Irregular Migration and Food Security: A View from West Africa
International Food Policy Research Institute, World Food Programme, July 2023
- Food Systems
Events
Speakers discuss a mixed method, route-based study to look at migrant origins, their transit experience, and where their journey stalls or ends. They introduce an interactive website that illustrates the migrant journey and associated risks. This is a webinar.
Is Infant and Young Child-feeding (IYCF) a Potential Double-Duty Strategy to Prevent the Double Burden of Malnutrition among Children at the Critical Age? Evidence of Association from Urban Slums in Pune, Maharashtra, India
Jeyakumar, Angeline, Prasad Babar, Pramila Menon, et al. PLOS One, December 2022
- Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts
Research Articles
This study finds that boys in India had higher rates of stunting and wasting, and bottle feeding increased the odds of wasting, severe stunting, underweight, and obesity. Bottle feeding increased the odds of wasting and severe stunting, and delaying the introduction of complementary feeding increased the odds of severe stunting. Child minimum dietary standards were rarely achieved. It is vital to develop setting- and age-specific interventions to improve child-feeding practices.
Is Women's Empowerment a Pathway to Improving Child Nutrition Outcomes in a Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Program? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Burkina Faso
Heckert, Jessica, Deanna K. Olney, Marie T. Ruel. Social Science & Medicine, Vol. 233, July 2019
- Food Systems
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Research Articles
To explore the link between women’s empowerment and improved child nutrition, this study evaluated the outcomes of a nutrition- and gender-sensitive agriculture program in Burkina Faso. The results provide the first experimental evidence that efforts to increase women’s empowerment can lead to improved child nutrition. Authors suggest that programs seeking to improve child nutritional status should incorporate interventions designed to empower women.
Is Women’s Empowerment a Pathway to Improving Child Nutrition Outcomes in a Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Program? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Burkina Faso
Heckert, Jessica, Deanna K. Olney, Marie T. Ruel. Social Science & Medicine. July, 2019. Vol. 233, pp. 93-102.
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Research Articles
Women's empowerment is thought to be a critical component in improving household nutrition. To test this theory, researchers used a cluster-randomized controlled trial in Burkina Faso that examined whether empowering women in four domains--purchasing decisions, healthcare decisions, family planning decisions, and spousal communication--improves child nutritional outcomes. The trial used reduction in wasting and an increase in hemoglobin as proxies for improved nutritional outcomes. The researchers found that all four domains contributed to a reduction in wasting; however, none of the domains contributed to an increase in hemoglobin. These findings should lead future nutrition-sensitive programs to incorporate women’s empowerment mechanisms to improve child nutritional status.
Is Women’s Empowerment Bearing Fruit? Mapping Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) Results Using the Gender and Food Systems Framework
International Food Policy Research Institute, May 2023
- Food Systems
Reports and Tools
Findings suggest that women’s empowerment contributes to improved diets and nutritional status, especially for children, but that household wealth, social class, and gender norms moderate impacts. Strengthening the evidence base will require more research using experimental and quasi-experimental methods and completing gender-disaggregated analyses.
It Takes a Village: An Empirical Analysis of How Husbands, Mothers‐in‐Law, Health Workers, and Mothers Influence Breastfeeding Practices in Uttar Pradesh, India
Young, Melissa F., Phuong Nguyen, Shivani Kachwaha, et al. Maternal and Child Nutrition, November 2019
- Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Research Articles
In two districts in northern India, researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey among recently delivered women, husbands, and mothers/mothers-in-law to examine the association between four key determinants and three breastfeeding outcomes. Finding linkages between these key determinants and breastfeeding behaviors, the authors believe that maternal, health service, family, and community-level interventions can lead to improved breastfeeding practices in this region in India.
It’s Time to Nourish Africa Once and for All
Nature Food, March 2022
- Knowledge Management
Reports and Tools
African Leaders for Nutrition proposes securing investments for a comprehensive nutrition action plan, identifying cost-effective interventions that can be quickly and easily delivered, and encouraging Africa’s leaders to show accountability as they work to end hunger. The Continental Nutrition Accountability Scorecard can frame and track implementation of these priority efforts.
Jalal-Abad TV Spotlights Successful Early Childhood Development Story: Inspiring Early Learning and Responsive Care Practices in the Kyrgyz Republic
USAID Advancing Nutrition, June 2023
- Early Childhood Development
Events
This news segment showcases work that promotes responsive care and early learning, emphasizes efforts to promote good nutrition and feeding practices for mothers and children, and highlights the significance of the critical period from pregnancy through a child’s second birthday to ensure optimal nutrition and growth.
Join #theHumanRace to Improve Nutrition and Address the Climate Crisis in Humanitarian Responses
USAID Advancing Nutrition, August 2021
Reports and Tools
USAID works to improve food and nutrition security and resilience of vulnerable populations in Madagascar by addressing nutrition for pregnant and lactating women through promotion of locally-produced supplemental foods. It is also supporting a feasibility study and developing a strategy to introduce and scale up use of these foods.
Key Considerations for Engaging Men in Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition Programming. A Technical Report for USAID Resilience Food Security Activity Implementing Partners
USAID Advancing Nutrition, September 2023
- Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts
Reports and Tools
The report identifies common approaches and barriers to engaging men in programming and considerations for the design, implementation, monitoring, and sustainability of engagement activities that minimize risk and ensure women’s agency and safety.
Key Messages to Help Strengthen Infant and Young Child Feeding during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Save the Children, April 2021
Reports and Tools
This video provides frontline health and nutrition workers with messages to provide pregnant women, mothers, and caregivers about infant and young child feeding in the context of the pandemic. This webinar is available in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish.
Knowledge Management for Handling Nutritional Information
UNICEF, n.d.
Reports and Tools
This short, self-paced knowledge management course, recommended for UNICEF staff, government, civil society, and private sector partners, covers monitoring, evaluation, data management, and ethical considerations for handling nutritional information. There is no paywall but users must register to view this resource.
The Lancet Breastfeeding Series
The Lancet Breastfeeding Series, January 2016
- Knowledge Management
Research Articles
Papers describe global breastfeeding trends, short- and long-term health consequences for mother and child, determinants of breastfeeding, the impact of investment in breastfeeding, the effectiveness of promotion interventions, and the need for coordinated global action to address breast milk substitutes.
The Lancet Series on Breastfeeding 2023
The Lancet, February 2023
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Research Articles
This series highlights the multi-faceted strategies used by commercial formula manufacturers to target parents, health care professionals, and policymakers. Lobbying efforts often compound practices that discourage governments from strengthening breastfeeding protection laws and challenging food standard regulations.
The Lancet Series on Maternal & Child Undernutrition Progress
The Lancet, March 2021
Events
Multi-sectoral nutrition leaders discuss how the evidence base for nutrition; health; food systems; social protection; and water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions has evolved since the first Lancet Series on Maternal & Child Undernutrition was published in 2013. They also identify priority actions to regain and accelerate progress within the next decade. This is a webinar.
Large-Scale Staple Food Fortification as a Complementary Strategy to Address Vitamin and Mineral Vulnerabilities in India: A Critical Review
Duggal Mona, B. Sesikeran, N. Arlappa, et al. Indian Journal Public Health, September 2022
- Food Systems
Research Articles
Large-scale food fortification was safe with current dietary intake and deficiencies and in areas with low coverage of other interventions. Researchers stressed the importance of effective monitoring and regular dietary surveys.
Leadership Dialogue on Food Systems for People’s Nutrition and Health
World Health Organization, July 2023
- Knowledge Management
Reports and Tools
This meeting report summaries a dialogue at the first United Nations Food Systems Stocktaking Moment in Rome. The discussion focused on policy actions to transform food systems, policy changes to ensure access to healthy diets for groups vulnerable to malnutrition, ways to leverage social protection systems, and opportunities and challenges to align food systems transformation with health and nutrition agendas. Speakers identified actions to ensure that the implementation of food system transformation leads to better nutrition, health, and improved food security. A recording of the session is available.
Learning from Health System Actor and Caregiver Experiences in Ghana and Nepal to Strengthen Growth Monitoring and Promotion
Singh, Akriti, Kelsey A. Torres, Nashna Maharjan, et al. PLOS ONE, March 2023
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Research Articles
Growth monitoring and promotion programs do not always focus on the growth trend for the early detection of growth faltering and preventive actions. Countries should invest in service delivery (e.g., a decision-making algorithm) and demand generation (e.g., integrating this work with responsive care and early learning efforts).
The Learning Hub
Aga Khan Foundation, n.d.
Reports and Tools
Users can access resources and take free courses focusing on health and nutrition, food security, early childhood development, climate resilience, and other topics. Courses are available in several languages.
Learning Lab: Generating Demand for Healthy Diets: Practical Lessons from Private Sector Marketing
Agriculture, Nutrition & Health Academy, June 2022
- Food Systems
Events
Proven marketing techniques can increase the impact of social and behavior change activities to create demand for healthy diets and foods. This session helps participants identify and apply techniques to generate demand. This is a webinar.
A Learning and Sharing “Café”: IYCF Programming Adaptations in the Context of COVID-19 – Second Cafe
The Nutrition Technical Rapid Response Team, August 2020
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Events
This platform encourages countries to share lessons learned and experiences with adapting infant and young child feeding (IYCF) programs during COVID-19. It provides videos on breastfeeding and complementary feeding, social media content on IYCF, a detailed review of counseling packages for IYCF, and materials focusing on feeding when COVID is suspected or confirmed. Materials are available in French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, and English.
Lessons from Using Cluster-Randomized Evaluations to Build Evidence on Large-Scale Nutrition Behavior Change Interventions
Menona, Purnima, Marie T. Ruel, Phuong H. Nguyen, et al. Journal of World Development, Vol. 127, March 2020
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Research Articles
Collaborative program evaluations using randomized controlled trials, among other methods, can provide substantive insight into nutrition behavior change interventions. This paper describes lessons learned from efforts led by the Alive & Thrive global nutrition initiative. Evaluations conducted in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Ethiopia, among other countries, are the basis for a wealth of information about large-scale behavior change interventions delivered through diverse platforms including government health systems, community-based platforms, and mass media.
Note: This article is behind a paywall.
Lessons Learned From Integrating Infant and Young Child Feeding Counseling and Iron-Folic Acid Distribution Into Routine Immunization Services in Ethiopia
Kanagat, Natasha, Adriana Almiñana, Belayneh Dagnew, et al. Global Health: Science and Practice, October 2022
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Research Articles
Although health workers initially struggle with the responsibilities associated with integrating services, their planning, reporting, and service delivery improves after receiving technical assistance. Integration helps maintain a focus on both programs and complete infant and young child feeding counseling more regularly. Health workers report that it is easier to provide integrated services during facility-based sessions than outreach or mobile services.
Lessons Learned in Implementing the Low Birthweight Infant Feeding Exploration Study: A Large, Multi-Site Observational Study
Vernekar, Sunil S., Sarah Somji, Kingsly Msimuko, et al. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, July 2023
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Research Articles
Results of research from India, Tanzania, and Malawi showed that hospital-level guidelines and the provision of care for moderately low birthweight infants varied across and within countries. The study supports evidence-based planning of large-scale interventions. Multi-site partnerships in global health research are critical to avoid duplication and build a stronger evidence base.