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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

Elodie Becquey

Elodie Becquey is a Senior Research Fellow in the Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit, based in IFPRI’s West and Central Africa office in Senegal. She has over 15 years of research experience in diet, nutrition, and food security in Africa, including countries such as Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, and Tanzania.

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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

Nutrition

Good nutrition is key to human well-being. Far too many people around the world are affected by malnutrition ranging from undernutrition to problems of overweight, obesity, and diet-related noncommunicable diseases. Improving nutrition requires contributions not only from the health sector but also from sectors as diverse as agriculture, social protection, gender, and education, which together can address the underlying causes of malnutrition.

IFPRI’s nutrition research aims to generate rigorous evidence on what works—and what does not—to prevent malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries. IFPRI’s nutrition research expertise covers nutrition and dietary assessment; infant and young child nutrition; adolescent nutrition; maternal nutrition; and school-based and other multisectoral nutrition programs.

IFPRI is proud of the strong relationships it has built with program implementers, national health and nutrition institutions, policymakers, and other academics, which help us deliver high-quality research and evidence-based advice. Recognizing the multisectoral nature of malnutrition, IFPRI’s nutrition research aligns closely with work on food systems, health, social protection, education and child development, and gender.

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IFPRI’s research on this topic is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG2, SDG3, SDG4, and SDG6, and the CGIAR Impact Areas on Nutrition, Health, and Food Security; Poverty Reduction, Livelihoods and Jobs, and Gender Equality, Youth, and Social Inclusion.

ATS02371NGR Fatima Abdou, in orange, who was trained by Oxfam to work in villages to survey malnutrition levels, give hygiene training sessions, and perform culinary demonstrations, helps a mother feed her baby.

topics

Publications

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Journal Article

Understanding spatial heterogeneity of hidden hunger in Senegal

2025Marivoet, Wim; Ulimwengu, John M.; Sall, Leysa Maty; Fall, Cheickh Sadibou
Details

Understanding spatial heterogeneity of hidden hunger in Senegal

Using household consumption data collected in 2017/18, this paper analyzes patterns of urban and rural food consumption in Senegal. We adopt two methodological approaches: an in-depth (spatial) profiling of current diets and corresponding nutrient intakes and an application of the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS). Our findings indicate that Senegal is a typical case of micronutrient deficiency, especially regarding calcium, iron, and vitamin B12. Due to their higher income status and better food access, urban dwellers on average have a more diversified diet with higher nutrient intakes compared to their rural counterparts, especially regarding calcium, vitamin B12, and vitamin A. While the country’s food system in general is unable to assure a nutritious diet for all, the most remote rural departments in Senegal, such as Saraya and Podor, display the highest nutrient deficiencies and therefore should be targeted with priority. Apart from geographical targeting and given their higher responsiveness to price and income changes, policies based on food pricing and income transfers should be implemented to ensure a minimal nutrient intake among the most food-insecure households. These policies could be further complemented with behavioral change campaigns to promote an alternative set of nutrient-rich and cost-effective food items.

Year published

2025

Authors

Marivoet, Wim; Ulimwengu, John M.; Sall, Leysa Maty; Fall, Cheickh Sadibou

Citation

Marivoet, Wim; Ulimwengu, John M.; Sall, Leysa Maty; and Fall, Cheickh Sadibou. 2025. Understanding spatial heterogeneity of hidden hunger in Senegal. Cogent Food & Agriculture 11(1): 2533375. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2025.2533375

Country/Region

Senegal

Keywords

Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Africa; Household Consumption; Food Consumption; Diet; Nutrition; Micronutrient Deficiencies; Food Systems; Elasticity of Demand; Nutrient Deficiencies

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2025.2533375 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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Brief

Mozambique: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development

2025Aragie, Emerta A.; Benfica, Rui; Thurlow, James; Xu, Valencia Wenqian; Jones, Eleanor
Details

Mozambique: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development

In this policy brief, we present findings of a systematic evaluation and ranking of investment options for Mozambique’s agrifood system based on their cost-effectiveness in achieving multiple development outcomes, including agrifood gross domestic product (GDP) growth, agrifood job creation, poverty reduction, declining undernourishment, and lowering diet deprivation. Additionally, the study assesses their environmental footprint, focusing on water consumption, land use, and emissions. In Mozambique, investments in small and medium enterprise (SME) processors and traders are identified as the most cost-effective means of enhancing social outcomes, such as poverty reduction and addressing undernourishment. They are also highly ranked in accelerating agrifood GDP and employment. Moreover, extension services for livestock and agronomy, rural road infrastructure, and post-harvest losses reduction are also highly ranked. However, many of these cost-effective investments come with relatively high environmental footprints, which highlight potential tradeoffs. The study further reveals shifts in the cost-effectiveness ranking of investment options over time and marginally so in the presence of extreme production shocks.

Year published

2025

Authors

Aragie, Emerta A.; Benfica, Rui; Thurlow, James; Xu, Valencia Wenqian; Jones, Eleanor

Citation

Aragie, Emerta A.; Benfica, Rui; Thurlow, James; Xu, Valencia Wenqian; and Jones, Eleanor. 2025. Mozambique: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development. Agrifood Investment Prioritization Country Series Brief 8. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178505

Country/Region

Mozambique

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Agricultural Sector; Sustainable Development; Poverty; Nutrition; Environmental Impact; Investment

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

Whole maize flour could enhance food and nutrition security in Malawi

2025Ngoma, Theresa Nakoma; Taleon, Victor; Mvumi, Brighton M.; Gama, Aggrey P.; Palacios-Rojas, Natalia; Matumba, Limbikani
Details

Whole maize flour could enhance food and nutrition security in Malawi

Maize is the staple cereal in Malawi, with a daily per capita consumption of 383 g (dry matter basis), primarily consumed in the form of nsima, a thick porridge. We combined a milling experiment with focus group discussions (FGDs) to provide insights into mass and nutrient losses during maize grain dehulling and maize flour consumption patterns in rural Malawi. Milling batches (30 kg) of four maize grain varieties were dehulled at three abrasive disk dehullers under controlled conditions. The impact of maize variety and dehuller design on mass and nutrient losses during dehulling was statistically significant (p < 0.05), with a mean mass loss of 28.1 ± 5.7%, and nutrient losses of 9.8 ± 1.9% for protein, 61.7 ± 2.0% for zinc, and 47.7 ± 3.6% for iron. Six FGDs conducted in rural areas of Lilongwe District revealed a preference for refined flour due to convenience and cultural norms, despite the nutritional benefits of whole grain flour, which was recognized for its ability to provide satiety, particularly during periods of maize scarcity. Participants also highlighted switching between flour types based on seasonal maize availability, social stigma associated with whole grain flour, and awareness of nutrient losses during dehulling. Given Malawi’s precarious food insecurity situation, transitioning from dehulled maize flour nsima to whole maize flour or less refined nsima, is imperative. Our study findings can have food and nutritional savings for other southern Africa countries where the dehulling is a common practice.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ngoma, Theresa Nakoma; Taleon, Victor; Mvumi, Brighton M.; Gama, Aggrey P.; Palacios-Rojas, Natalia; Matumba, Limbikani

Citation

Ngoma, Theresa Nakoma; Taleon, Victor; Mvumi, Brighton M.; Gama, Aggrey P.; Palacios-Rojas, Natalia; and Matumba, Limbikani. 2025. Whole maize flour could enhance food and nutrition security in Malawi. Discover Food 5(1): 40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00311-y

Country/Region

Malawi

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Southern Africa; Maize; Maize Flour; Nutrition; Food Security; Milling; Food Losses

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00311-y Source record

Record type

Journal Article

Blogs

Growth monitoring and promotion as an opportunity to improve early childhood development
IFPRI Blog
 | 
November 13, 2025

Growth monitoring and promotion as an opportunity to improve early childhood development

By Leila M. Larson, Edward A. Frongillo, Rebecca Brander, Marie Ruel, and Jef L. Leroy

Leveraging a widespread practice.

Exploring the promise of regenerative agriculture for school meal programs
IFPRI Blog
 | 
November 05, 2025

Exploring the promise of regenerative agriculture for school meal programs

By Kristin Davis, Upeksha Hettiarachchi, Ryan Nehring, Wei Zhang, Claudia Ringler, and Aulo Gelli

Linking sustainable farming practices to childhood nutrition.

Screening for early childhood obesity: What can we learn from growth monitoring data?
IFPRI Blog
 | 
October 22, 2025

Screening for early childhood obesity: What can we learn from growth monitoring data?

By Morgan Boncyk, Jef L. Leroy, Rebecca Brander, Leila M. Larson, Marie Ruel, and Edward A. Frongillo

Focusing on risks for children under 5.

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Events

Increasing effectiveness of school meals in humanitarian settings: Situation & Context Analysis
IFPRI Program/Country Event

 | 

January 14, 2026, 10:00 – 11:00 am

Increasing effectiveness of school meals in humanitarian settings: Situation & Context Analysis

In 2024, more than 473 million children — nearly one in six worldwide — lived in areas affected by conflict, exposing them to heightened risks of disrupted education, malnutrition, and loss of essential services. According to data from the Global Survey of School Meal Programs , 17% of programs globally were impacted by conflict in […]

Shaping Food Policy in a Changing World: Research Priorities for Greater Impact
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

December 15, 2025, 9:00 – 4:00 pm

Shaping Food Policy in a Changing World: Research Priorities for Greater Impact

Also streaming on 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. In today’s fast-changing world and evolving food systems, the need for evidence-based food policy has never been more urgent – demanding research that […]

The Economy-wide Impacts of School Meal Programs in Ghana and Malawi
IFPRI Program/Country Event

 | 

December 10, 2025, 10:00 – 11:00 am

The Economy-wide Impacts of School Meal Programs in Ghana and Malawi

This webinar will explore the latest global evidence on how school feeding programs drive broad-based returns: boosting education, enhancing health outcomes, supporting local agriculture, and strengthening national development as a follow-up to episode 1 of this series. The session will showcase research from Malawi and Ghana, evaluating the economy-wide impacts of both nation’s national school […]

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News

November 05, 2025 | Press Release

New study examines affordability and nutritional implications of the 2025 EAT–Lancet Commission diet

The study, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, used IFPRI’s IMPACT model to assess how adopting the EAT-Lancet diet could affect calorie availability, share of income spent on food, nutrient availability, and food prices.

July 31, 2025 | Press Release

New study finds behavior change communication and nutrition supplements can help prevent relapse from child wasting

The study, published in The Journal of Nutrition, used longitudinal data from two cluster-randomized trials in Burkina Faso and Mali, the PROMIS project.

February 20, 2025 | Press Release

New study challenges the use of Growth Monitoring and Promotion to detect growth faltering in children

A new study published in Advances in Nutrition critically examines the effectiveness of Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) in diagnosing or screening for inadequate growth in children.

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Our experts

Daniel Gilligan

Daniel Gilligan

Director, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI), Poverty,
Gender, and Inclusion

Deanna Olney

Deanna Olney

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

Sunny Kim

Sunny Kim

Senior Research Fellow, Nutrition,
Diets, and Health

Razin Kabir

Razin Kabir

Senior Program Manager, Poverty,
Gender, and Inclusion