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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.

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Timothy Thomas

Timothy Thomas is a Senior Research Fellow in the Foresight and Policy Modeling Unit. His research focuses on the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity. Tim’s work involves developing innovative methods for simulated climate futures and model coordination between climate, crop, water, energy, and economics.

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

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

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The International Growth Centre (IGC) encourages sustainable growth in developing countries by providing demand-led policy advice based on frontier research. IGC directs a global network of researchers and in-country teams in Africa and South Asia to create research and policy advice on vital growth challenges. IGC is based at the London School of Economics (LSE) and in partnership with the University of Oxford. The IGC is majority funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

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Publications

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Journal Article

Persistent BMI and height deficits reflect structural and geographic inequities among adolescent girls in Nepal

2026Rai, Anjana; Wraith, Darren; Sendall, Marguerite C.; Cunningham, Kenda; Adhikari, Ramesh P.; Saville, Naomi; Nambiar, Smita
Details

Persistent BMI and height deficits reflect structural and geographic inequities among adolescent girls in Nepal

Adolescence is a period of rapid growth; however, many adolescent girls experience suboptimal growth trajectories. This longitudinal study assessed changes in body mass index (BMI) and linear growth and associated factors among Nepali adolescent girls from 2017-2019. We analysed panel data from three waves (2017 [n=770], 2018 [n=682] and 2019 [n=618]) of never-married and non-pregnant girls aged 10-19 years in 2017. BMI-for-age difference (BMI-AD) and height-for-age difference (HAD), indicating deviation from WHO age- and sex-specific medians, were used to assess change over time. BMI-AD and conditional growth (calculated as residuals from regressions of 2018/2019 HAD on prior HAD and age) were used in the regression analyses to identify associated factors. Conditional growth reflects linear growth above or below what would be expected, based on prior height and age. We used descriptive statistics to assess change, and linear mixed-effects and ordinary least squares regression to identify factors associated with BMI-AD and conditional growth, respectively. Findings confirmed that girls consistently had lower BMI (-1.78kg/m2, -1.60kg/m2 and –1.48kg/m2 respectively in 2017, 2018, 2019) and height relative to the WHO median for their age and sex (-10.3cm, -10.2cm and -9.9cm respectively in 2017, 2018, 2019), with negligible improvements. Factors associated with higher BMI-AD were post-menarche status (0.98kg/m2, 95% CI 0.72, 1.25), higher education (0.11kg/m2, 95% CI 0.01, 0.21), and disadvantaged caste/ethnicity (0.48kg/m2, 95% CI 0.14, 0.83); in contrast, older age (-0.17kg/m2, 95% CI -0.27, -0.07), food insecurity (-0.31kg/m2, 95% CI -0.57, -0.06), and terai (-0.93kg/m2, 95% CI -1.45, -0.40) or hill (-0.57kg/m2, 95% CI -1.06, -0.08) residence were associated with lower BMI-AD. For conditional linear growth, older age (0.19cm, 95% CI 0.14, 0.24 for 2018; 0.16cm, 95% CI 0.11, 0.21 for 2019) and underweight (0.25cm, 95% CI 0.10, 0.40 for 2018) predicted higher gains than expected given their prior height and age, whereas post-menarche status (-0.94cm, 95% CI -1.16, -0.72 for 2018; -1.03cm, 95% CI -1.25, -0.82 for 2019) and terai (-0.35cm, 95% CI -0.62, -0.08 for 2018; -0.31cm, 95% CI -0.59, -0.03 for 2019) hill (-0.25cm, 95% CI -0.48, -0.02 for 2019) residence predicted lower growth than expected given their prior height and age. Findings highlight the need to address age-related nutrition, education, food insecurity, and geographic disparities to support healthy growth.

Year published

2026

Authors

Rai, Anjana; Wraith, Darren; Sendall, Marguerite C.; Cunningham, Kenda; Adhikari, Ramesh P.; Saville, Naomi; Nambiar, Smita

Citation

Rai, Anjana; Wraith, Darren; Sendall, Marguerite C.; Cunningham, Kenda; Adhikari, Ramesh P.; et al. 2026. Persistent BMI and height deficits reflect structural and geographic inequities among adolescent girls in Nepal. Journal of Nutrition 156(10): 101781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101781

Country/Region

Nepal

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Body Mass Index; Height; Adolescents; Gender; Longitudinal Studies

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101781 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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Brief

Papua New Guinea food price bulletin: August 2026

2026International Food Policy Research Institute; Hayoge, Glen; Kedir Jemal, Mekamu
Details

Papua New Guinea food price bulletin: August 2026

This bulletin reports on food price trends from major markets in Papua New Guinea (PNG), for the second quarter (Q2) of 2026 using the data collected by Fresh Produce Development Authority (FPDA). During this period, two rounds of data were collected in all markets in May 2026. In April, two rounds of data were collected in Banz, Goroka, Kokopo, Lae and Mt. Hagen markets; however, only one round of data was collected in Port Moresby. In June no survey data collection was conducted in Kokopo and Mt. Hagen, whereas Banz, Goroka, Lae and Port Moresby each had one round. This report analyzes month-over-month changes in Q2 2026 (April to June) and available data through August for selected markets. The bulletin compares prices with the previous quarter (Q1 2026: January to March) and the same period in 2025 (Q2 2025). Prices are reported in real PGK per kilogram (i.e., adjusted for inflation using the FAO Consumer Food Price Index (PCI) and price gaps from July 2025 to August 2026 filled using a growth rate calculated from quarterly PCI data provided by the PNG National Statistical Office (June and September 2025). This bulletin focuses on selected staples (sweet potato, taro, cassava, cooking banana and rice), vegetables (English cabbage, capsicum, and carrot) and fruits (pawpaw and pineapple). For longer time series data and interactive tools, visit the IFPRI website to create graphs, compare prices and commodities, and download food price data here.

Year published

2026

Authors

International Food Policy Research Institute; Hayoge, Glen; Kedir Jemal, Mekamu

Citation

International Food Policy Research Institute. 2026. Papua New Guinea food price bulletin: August 2026. Papua New Guinea Food Price Bulletin August 2026. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/185260

Country/Region

Papua New Guinea

Keywords

Oceania; Food Prices; Legumes; Markets; Staple Foods; Rice; Fruits; Food Security; Nutrition

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

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Working Paper

Financing social protection in Africa: Lessons for strengthening social protection systems in Ethiopia

2026Genye, Tirsit; Abay, Kibrom A.; Araya, Mesele; Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum
Details

Financing social protection in Africa: Lessons for strengthening social protection systems in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has made significant strides in its effort to expand social protection programs, both in terms of expanding coverage and in terms of variety and investment in these programs. However, Ethiopia’s social protection system continues to face significant challenges amid growing demand for social assistance and competing needs. Despite the expansion in coverage, the share of population benefiting from social protection programs remains far below demand and global averages. Similarly, spending and sources of finance for social protection remain relatively limited, with the financing structure of many programs being heavily dependent on external donor support, raising concerns about long-term sustainability. At the same time, the country continues to face an increasing demand for social assistance due to climate shocks, conflict, and economic volatility. In this paper, we compile evidence and compare Ethiopia’s experience with selected successful cases (from Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa) to draw lessons for strengthening sustainability in financing of social protection programs. By assessing both the achievements and remaining challenges, we draw recommendations on how Ethiopia can strengthen its social protection system, both in terms of coverage and sustainability. While Ethiopia can still increase public finance on social protection programs and improve allocation of public finance as well as efficiency in targeting and delivering social protection, we also identify some innovative and unconventional sources of finance to support safety net programs. These include: social or development impact bonds, climate and disaster risk financing, as well as blended public-private investments for development and social goals. We also identify some domestic experiences and community-level indigenous arrangements that can be scaled-up further. We finally highlight that tapping these financing mechanisms and arrangements entail strengthening domestic and indigenous institutions as well as trust in public-private partnerships.

Year published

2026

Authors

Genye, Tirsit; Abay, Kibrom A.; Araya, Mesele; Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum

Citation

Genye, Tirsit; Abay, Kibrom A.; Araya, Mesele; and Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum. 2026. Financing social protection in Africa: Lessons for strengthening social protection systems in Ethiopia. ESSP Working Paper 164. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/185126

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Social Protection; Public Expenditure; Financing

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Working Paper

Events

Some Welfare Consequences of COVID-19 in Ethiopia
IFPRI Program/Country Event

 | 

August 24, 2020, 4:00 – 5:30 pm

Some Welfare Consequences of COVID-19 in Ethiopia

Cross-country experience so far shows that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and responses to combat are multidimensional. It is thus reasonable to expect the occurrence of these effects in Ethiopia. Findings of several studies will be reported during this webinar. The presentations focus on the impact of COVID-19 on the welfare of mothers and […]

Blogs

Can sports and life skills programs improve labor force outcomes for vulnerable youth?
Research Post
 | 
February 11, 2021

Can sports and life skills programs improve labor force outcomes for vulnerable youth?

By Lori Beaman, Sylvan Herskowitz, Niall Keleher, and Jeremy Magruder

Analyzing impacts of a program in Monrovia, Liberia.

What happens when you incentivize primary education in Uganda
Research Post
 | 
March 15, 2019

What happens when you incentivize primary education in Uganda

By Daniel Gilligan, Naureen Karachiwalla, Ibrahim Kasirye, Adrienne Lucas, and Derek Neal

Incentives that hold teachers accountable for achievement can increase educational attainment when paired with adequate instructional resources, research shows.