Nutrition

Nutrition is key to human well-being. Far too many people around the world are afflicted by the triple burden of malnutrition—the coexistence of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency, and overweight and obesity. Failing to ensure good nutrition in the critical first 1,000 days of life (from conception to a child’s second birthday) harms children’s physical and cognitive development and can have other lasting consequences, including undereducation and lowered economic productivity.

IFPRI’s nutrition research focuses on addressing all forms of malnutrition through strengthening and rigorously evaluating multisectoral programs and policies that aim to improve the diets, nutritional status, and health of mothers, infants, and young children. IFPRI researchers work in partnership with program implementers and policymakers to foster collaboration and integration across the health, social protection, education and child development, water and sanitation, and agriculture sectors. The Institute’s overall goal is to generate a rich body of evidence on what works and does not work to improve nutrition, how programs and policies can be better designed and implemented to maximize impacts, and how to make successful programs cost-effective.

IFPRI’s research on this topic is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG2, SDG3, SDG4, and SDG6.