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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.

researcher spotlight

Agnes Quisumbing

Agnes Quisumbing is a Senior Research Fellow in the Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion Unit. She co-leads a research program that examines how closing the gap between men’s and women’s ownership and control of assets may lead to better development outcomes.

Where we work

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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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Research by country and region

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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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Abstract

Strengthening delivery platforms of national nutrition programs in subnational geographies in India improved coverage of interventions and child growth

2024Gune, Soyra; Alderman, Harold; Avula, Rasmi; Nguyen, Phuong; Chakrabarti, Suman
Details

Strengthening delivery platforms of national nutrition programs in subnational geographies in India improved coverage of interventions and child growth

Objectives: Between 2016 and 2020, novel system strengthening mechanisms were implemented in 63.9% (N=409) of India’s districts by the government in collaboration with multiple partners to enhance the delivery of essential nutrition interventions for women and children during the critical first 1,000 days. We evaluated the influence of these mechanisms on the coverage of interventions and child growth outcomes.

Year published

2024

Authors

Gune, Soyra; Alderman, Harold; Avula, Rasmi; Nguyen, Phuong; Chakrabarti, Suman

Citation

Gune, Soyra; Alderman, Harold; Avula, Rasmi; Nguyen, Phuong; and Chakrabarti, Suman. 2024. Strengthening delivery platforms of national nutrition programs in subnational geographies in India improved coverage of interventions and child growth. Current Developments in Nutrition 8 (Supplement 2): 102949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102949

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Nutrition; Child Development; State Intervention; Maternal and Child Health

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-3.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102949 Source record

Record type

Abstract

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Abstract

Involving influential men’s groups to promote maternal and child nutrition practices increased diet diversity and egg consumption despite rising insecurity in the Sahel

2024Diop, Loty; Gelli, Aulo; Dione, Malick; Sow, Doulo; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Some, Henri; Ganaba, Rasmané; Tranchant, Jean Pierre; Heckert, Jessica; Becquey, Elodie
Details

Involving influential men’s groups to promote maternal and child nutrition practices increased diet diversity and egg consumption despite rising insecurity in the Sahel

Objectives: A two-arm cluster randomized trial was designed to compare 2 approaches of behavior change communication for improved nutrition and women’s empowerment practices. Both intervention arms received monthly training sessions using village saving and loans associations (VSLA) as main delivery platform, while in one arm, influential men’s groups (called EBENE) were also trained to promote improved nutrition and women’s empowerment practices. Methods: Data were collected after one year of implementation in June and August 2023 through phone surveys in a composite sample of women pre-identified before the intervention including members of VSLA, women interested in VSLA and women of the general population. Mixed-effects regression models using fixed effects for treatment exposure and random effects at cluster level, were used to assess differential effects of the interventions on program participation, and knowledge and practices related to diets and women’s empowerment. Adjusted models estimated the effects of insecurity and of the EBENE intervention in the context of insecurity, adjusting for baseline characteristics associated to insecurity prior to its onset, to account for its non-random nature. Results: Unadjusted analyses found participation rates of 44% and 38% for training on nutrition and gender respectively, with no significant differences between intervention groups. The EBENE intervention was found to increase the likelihood that women felt encouraged by men to improve dietary practices and that women and children consumed poultry and eggs. Adjusted analyses suggested that though insecurity had a negative effect on program participation and diet diversity, the EBENE intervention had a protective effect on diet diversity in areas with higher insecurity. The EBENE intervention was found to have protective effects on women’s mobility, group membership and participation in decisions related to poultry production. Conclusions: In the context of increasing insecurity, nutrition and women’s empowerment behavior change promoted through VSLA platforms can be boosted by engaging influential men’s to promote improved practices. Further research is needed to better understand the costs and mechanisms involved.

Year published

2024

Authors

Diop, Loty; Gelli, Aulo; Dione, Malick; Sow, Doulo; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Some, Henri; Ganaba, Rasmané; Tranchant, Jean Pierre; Heckert, Jessica; Becquey, Elodie

Citation

Diop, Loty; Gelli, Aulo; Dione, Malick; Sow, Doulo; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Some, Henri; Ganaba, Rasmané; Tranchant, Jean Pierre; Heckert, Jessica; and Becquey, Elodie. 2024. Involving influential men’s groups to promote maternal and child nutrition practices increased diet diversity and egg consumption despite rising insecurity in the Sahel. Current Developments in Nutrition 8 (Supplement 2): 103240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.103240

Keywords

Sahel; Southern Africa; Social Groups; Men; Maternal and Child Health; Nutrition; Dietary Diversity; Eggs; Behaviour; Women’s Empowerment

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.103240 Source record

Project

Agriculture for Nutrition and Health

Record type

Abstract

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Abstract

Preconception micronutrient supplementation positively affects offspring cognition at 10–11 years of age: A randomized controlled trial in Vietnam

2024Nguyen, Phuong H.; Tran, Lan M.; Khuong, Long Q.; Nguyen, Phuong T.; Nguyen, Bac V.; Be, Thanh H.; Young, Melissa F.; DiGirolamo, Ann M.; Martorell, Reynaldo; Ramakrishnan, Usha
Details

Preconception micronutrient supplementation positively affects offspring cognition at 10–11 years of age: A randomized controlled trial in Vietnam

Objectives: The importance of maternal periconceptional nutrition for offspring health and development has received increased attention recently, yet very few intervention studies have evaluated the long-term effects on offspring growth and cognitive outcomes. We evaluated the impact of preconception weekly multiple micronutrients (MM) or iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation compared to folic acid (FA) alone on offspring body composition and cognitive function during the school-age years and early adolescence.

Year published

2024

Authors

Nguyen, Phuong H.; Tran, Lan M.; Khuong, Long Q.; Nguyen, Phuong T.; Nguyen, Bac V.; Be, Thanh H.; Young, Melissa F.; DiGirolamo, Ann M.; Martorell, Reynaldo; Ramakrishnan, Usha

Citation

Nguyen, Phuong H.; Tran, Lan M.; Khuong, Long Q.; Nguyen, Phuong T.; Nguyen, Bac V.; Be, Thanh H.; et al. 2024. Preconception micronutrient supplementation positively affects offspring cognition at 10–11 years of age: A randomized controlled trial in Vietnam. Current Developments in Nutrition 8 (Supplement 2): 102914. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102914

Country/Region

Vietnam

Keywords

South-eastern Asia; Maternal Nutrition; Trace Elements; Child Health; Folic Acid; Supplements; Child Development

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-3.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102914 Source record

Record type

Abstract

Blogs

Risk of famine remains high in Gaza
IFPRI Blog
 | 
June 28, 2024

Risk of famine remains high in Gaza

By Rob Vos, Sara Gustafson, Sediqa Zaki, and Brendan Rice

After a reprieve, more dangerous conditions are reemerging.

World Food Safety Day 2024: Empowering consumers and small businesses with information
IFPRI Blog
 | 
June 06, 2024

World Food Safety Day 2024: Empowering consumers and small businesses with information

By Vivian Hoffmann

Targeting interventions to benefit public health.

Transforming food systems for sustainable healthy diets: A global imperative
IFPRI Blog
 | 
May 29, 2024

Transforming food systems for sustainable healthy diets: A global imperative

By Purnima Menon and Deanna Olney

The 2024 Global Food Policy Report focuses on the pivotal role of nutrition.

Events

Improving Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Nutrition in Nigeria: Policies and Actions
Series/Special Event

 | 

July 25, 2024, 10:00 – 1:30 pm

Improving Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Nutrition in Nigeria: Policies and Actions

Despite significant progress in addressing hunger and undernutrition in the early 2000s, malnutrition, in all its forms, remains a major challenge in all regions of the world.  Unhealthy diets remain the primary drivers of many forms of malnutrition, including undernutrition, overweight and obesity, micronutrient deficiencies, and diet-related noncommunicable diseases.  Today, the number of people who […]

How does agricultural productivity growth affect agrifood system transformation goals? Exploring trade-offs using IMPACT
IFPRI Program/Country Event

 | 

July 9, 2024, 9:00 – 10:00 am

How does agricultural productivity growth affect agrifood system transformation goals? Exploring trade-offs using IMPACT

Agrifood systems are complex and changing, so it is critical to explore different potential futures to inform decisions today that can put the world on a better path for livelihoods, health, and the environment. In the coming decades, changes in population, income, and diets will put increasing pressure on agrifood systems to meet evolving food […]

Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Nutrition: The MENA launch of IFPRI’s 2024 Global Food Policy Report
Series/Special Event

 | 

July 8, 2024, 9:00 – 11:30 am

Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Nutrition: The MENA launch of IFPRI’s 2024 Global Food Policy Report

Unhealthy diets are a major driver of all forms of malnutrition, including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight and obesity. Despite increasing global efforts to address malnutrition, as many as 3 billion people globally cannot afford healthy diets. The need to transform our food systems to ensure sustainable healthy diets for everyone is more urgent than […]

News

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 […]

November 16, 2023 | Press Release

The IPC expands global partnership to further tackle food insecurity and malnutrition – IFPRI, UNDP, World Bank and WHO

November 16, 2023, Rome — The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative reaches a new milestone today as it expands its global partnership to include four new partners – the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO) – and establishes […]

September 21, 2023 | In the News

How does promoting modern seed varieties impact forest conservation? (VoxDev) 

VoxDev published a research-based commentary by Tanguy Bernard (Professor of Economics, University of Bordeaux; Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI), Sylvie Lambert (Chaired Professor, Paris School of Economics), Karen Macours (Professor, Paris School of Economics), and Margaux Vinez (Senior Economist, World Bank) looking at how promoting modern seed varieties accelerated the deforestation of primary forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  […]

Our experts

Deanna Olney

Deanna Olney

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

James Allen IV

James Allen IV

Associate Research Fellow, Poverty,
Gender, and Inclusion

Erick Boy

Erick Boy

Chief Nutritionist, HarvestPlus, Innovation
Policy and Scaling

Razin Kabir

Razin Kabir

Senior Program Manager, Development
Strategies and Governance

Ester Jimmy

Ester Jimmy

Research Associate, Innovation
Policy and Scaling

Mike Murphy

Mike Murphy

Senior Research Analyst, Markets,
Trade, and Institutions

May Wang

May Wang

Research Assistant, Development
Strategies and Governance

Shweta Yadav

Shweta Yadav

Research Analyst, Development
Strategies and Governance