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With research staff from more than 60 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

Eliot Jones-Garcia

Eliot Jones-Garcia is a Senior Research Analyst with the Natural Resources and Resilience Unit based in Washington, DC. His research focuses on human-AI interaction, user-centered design, and the ethical and responsible development of AI. Eliot is currently finalizing a PhD on the digitalization of agricultural advisory services at Wageningen University & Research.

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Nutrition, Diets, and Health

Swetha Manohar

Research Fellow

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Bio

Swetha Manohar is a Research Fellow and a nutritional epidemiologist whose research has broadly focused on multisectoral programming and policy to improve nutrition and food security in low-income settings, primarily in South and Southeast Asia. This focus has engaged three thematic areas of study: (1) examining linkages between nutrition and agriculture and broader food systems, (2) metrics and methods to examine child growth, food environments, social protection and nutrition coverage, and (3) consideration of broader equity issues in research practice and toward efforts to improve nutrition and enabling healthy sustainable diets for all. Swetha previously served as faculty at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, primarily based in Nepal and then, at the School for Advanced International Studies.

Swetha holds a PhD and MSPH from the Johns Hopkins University and is a registered dietitian.

Google Scholar Citations

Publications

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Journal Article

Resilient futures: Acknowledging the shared challenges of early career food system researchers in uncertain times

2026Boylan, Sinead; Manohar, Swetha; Ambikapathi, Ramya; Fabila, Max; Cubillo, Beau; Mauli, Senoveva; Lukanga, Editrudith; Oloko, Ayodele; Fanzo, Jessica
Details

Resilient futures: Acknowledging the shared challenges of early career food system researchers in uncertain times

Transforming food systems to deliver sustainable, equitable, and nutritious outcomes requires confronting profound global challenges, from climate change and biodiversity loss to widening inequities and persistent malnutrition. Early career researchers (ECRs), who make up a large proportion of the research workforce, hold unique potential to drive this transformation through fresh perspectives, systems thinking, and transdisciplinary collaboration. Yet they also face distinct barriers: precarious employment, limited funding, and institutional structures that privilege dominant knowledge systems, while undervaluing Indigenous and community-centred approaches. For many, particularly in resource-constrained or Indigenous contexts, these professional pressures are compounded by structural inequities, colonial legacies, and personal responsibilities, amplifying the emotional burden of engaging with such complex challenges. This paper explores strategies to empower ECRs to navigate food systems research without becoming overwhelmed. We highlight the importance of adaptability, mentorship, and building supportive networks, alongside recognition of Indigenous knowledge systems and the contextual realities shaping food systems across geographies. Collaboration and co-production emerge as critical pathways for innovation, trust-building, and collective action, while diverse outputs beyond peer-reviewed publications are essential to translate research into meaningful policy and practice. By embracing persistence, equity, and shared responsibility, ECRs can position themselves not as isolated individuals but as key actors in a global movement for resilient and just food systems. Balancing realism with optimism, we reaffirm the transformative potential of ECRs, and call on institutions, funders, and senior researchers to establish structures that enable them to thrive as changemakers in pursuit of a sustainable food future.

Year published

2026

Authors

Boylan, Sinead; Manohar, Swetha; Ambikapathi, Ramya; Fabila, Max; Cubillo, Beau; Mauli, Senoveva; Lukanga, Editrudith; Oloko, Ayodele; Fanzo, Jessica

Citation

Boylan, Sinead; Manohar, Swetha; Ambikapathi, Ramya; Fabila, Max; Cubillo, Beau; et al. 2026. Resilient futures: Acknowledging the shared challenges of early career food system researchers in uncertain times. Global Food Security 48(March 2026): 100901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2025.100901

Keywords

Scientists; Resilience; Food Systems; Collaboration

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2025.100901 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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Preprint

Measuring food fortification coverage in household surveys: Formative research findings from Bangladesh and Ethiopia

2025
Scott, Samuel P.; Myers, Emily; Jungjohann, Svenja; Manohar, Swetha; Neupane, Sumanta; Banerjee, Archis; Berhane, Hanna; Workneh, Firehiwot; Ferdaweke, Fiker; Zaman, Zubayer Ibn
…more Salsabil, Nishat; Billah, Sk Masum; Lotus, Sharif Uddin; Heidkamp, Rebecca; Kim, Sunny S.
Details

Measuring food fortification coverage in household surveys: Formative research findings from Bangladesh and Ethiopia

Background Large-scale food fortification (LSFF) is a cost-effective approach used in most countries to address widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Understanding who consumes fortified foods is challenging as these foods are often undetectable by design. The objective of this work was to refine survey items used to measure LSFF coverage for their potential use in routine multitopic household surveys. Methods In Bangladesh and Ethiopia, we interviewed shop vendors (n=108), program officers (n=28), and women beneficiaries of safety net programs (n=67). Shop observations assessed availability, type, brand, and fortification labeling for food vehicles (oil, wheat flour, salt, and rice). Key informant interviews were used to understand practices related to food acquisition/use and fortification knowledge. Cognitive interviewing techniques were used to refine questions from the Fortification Assessment Coverage Toolkit (FACT), with follow-up prompts to identify comprehension, retrieval, judgment, and response errors. Results Market observations revealed many types and brands of food vehicles, especially of rice in Bangladesh (35 types, 220 brands). Nearly all oil and salt, but not wheat flour in both countries or rice in Bangladesh were labeled as fortified. Program officers and women had limited knowledge about fortified foods. The concept of brand was not well understood, and women often could not remember the brand they last purchased. Modifications to the FACT survey items reduced cognitive errors. A set of four questions can capture household coverage of food vehicle and fortifiable food vehicle use. Conclusions Correct phrasing of key concepts as understood by respondents is essential to producing reliable estimates of LSFF coverage. In the absence of cheap, field-friendly technologies to test food samples, and given limited identifiable features of fortified foods, estimating coverage of fortification programs in household surveys remains challenging but worthy of further investigation.

Year published

2025

Authors

Scott, Samuel P.; Myers, Emily; Jungjohann, Svenja; Manohar, Swetha; Neupane, Sumanta; Banerjee, Archis; Berhane, Hanna; Workneh, Firehiwot; Ferdaweke, Fiker; Zaman, Zubayer Ibn; Salsabil, Nishat; Billah, Sk Masum; Lotus, Sharif Uddin; Heidkamp, Rebecca; Kim, Sunny S.

Citation

Scott, Samuel P.; Myers, Emily; Jungjohann, Svenja; Manohar, Swetha; Neupane, Sumanta; et al. 2025. Measuring food fortification coverage in household surveys: Formative research findings from Bangladesh and Ethiopia. VeriXiv Preprints. https://doi.org/10.12688/verixiv.2491.1

Country/Region

Bangladesh; Ethiopia

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Food Fortification; Households; Surveys; Food Systems

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.12688/verixiv.2491.1 Source record

Record type

Preprint

Resource thumbnail

Preprint

Formative research in Ethiopia and Bangladesh: Strengthening household survey measures of maternal micronutrient supplementation in low- and middle-income countries

2025
Walton, Shelley; Wood, Ellina; Berhane, Hanna Y.; Workneh, Firehiwot; Ferdaweke, Fiker; Billah, Sk Masum; Lotus, Sharif Uddin; Munos, Melinda; Kim, Sunny S.; Manohar, Swetha
…more Nguyen, Phuong Hong; Azeem, Syed Shehryar; Heidkamp, Rebecca
Details

Formative research in Ethiopia and Bangladesh: Strengthening household survey measures of maternal micronutrient supplementation in low- and middle-income countries

Background As countries transition from iron folic acid (IFA) to multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) for pregnant women, they need accurate data on who is being reached with these interventions. The aim of our formative research in Ethiopia and Bangladesh was to design updated household survey questions, response options, and visual aids to measure coverage of prenatal micronutrient supplements. Methods In Phase I, we landscaped health providers and retailers to identify prenatal micronutrient products available in each country and interviewed currently pregnant women (CPW) and recently delivered women (RDW) about how they differentiated among micronutrient products. In Phase II, we used these findings to draft survey questions and visual aids. In Phase III, we iteratively tested and refined the draft tools through cognitive interviews with women. Results The total number of study participants, including CPW, RDW, healthcare workers, and retailers, was 73 in Ethiopia and 132 in Bangladesh. Women in both contexts distinguished among micronutrient products based on color, shape, packaging, and perceived purpose. In cognitive tests, women generally understood the English term “iron” as a catch-all term for any iron-containing supplement. No specific term for multivitamin or MMS was consistently recognized by women. Shorter recalls of 7 days or 1 month for adherence were feasible for respondents. Conclusions It is challenging to identify terms and images that help women distinguish between supplement types. The final set of questions are feasible for adaptation and use in multi-topic surveys, in contexts with MMS but require validation.

Year published

2025

Authors

Walton, Shelley; Wood, Ellina; Berhane, Hanna Y.; Workneh, Firehiwot; Ferdaweke, Fiker; Billah, Sk Masum; Lotus, Sharif Uddin; Munos, Melinda; Kim, Sunny S.; Manohar, Swetha; Nguyen, Phuong Hong; Azeem, Syed Shehryar; Heidkamp, Rebecca

Citation

Walton, Shelley; Wood, Ellina; Berhane, Hanna Y.; Workneh, Firehiwot; Ferdaweke, Fiker; et al. 2025. Formative research in Ethiopia and Bangladesh: Strengthening household survey measures of maternal micronutrient supplementation in low- and middle-income countries. VeriXiv Preprint. https://doi.org/10.12688/verixiv.2475.1

Country/Region

Ethiopia; Bangladesh

Keywords

Eastern Africa; Southern Asia; Sub-saharan Africa; Africa; Asia; Micronutrients; Household Surveys; Supplements; Developing Countries; Maternal Nutrition; Gender

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.12688/verixiv.2475.1 Source record

Record type

Preprint

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