for all participants.

For more details and to apply, visit the official website of the GAIN Student Challenge (2025)