Coffee and Chai Chat Spotlighting New Global Data and Actions Needed on Hidden Hunger
Micronutrient Forum, March 2023
- Knowledge Management
Events
Experts discuss how to enhance data collection and identify the best sources of information, modeling methods used to derive estimates of micronutrient deficiencies and data gaps, hidden hunger among women, and priorities for action. This is a series of webinars.
Collecting Quality Anthropometric Data in the DHS Program
The Demographic and Health Surveys Program, May 2020
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Reports and Tools
The Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) Program has collected anthropometric (height and weight) data from children, women, and men for more than 30 years to help countries monitor and evaluate their progress in improving nutritional status. This blog provides an overview of the tools and processes DHS has developed to improve the collection of anthropometric data. It links to several studies and well-tested resources related to designing surveys using best practices for collecting anthropometric data, training fieldworkers to take accurate measurements, monitoring and improving anthropometric data in real-time, and communicating the quality of anthropometric data.
Combined IYCF with Small-Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplementation Is Associated with a Reduction in Anemia
Addo, O. Yaw, Lindsey M. Locks, Maria Elena Jefferds, et al. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, September 2020
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Research Articles
Researchers analyzed data from 2,995 children after an intervention area received enhanced infant and young child feeding counseling and daily small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplementation for infants 6–12 months and a control area received the standard counseling package without the nutrient supplementation. The study found that the enhanced counseling and nutrient supplementation intervention using the existing health care delivery platform was associated with a reduction in prevalence of anemia and improvement in mean hemoglobin. There was no impact on stunting, wasting, and underweight indicators in the intervention or control groups, but children in the intervention group receiving three or more months of the nutrient supplementation showed improvements in length-for-age and weight-for-age scores as well as hemoglobin.
Commonly Applied Social-Behavior Change Techniques Used in Complementary Feeding Programs in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Scoping Review
Webb, Girard A., E. Waugh, S. Sawyer, et al. Maternal and Child Nutrition. August 6, 2019
- Nutrition and Health Systems
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Research Articles
An examination of literature on complementary feeding interventions in lower- and middle-income countries since 2000, this scoping review considered 64 behavior change interventions. Across the interventions, authors identified 28 out of a possible 93 behavior change techniques (BCTs), estimating effectiveness ratios for each. Certain BCTs showed promise and warrant further evaluation. Reviewers called for further implementation science research around BCTs and more publically available intervention details on the use of BCTs to optimize and scale up complementary feeding interventions.
Community Health Workers in Humanitarian Settings: Scoping Review
Miller, Nathan P., Farid Bagheri Ardestani, Hannah Sarah Dini, et al. Journal of Global Health, December 2020
Research Articles
This wide-ranging review finds that community health workers (CHWs) often carry out critical emergency response activities but face security threats and psychological trauma. Community selection of CHWs is crucial for acceptance and high service utilization. Providing buffer stocks to CHWs, storing commodities in decentralized locations, addressing bottlenecks to CHW service delivery, and completing rigorous assessments of primary health care interventions are critical.
Community-Orientated Primary Health Care: Exploring the Interface between Community Health Worker Programmes, the Health System and Communities in South Africa
Malatji, Hlologelo, Frances Griffiths, Jane Goudge. PLOS Global Public Health, February 2023
- Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts
Research Articles
In this study, community health workers (CHWs), CHW supervisors, community representatives, and others in South Africa reported that services were comprehensive but that inadequate training, supervision, and mentoring as well as socio-economic issues impacted service effectiveness. A multidisciplinary approach to care has improved CHW knowledge and skills but more funding for training, supervision, supplies, and salaries is critical.
Comparing Costs and Cost‐Efficiency of Platforms for Micronutrient Powder (MNP) Delivery to Children in Rural Uganda
Schott, Whitney, Belinda Richardson, Emily Baker, et al. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, June 2021
Research Articles
While community-based micronutrient powder delivery costs are higher than facility-based delivery, they are more cost-efficient per child reached and produce better outcomes.
Comparing Delivery Channels to Promote Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in Bangladesh
Akhter, Ahmed, Fiona Coleman, John Hoddinott, et al. Food Policy, July 2023
- Capacity Strengthening
Research Articles
In Bangladesh, delivering nutrition content to couples through female nutrition workers and male agriculture extension workers increased nutrition knowledge, household and individual diet quality, dietary diversity, and women’s empowerment. Training men to deliver nutrition messages may offer opportunities to scale and promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
Comparing Delivery Channels to Promote Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in Bangladesh
International Food Policy Research Institute, December 2022
- Capacity Strengthening
Reports and Tools
Female nutrition workers and male agricultural extension workers experienced an increase in nutrition-related knowledge, household and individual diet quality, and women’s empowerment. Training men to deliver nutrition messages could help address shortages of female extension workers and provide greater opportunities to scale and promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
Compendium of Nutrition Intervention Coverage Indicators & Questions for Household Surveys
Data for Decisions to Expand Nutrition Transformation, August 2021
Reports and Tools
The document provides indicator definitions and accompanying questions for nutrition interventions across the maternal, newborn, and child health continuum of care.
Complementary and Alternative Metrics for Tracking Population-Level Trends in Child Linear Growth
Aimone, Ashley M., Diego G. Bassani, Huma Qamar, et al. PLOS Global Public Health, April 2023
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Research Articles
Several linear growth metrics derived from anthropometric datasets may be alternatives to or complement stunting prevalence in tracking global progress in child health and nutrition. Further research is critical to explore the real-world use of these metrics.
Complementary Feeding in Emergencies Programming—Myanmar Case Study
Emergency Nutrition Network, November 2022
- Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts
Reports and Tools
This USAID Advancing Nutrition report provides examples of what is possible at the humanitarian-development nexus when influenced by the performance of multi-sector integrated policies, coordination, funding, and program implementation. Practitioners should continue to assess the potential for integrating these interventions into humanitarian planning efforts. This report is available in English and French.
Complementary Feeding in Emergencies Programming—Yemen Case Study
Emergency Nutrition Network, November 2022
Reports and Tools
This USAID Advancing Nutrition case study argues that donors and decision makers need a greater understanding of the importance of complementary feeding and that the humanitarian response must be balanced to improve and scale both preventive and curative nutrition efforts. Integration with other sectors, such as food security and livelihoods, may enhance opportunities to engage men.
A Complementary Feeding and Play Intervention Improves the Home Environment and Mental Development among Toddlers in Rural India
Fernandez Rao, Sylvia, Margaret E. Bentley, Nagalla Balakrishna, et al. Maternal & Child Nutrition, December 2020
Research Articles
A responsive complementary feeding and play intervention delivered through home visits benefits children's mental development and the caregiving environment. Mothers with a high school education can deliver behavior change communication if trained and supervised.
Complexity-Aware Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning for Social and Behavior Change Interventions
CORE Group, June 2021
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Reports and Tools
Contextual, temporal, and interpretive complexities impact most social and behavior change interventions. These complexity-aware tools include an advocacy brief; a core set of indicators related to collaborating, learning, and adapting; and a checklist to improve consistency and completeness of intervention documentation.
Comprehensive Nutrient Gap Assessment (CONGA): Micronutrient Gaps During the Complementary Feeding Period
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, UNICEF, March 2021
Reports and Tools
The Comprehensive Nutrient Gap Assessment tool identifies micronutrient gaps and provides guidance about how to use various types of evidence to assess the significance of nutrient gaps in a given population as well as the best sources of those nutrients. This briefing series summarizes the results of CONGAs of the complementary feeding period in multiple countries in Eastern and Southern Africa and South Asia.
Concentration and Crises: Exploring the Deep Roots of Vulnerability in the Global Industrial Food System
Clapp, Jennifer. The Journal of Peasant Studies, October 2022
- Food Systems
Research Articles
The global food system relies on a small number of staple grains produced by a small number of countries and traded by a small number of firms in highly financialized commodity markets prone to volatility. This paper explores these dynamics as they relate to worldwide food crises and food systems transformation.
Conceptualising and Assessing Food Affordability
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, March 2022
- Food Systems
Reports and Tools
Affordability measures should incorporate a portion of savings, include all income sources, and consider reallocating funds spent on less healthy foods to healthier foods. Introducing interventions to change perceptions about the values of foods, reducing the scarcity mindset, and enhancing access to financial institutions could improve nutritious food affordability.
Conceptualizing Sustainable Diets in Vietnam: Minimum Metrics and Potential Leverage Points
Mayton, Holly, Ty Beal, Julia Rubin, Alejandra Sanchez, et al. Journal of Food Policy, Vol. 91, February 2020
- Food Systems
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Research Articles
Addressing the need for clearly defined and agreed upon intervention points that can effectively enhance diet sustainability in low- and middle-income countries, the authors of this paper worked to develop a conceptual framework for sustainable diets in Vietnam. The framework outlines 235 unique indicators that fall within eight domains: (1) food production, (2) food processing and distribution, (3) food loss and waste, (4) food access and consumption, (5) food and water safety, (6) nutrition, (7) sociopolitical context, and (8) environmental impact. It also identifies key leverage points across sectors related to food quality, agricultural chemical usage, and food waste, among others.
Note: This article is behind a paywall.
Conducting Formative Research on Adolescent Nutrition: Key Considerations
USAID, September 2021
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Reports and Tools
Involving adolescents in designing programs and efforts to inform policy allows them to make decisions about their own well-being and ensures the applicability of results in communities. This guidance includes a list of participatory nutrition research methods and pretesting resources.
Connecting through Crises: Opportunities and Challenges in Strengthening Informal Support Networks
ResilienceLinks, October 2022
- Capacity Strengthening
- Food Systems
Events
The panel discussed research findings and explored how donors, policymakers, and practitioners can strengthen informal support networks to build resilience in communities vulnerable to crises.
The Conscious Food Systems Alliance
United Nations Development Programme, January 2023
- Knowledge Management
Reports and Tools
The Conscious Food Systems Alliance convenes a Community of Practice and Learning where individuals and organizations can connect, exchange knowledge, and collaborate to build conscious food systems. It pioneered the application of consciousness approaches and practices supported by research and learning frameworks.
Considerations for Monitoring School Health and Nutrition Programs
Schult, Linda, Julie Ruel-Bergeron. Frontiers in Public Health, July 2021
Research Articles
Authors provide an overview of how to select monitoring indicators across a school health and nutrition (SHN) program's logical framework and discuss how SHN programs must adapt when schools are closed.
Consumer Demand, Food Safety, and Market Systems
Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Safety, Agrilinks, July 2023
- Food Systems
Reports and Tools
Willingness-to-pay data improve understanding of consumer preferences and contribute to the evaluation of market opportunities for food safety interventions and policy priorities. When consumer willingness to pay provides insufficient incentives for producers, government-driven policy changes may be required.