Subscribe

Back

Who we are

With research staff from more than 70 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Lilia Bliznashka

Lily Bliznashka is a Research Fellow in the Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit. Her research focuses on assessing the effectiveness of multi-input nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific interventions and the mechanisms through which they work to improve maternal and child health and nutrition globally. She has worked in Burkina Faso, Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Back

What we do

Since 1975, IFPRI’s research has been informing policies and development programs to improve food security, nutrition, and livelihoods around the world.

Research topics

Projects and impact

Food Security Portal

Modeling tools

What’s new

Where we work

Back

Where we work

IFPRI currently has more than 480 employees working in over 70 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

IFPRI Regional Programs

IFPRI Country and Regional Offices

Research by country and region

Subscribe
The Earth Planet

Kenya

countries and regions

Publications

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

A rapid tool for understanding how knowledge users engage with research findings in research-for-development contexts

2026Lam, Steven; Hoffmann, Vivian; Otoigo, Lilian; Hung Nguyen-Viet
Details

A rapid tool for understanding how knowledge users engage with research findings in research-for-development contexts

Promoting the use of research findings in development projects is essential but often overlooked during study design. Existing frameworks for research use tend to focus on clinical settings and offer questionable applicability to development contexts, which are typically nonlinear, dynamic and cross-sectoral. As a result, there remains a gap in tools that can capture how evidence is intended to be applied by diverse knowledge users in real-world development settings. To address this gap, and drawing on over a decade of experience implementing research-to-action strategies, our objective is to develop a simple research uptake and use tool to better understand and support the use of evidence in research-for-development. We piloted the tool immediately after or 1 month following dissemination workshops, engaging 206 participants across nine sessions in five countries – Kenya, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Malawi, and Vietnam – to gather insights on which evidence was most relevant, how participants intended to apply it and why they valued it. Although conceptualized with a focus on agriculture and global health research, this framework is broadly applicable across the wider development sector in low- and middle-income countries.

Year published

2026

Authors

Lam, Steven; Hoffmann, Vivian; Otoigo, Lilian; Hung Nguyen-Viet

Citation

Lam, S., Hoffmann, V., Otoigo, L. and Hung Nguyen-Viet. 2026. A rapid tool for understanding how knowledge users engage with research findings in research-for-development contexts. Health Research Policy and Systems 24(1): 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-026-01478-1

Country/Region

Bangladesh; Ethiopia; Kenya; Malawi; Vietnam

Keywords

Africa; Asia; Eastern Africa; Southern Africa; South-eastern Asia; Southern Asia; Development; Research; Research for Development; Frameworks; Survey Design; Research Methods

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-026-01478-1 Source record

Project

One Health

Record type

Journal Article

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

Cash transfers relax climate-induced mobility constraints in Kenya

2026Mueller, Valerie; Gray, Clark; Handa, Sudhanshu
Details

Cash transfers relax climate-induced mobility constraints in Kenya

The use of migration as an adaptation strategy is now recognized by scholars and policymakers as a key response to climate change. Cash transfer programs, now being implemented worldwide, also have the potential to facilitate adaptation and promote resilience in low- and middle-income countries. We investigate the extent to which a cash transfer program in Kenya promoted the mobility of household members due to climate shocks, leveraging exogenous variation in local deviations from the historical climate and the administration of the program through a randomized controlled trial. Our findings indicate that beneficiary households were less likely to reduce migration amid cold spells, likely via shifts in education-related migration. We also find that heat spells ubiquitously encourage new members to join the household, while cold spells have the opposite effect, and that cash transfers do not appear to alter these relationships. Together the results suggest that cold spells can trap migrants in temperate, low-resource settings and that cash transfers can partially alleviate these constraints. Modeling migration and complementary strategies in the presence of climate tipping points will become necessary to predict when more permanent migration will be triggered and modifying social assistance will become necessary.

Year published

2026

Authors

Mueller, Valerie; Gray, Clark; Handa, Sudhanshu

Citation

Mueller, Valerie; Gray, Clark; and Handa, Sudhanshu. 2026. Cash transfers relax climate-induced mobility constraints in Kenya. Population and Environment 48(2): 9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-025-00515-5

Country/Region

Kenya

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Cash Transfers; Social Protection; Climate Change; Migration; Climate Migration

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-025-00515-5 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

Youth in relation to agroecology: practices, promises, and perceptions in five countries

2026Rietveld, Anne; Guettou Djurfeldt, Nadia; Shijagurumayum, Meghajit; Gupta, Shweta; Tristán Febres, Maria Claudia; Chimonyo, Vimbayi Grace Petrova; Nehring, Ryan; Murugani, Vongai Gillian; Idoudi, Zied; Singh, Sonali
Details

Youth in relation to agroecology: practices, promises, and perceptions in five countries

In the context of rising youth populations in many low- and middle-income countries, coupled with high youth unemployment and aging farmer populations, this paper asks in what ways agroecology, as a sustainable alternative to the conventional agricultural practices and paradigm, attracts youth to farming and rural-based livelihoods. We draw on empirical data from semi-structured interviews and photovoice conducted with young women and men in five countries: Kenya, India, Peru, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe. In our discussion, we highlight which dimensions and aspects of agroecology resonate with youth and why.

Year published

2026

Authors

Rietveld, Anne; Guettou Djurfeldt, Nadia; Shijagurumayum, Meghajit; Gupta, Shweta; Tristán Febres, Maria Claudia; Chimonyo, Vimbayi Grace Petrova; Nehring, Ryan; Murugani, Vongai Gillian; Idoudi, Zied; Singh, Sonali

Citation

Rietveld, A., Guettou-Djurfeldt, N., Shijagurumayum, M., Gupta, S., Tristán, M., Chimonyo, V., Nehring, R., Murugani, V., Idoudi, Z., & Singh, S. (2025). Youth in relation to agroecology: practices, promises, and perceptions in five countries. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 50(6): 1348-1381. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2025.2573791

Country/Region

Kenya; India; Peru; Tunisia; Zimbabwe

Keywords

Eastern Africa; Southern Asia; Latin America; Northern Africa; Southern Africa; Rural Youth; Agroecology; Agriculture; Rural Development; Labour; Livelihoods

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2025.2573791 Source record

Project

Agroecology

Record type

Journal Article

Datasets

Dataset

Replication Data for “Rural Credit, Food Security, and Resilience: An Empirical Evaluation from Kenya”

2025International Food Policy Research Institute
Details

Replication Data for “Rural Credit, Food Security, and Resilience: An Empirical Evaluation from Kenya”

This dataset contains replication data and code for the study “Rural Credit, Food Security, and Resilience: An Empirical Evaluation from Kenya.” The study draws on panel data from three rounds of household surveys conducted between 2017 and 2020 in Machakos County, Kenya, as part of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of two credit productsRisk Contingent Credit (RCC) and standard Traditional Credit (TC). A total of 1,053 households were evenly randomized into RCC, TC, and control groups. Surveys were administered using structured, pretested questionnaires. The baseline and midline surveys were conducted through face-to-face interviews, while the endline surveydelayed due to the COVID-19 pandemicwas conducted via phone interviews. All survey waves were implemented electronically using computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) tools. Each survey wave included detailed modules on household demographics, food consumption and expenditures, access to and use of financial services, credit constraints, and experiences of shocks and coping mechanisms. The RCC intervention featured an index-based insurance component triggered by low rainfall, modeled using historical dekadal rainfall data and Monte Carlo simulations. The study employed a multistage, stratified sampling design targeting rural households across selected sub-counties, in collaboration with Equity Bank and local administrators. This dataset enables replication of the studys findings and supports further research on the role of credit product design in enhancing food security and resilience among smallholder farmers in semi-arid regions.

Year published

2025

Authors

International Food Policy Research Institute

Citation

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). 2025. Replication Data for “Rural Credit, Food Security, and Resilience: An Empirical Evaluation from Kenya”. Washington, DC: IFPRI [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/OBZUCX. Harvard Dataverse. Version 1.

Country/Region

Kenya

Keywords

Eastern Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Financial Inclusion; Agricultural Credit; Insurance; Climate Change; Resilience; Food Security; Agriculture

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.7910/dvn/obzucx Source record

Record type

Dataset

Dataset

FAIR-Ready Socioeconomic Data from the Nature+ Quantitative Baseline Household and Worker Survey in Kenya

2025International Food Policy Research Institute
Details

FAIR-Ready Socioeconomic Data from the Nature+ Quantitative Baseline Household and Worker Survey in Kenya

This dataset is designed to harmonize agricultural research and socioeconomic monitoring in alignment with the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles. It is constructed using rigorous and standardized protocols for variable treatment and construction, explicitly developed to support interoperability and ethical data sharing. The dataset serves as a FAIR-compliant, standardized framework that provides prescriptive guidance on how each variable should be defined, processed, and documented to ensure technical interoperability while safeguarding privacy.

Year published

2025

Authors

International Food Policy Research Institute

Citation

International Food Policy Research Institute. 2025. FAIR-Ready Socioeconomic Data from the Nature+ Quantitative Baseline Household and Worker Survey in Kenya. Washington, DC: IFPRI [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/IU9BJT. Harvard Dataverse. Version 1.

Country/Region

Kenya

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Farming Systems; Agricultural Practices; Land Use; Nutrition; Poverty Alleviation; Socioeconomic Aspects; Food Security

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.7910/dvn/iu9bjt Source record

Project

Nature-Positive Solutions

Record type

Dataset

Dataset

Economic Inclusion Program Cohort 2 in Kenya: Baseline Household Survey

2025International Food Policy Research Institute
Details

Economic Inclusion Program Cohort 2 in Kenya: Baseline Household Survey

This dataset consists of household-level data collected through a baseline survey conducted between April and May 2024 for the Impact Evaluation of the Economic Inclusion Programme (EIP), Cohort 2, in Kenya. The survey covers 3,251 households across four counties, Kisumu, Makueni, Muranga, and Taita Taveta, and was implemented by the Kenyan survey firm REMIT. The EIP intervention package comprises four components: (i) monthly consumption support, (ii) asset grants to support income-generating activities, (iii) skills training paired with weekly mentoring, and (iv) the establishment of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs). The evaluation follows a cluster-randomized controlled trial (cRCT) design, in which villages were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups in a 2:1 ratio, with randomization stratified at the sub-county level. The baseline household survey captures data on demographics, consumption and income, assets, financial inclusion, enterprise activities, food security, mental health, gender equity, social cohesion, and exposure to social protection programs. These data provide a detailed snapshot of household conditions prior to program implementation and enable rigorous impact evaluation, replication, and secondary research on economic inclusion, social protection, and poverty reduction in Kenya.

Year published

2025

Authors

International Food Policy Research Institute

Citation

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). 2025. Economic Inclusion Program Cohort 2 in Kenya: Baseline Household Survey. Washington, DC: IFPRI [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/0HCFQN. Harvard Dataverse. Version 1.

Country/Region

Kenya

Keywords

Eastern Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Africa; Economic Integration; Financial Inclusion; Capacity Development; Gender Equity; Social Protection; Domestic Violence; Mental Health

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.7910/dvn/0hcfqn Source record

Project

Fragility, Conflict, and Migration

Record type

Dataset

Blogs

Women as shock absorbers: Gendered costs of the global fuel and fertilizer crisis
Issue Post
 | 
June 12, 2026

Women as shock absorbers: Gendered costs of the global fuel and fertilizer crisis

By Elizabeth Basauri Bryan, Muzna Alvi, Marame Cisse, Faith Gikunda, Eric Kirimi, Hamza Muhammad, Claudia Ringler, Tirsit Sahledengil, Bello Yakasai, and Taddese Zerfu

High prices from the Iran war are increasing inequities.

School meals and school-based actions for people and the planet: Nourishing bodies, minds, and futures
Research Post
 | 
May 01, 2026

School meals and school-based actions for people and the planet: Nourishing bodies, minds, and futures

By Tamsin Zandstra, Aulo Gelli, Daniel Gilligan, and Eleanor Jones

Impacts on education and beyond.

Beyond the harvest: Uncovering the hidden risks driving poverty and hunger in developing economies
Research Post
 | 
April 24, 2026

Beyond the harvest: Uncovering the hidden risks driving poverty and hunger in developing economies

By Askar Mukashov and Eleanor Jones

Systematic risk profiling reveals wide differences in country vulnerabilities.

View all Blogs

Events

IFPRI @ ICT4D Conference 2026
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

May 20 to 22, 2026

IFPRI @ ICT4D Conference 2026

IFPRI is participating in the ICT4D Conference 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 20–22, 2026, bringing together global leaders, practitioners, and innovators to explore the future of digital transformation. The ICT4D Conference is a leading global platform exploring how digital innovation and data-driven solutions can transform humanitarian relief and development. Founded in 2010 by Catholic […]

IFPRI @ 9th KIPPRA Annual Regional Conference
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

May 20 to 22, 2026

IFPRI @ 9th KIPPRA Annual Regional Conference

IFPRI is pleased to participate in the 9th edition of the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) Annual Regional Conference, taking place May 20–22, 2026 in Mombasa, Kenya. The 2026 conference theme is Strengthening Value Chains for Inclusive Growth in Kenya. The KIPPRA Annual Regional Conference is Kenya’s foremost platform for evidence-based […]

Integrating Women’s Empowerment and Nutrition in National Agricultural Surveys: Country Experiences, Perspective and the Path Forward
IFPRI Program/Country Event

 | 

December 2, 2025, 9:00 – 12:30 pm

Integrating Women’s Empowerment and Nutrition in National Agricultural Surveys: Country Experiences, Perspective and the Path Forward

Agrifood systems are essential to women’s livelihoods globally, yet their contributions often remain underrecognized. Women are disproportionately concentrated in informal, low-skilled, and labor-intensive roles and face limited access to resources and exclusion from key decision-making processes. To address these gaps, new tools have emerged to better assess women’s empowerment. Building on the Women’s Empowerment in […]

View all Events

News

June 11, 2026 | Press Release

IFPRI and AFAAS partner across four countries to test AI tools for farmer advisory services

The partners will convene national stakeholders to identify priority use cases and co-design approaches for testing AI-enabled advisory tools.

February 09, 2026 | Press Release

New IFPRI study introduces breakthrough framework to assess economic risks in developing countries

A groundbreaking approach to understanding how developing economies are affected by multiple, simultaneous shocks.

January 08, 2024 | Press Release

A new book provides a roadmap for food systems transformation in Kenya

The past few years have seen Kenya, along with many other countries, confronted with multifaceted and compounding challenges. The disruptions caused by COVID-19, high levels of food price inflation, and environmental crises, such as locust infestations and droughts, have severely tested the resilience of Kenya’s food systems and the affordability of food for its citizens. […]

View all News

Projects

School Meals and School-based Actions for People and the Planet

School Meals and School-based Actions for People and the Planet

…

True Value of Food

True Value of Food

…

Economywide Risk Assessments

Economywide Risk Assessments

Developed using advanced machine learning, simulation, and data mining techniques, these country briefs provide detailed risk assessments of key economic indicators. Produced by IFPRI, the……

View all Projects