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Who we are

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.

Ahmed Akhter

researcher spotlight

Akhter Ahmed

Akhter Ahmed is a Senior Research Fellow in the IFPRI’s Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion Unit and Country Representative for IFPRI Bangladesh. He has worked on strategies for agricultural and rural development, social protection, and women’s empowerment to reduce poverty, food insecurity, and undernutrition in developing countries including Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Malawi, the Philippines, and Turkey.

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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.

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Where we work

IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 80 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

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TOPIC

Health

Having access to nutritious, affordable, and safe food is critical for individuals to reach their physical and cognitive potential, maintain their health, and ensure economic productivity. Since agriculture, nutrition, diet, and health are intrinsically linked, IFPRI’s health research covers a range of issues, including antimicrobial resistance, agriculture-associated, infectious, and noncommunicable diseases, food safety, intimate partner violence, malnutrition, and maternal and child health, as well as social protection, agriculture, health, and education programs and policies for reducing poverty and enhancing nutrition, health, and education outcomes.

IFPRI’s research on this topic is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 and SDG 3.

health

topics

Publications

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Working Paper

Determinants of household water and energy access and their impacts on food security and health outcomes in Sudan

2025Kirui, Oliver K.; Ahmed, Mosab; Raouf, Mariam; Abushama, Hala; Siddig, Khalid
Details

Determinants of household water and energy access and their impacts on food security and health outcomes in Sudan

This study investigates the determinants of access to safe water and reliable energy for households in Sudan using nationally representative data from a recent labor market survey. The results show that urbanization, education, and wealth significantly enhance the access households have to these essential services, while rural areas and less developed regions, particularly in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, face substantial challenges. Access to reliable energy correlates with better food security and health outcomes within households, and improved access to safe water significantly enhances the health of household members. Policy recommendations supported by these research results include targeted rural infrastructure investments, educational improvements, and regional interventions to address disparities in household access to safe water and reliable energy across Sudan.

Year published

2025

Authors

Kirui, Oliver K.; Ahmed, Mosab; Raouf, Mariam; Abushama, Hala; Siddig, Khalid

Citation

Kirui, Oliver K.; Ahmed, Mosab; Raouf, Mariam; Abushama, Hala; and Siddig, Khalid. 2025. Determinants of household water and energy access and their impacts on food security and health outcomes in Sudan. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2338. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/174711

Country/Region

Sudan

Keywords

Africa; Northern Africa; Energy Policies; Food Security; Health; Households; Socioeconomics; Water; Water Policies

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Project

NEXUS Gains

Record type

Working Paper

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Dataset

SELEVER study: Baseline survey

2025International Food Policy Research Institute
Details

SELEVER study: Baseline survey

The Soutenir l’Exploitation Familiale pour Lancer l’Élevage des Volailles et Valoriser l’Économie Rurale (SELEVER) study was a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in rural Burkina Faso to evaluate the impact of an integrated agriculture-nutrition intervention on the diets, health, and nutritional status of women and children. The intervention package combined poultry value chain development, women’s empowerment initiatives, and a behavior change communication strategy to promote healthier diets and improved feeding, care, and hygiene practices. Data collection took place in rural communities across three regions—Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-Ouest, and Haut-Bassins—over four rounds between March 2017 and August 2020. The baseline survey (Round 1) was conducted from March to June 2017, during the post-harvest season, and included a sample of 1,800 households. Follow-up 1 and Follow-up 2 (Rounds 2 and 3) were carried out during the lean season, with data collected in September–October 2017 and September–October 2019, respectively, from a subsample of 1,080 households. The endline survey (Round 4) took place from March to August 2020, with a temporary pause in data collection due to COVID-19 restrictions. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the intervention package in enhancing nutritional outcomes for women and children in the targeted communities. The data presented here are from the baseline survey.

Year published

2025

Authors

International Food Policy Research Institute

Citation

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). 2025. SELEVER study: Baseline survey. Washington, DC: IFPRI [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/M4BTGB. Harvard Dataverse. Version 1.

Country/Region

Burkina Faso

Keywords

Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Africa; Value Chains; Poultry; Women’s Empowerment; Maternal Nutrition; Child Nutrition; Infant Feeding; Communication; Hygiene; Dietary Assessment; Health

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.7910/dvn/m4btgb Source record

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Dataset

Resource thumbnail

Dataset

SELEVER study: Endline survey

2025International Food Policy Research Institute
Details

SELEVER study: Endline survey

The Soutenir l’Exploitation Familiale pour Lancer l’Élevage des Volailles et Valoriser l’Économie Rurale (SELEVER) study was a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in rural Burkina Faso to evaluate the impact of an integrated agriculture-nutrition intervention on the diets, health, and nutritional status of women and children. The intervention package combined poultry value chain development, women’s empowerment initiatives, and a behavior change communication strategy to promote healthier diets and improved feeding, care, and hygiene practices. Data collection took place in rural communities across three regions—Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-Ouest, and Haut-Bassins—over four rounds between March 2017 and August 2020. The baseline survey (Round 1) was conducted from March to June 2017, during the post-harvest season, and included a sample of 1,800 households. Follow-up 1 and Follow-up 2 (Rounds 2 and 3) were carried out during the lean season, with data collected in September–October 2017 and September–October 2019, respectively, from a subsample of 1,080 households. The endline survey (Round 4) took place from March to August 2020, with a temporary pause in data collection due to COVID-19 restrictions. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the intervention package in enhancing nutritional outcomes for women and children in the targeted communities. The data presented here are from the endline survey.

Year published

2025

Authors

International Food Policy Research Institute

Citation

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). 2025. SELEVER study: Endline survey. Washington, DC: IFPRI [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/E7QTZZ. Harvard Dataverse. Version 1.

Country/Region

Burkina Faso

Keywords

Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Africa; Value Chains; Poultry; Women’s Empowerment; Maternal Nutrition; Communication; Water; Hygiene; Health; Child Nutrition; Infant Feeding; Dietary Assessment

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.7910/dvn/e7qtzz Source record

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Dataset

Blogs

What are kids watching online? How digital food marketing shapes children’s and adolescents’ diets
IFPRI Blog
 | 
April 03, 2025

What are kids watching online? How digital food marketing shapes children’s and adolescents’ diets

By Gabriela Fretes and Jef L. Leroy

A study shows the influence of social media.

Ethiopia’s health and nutrition data gap and what it means for public health
IFPRI Blog
 | 
March 28, 2025

Ethiopia’s health and nutrition data gap and what it means for public health

By Taddese Zerfu

A study finds problems with completeness, consistency, and timeliness.

Transform Nutrition West Africa builds knowledge for decision-makers
IFPRI Blog
 | 
March 07, 2025

Transform Nutrition West Africa builds knowledge for decision-makers

By Tamsin Zandstra, Roos Verstraeten, Ampa Dogui Diatta, Loty Diop, and Mariama Touré

Informing policies in four countries.

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Events

Fertilizer, soil health, and economic shocks: Policy lessons learned from recent events
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

June 11, 2025, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Fertilizer, soil health, and economic shocks: Policy lessons learned from recent events

Please type your questions into the chat box with name, affiliation, and country. The event video, presenter slides, and podcast will be available in the days following the event. Join us for a discussion of key findings from a recent special issue of Food Policy exploring the complex interactions between fertilizer use, soil health management, […]

EconPol Annual Conference 2025
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

May 19, 2025, 11:30 – 5:00 pm

EconPol Annual Conference 2025

Climate policy debates tend to focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the primary cause of climate change. However, climate change is expected to continue even under the most optimistic emission scenarios, inflicting severe damage. Across Europe, increasingly frequent and more severe flooding is causing significant physical damage, while rising temperatures and droughts are leading to […]

IFPRI @ CGIAR Science Week
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

April 7 to 12, 2025

IFPRI @ CGIAR Science Week

When humanity has faced its greatest challenges, science and innovation have provided solutions. Today, major and connected global challenges threaten the sustainability of food, land, and water systems, with the most vulnerable people and communities at greatest risk. Recognizing the urgency of these challenges, CGIAR and the Kenyan Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) are […]

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News

February 04, 2025 | Press Release

Solving global hunger: New report highlights school meal programs as drivers of change

School meal programs don’t just ensure children go to school and stay fed — they are a powerful force for change in communities and food systems worldwide. According to the results of the latest Global Survey of School Meal Programs© conducted by Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF), school meal programs can increase demand for nutritious […]

November 12, 2024 | Press Release

New Study: Short-term humanitarian aid alone insufficient to address severe deterioration in employment, income, access to essential services and food security.

Economic revival, social protection, and infrastructure rehabilitation are critical for urban recovery in Sudan. Nairobi, 12 November 2024 – Eighteen months of war have deeply affected urban households in Sudan: 31 percent have been displaced, full-time employment has plummeted by half, over 70 percent of the urban households in Sudan had all or some of […]

May 29, 2024 | Press Release

The 2024 Global Food Policy Report Stresses Urgent Need for Transformative Action to Achieve Sustainable Healthy Diets and Improved Nutrition

Washington DC, May 29, 2024: In the face of growing challenges posed by unhealthy diets, all forms of malnutrition, and environmental constraints, the 2024 Global Food Policy Report (GFPR) — released today by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) — underscores the importance of transforming complex global food systems to ensure sustainable healthy diets for all. Progress […]

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Our experts

Deanna Olney

Deanna Olney

Director, Nutrition, Diets, and Health (NDH), Nutrition,
Diets, and Health

Thomas Assefa

Thomas Assefa

Associate Research Fellow, Innovation
Policy and Scaling

Mike Murphy

Mike Murphy

Senior Research Analyst, Markets,
Trade, and Institutions

Razin Kabir

Razin Kabir

Senior Program Manager, Poverty,
Gender, and Inclusion