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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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Kinya Kaibung’a

Kinya Kaibung’a is a Research Officer with the Development Strategies and Governance Unit, based in Nairobi, Kenya. She has a keen interest in leveraging machine learning, AI, and other cutting-edge technologies to boost climate resilience and food security in smart agriculture systems.

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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.

… read more

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

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

Associations between exposure to nutrition, WASH interventions and children’s academic performance in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2026Adugna, Yimer Mihretie; Ayelign, Abebe; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu
Details

Associations between exposure to nutrition, WASH interventions and children’s academic performance in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Poor nutrition and inadequate WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) practices significantly impact children’s health, nutrition, and cognitive development, especially in low-income settings. These factors further aggravate the incidence of undernutrition, weaken the immune system, increase susceptibility to illnesses and reduce cognitive performance. Evidence on the effectiveness of existing WASH interventions is needed. Objective This review evaluated the effectiveness of nutritional and WASH interventions on the academic performance of children in Ethiopia. Methods A systematic search of Cochrane, DOAJ, Google Scholar, and PubMed (2010–2024) was conducted using MeSH terms and keywords related to WASH. Two independent reviewers screened studies and extracted data. Eligible studies included cross-sectional and cohort studies on Ethiopian schoolchildren with quantifiable academic outcomes. The JBI SUMARI was used to assess bias, and the GRADE approach was used to evaluate evidence quality. The meta-analysis used a random-effects model in Stata and reported pooled RRs with 95% CIs. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses examined moderators such as study design, intervention type, and sample size. Results A total of 19 studies, 16 cross-sectional (n= 16) and three prospective (n= 3) cohort studies with a total of 9034 participants, were included. The random effects model revealed a significant improvement in academic performance among students receiving both nutrition and WASH, with a pooled large positive effect size of 2.05 (95% CI: 1.26, 2.28; I2=). In the subgroup meta-analysis, the effect of the intervention was more positive among those who skipped breakfast (3.47, 95% CI: 0.47, 6.47), chronic iodine deficiency (4.49, 95% CI: 4.08, 4.90), food insecurity (2.810, 95% CI: 1.281, 4.339), and underweight (0.61, 95% CI: 0.46, 0.75). Conclusion Despite moderate variability and some risk of bias, the evidence supports the integration of comprehensive nutrition and WASH programs into school health initiatives. Future research should focus on long-term effects and cost-effectiveness.

Year published

2026

Authors

Adugna, Yimer Mihretie; Ayelign, Abebe; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu

Citation

Adugna, Yimer Mihretie; Ayelign, Abebe; and Zerfu, Taddese Alemu. 2026. Associations between exposure to nutrition, WASH interventions and children’s academic performance in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health26(1): 798. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-26107-4

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Capacity Building; Hygiene; Nutrition; Children; Schoolchildren

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-26107-4 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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Journal Article

Diets, fruit and vegetable intake, and nutritional status in Benin, Fiji, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania: Foreword

2026Olney, Deanna K.; Hambayi, Mutinta; Perera, Thushanthi; Hess, Sonja Y.
Details

Diets, fruit and vegetable intake, and nutritional status in Benin, Fiji, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania: Foreword

Improving diets can improve nutrition and health outcomes. In this supplement, evidence from five low-and-middle-income countries on the country specific dietary (including F&V) intake patterns, nutrition issues and evaluated solutions to improve diets across population groups is presented. Based on this evidence, the final paper offers perspectives and future priorities.

Year published

2026

Authors

Olney, Deanna K.; Hambayi, Mutinta; Perera, Thushanthi; Hess, Sonja Y.

Citation

Olney, Deanna K.; Hambayi, Mutinta; Perera, Thushanthi; and Hess, Sonja Y. 2026. Diets, fruit and vegetable intake, and nutritional status in Benin, Fiji, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania: Foreword. Maternal and Child Nutrition 22(3): e70163. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.70163

Country/Region

Benin; Fiji; Philippines; Sri Lanka

Keywords

Africa; Asia; Diet; Fruits; Vegetables; Food Intake; Nutritional Status; Nutrition; Developing Countries

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.70163 Source record

Project

Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

Urbanicity and the diets and nutritional status of adolescents and their mothers in Vietnam

2026
Nguyen, Phuong Hong; Maasen, Kim; Talsma, Elise F.; Zagré, Rock Romaric; Gune, Soyra; Tran, Lan Mai; Truong, Mai Tuyet; Hoang, Nga Thu; Vuong, Ngoc Ho Thi; Fretes, Gabriela
…more Brouwer, Inge D.; Ruel, Marie T.; Leroy, Jef L.
Details

Urbanicity and the diets and nutritional status of adolescents and their mothers in Vietnam

Background Urbanization catalyzes significant shifts in diets worldwide, yet its impact on adolescent diets and nutrition is poorly understood. Objectives We examined the association between urbanicity and diets and nutritional status among Vietnamese adolescents and their mothers. Methods We assessed diets using a multipass 24-h recall (15% repeated) and collected anthropometric data from 2861 adolescents and their mothers (n = 2664) in rural, peri-urban and urban areas. We calculated the Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS: total 0–49; healthy: 0–32; unhealthy: 0–17) and risk categories. We estimated usual intakes (National Cancer Institute’s method) and the mean probability of adequacy (MPA) for 11 micronutrients. We compared outcomes across areas using regression models adjusted for school-level clustering. Results GDQS healthy was higher in the urban area (adolescents 7.5, mothers 9.5) than in the rural area (6.6 and 7.7). GDQS unhealthy was comparable across areas (∼11 in adolescents and mothers). Adolescent and maternal diets in the rural area were most likely to fall in the GDQS high-risk category for nutrient inadequacy and non-communicable diseases(23% and 11%). MPA was low across all areas for both adolescents and mothers (≤40%). The prevalence of overweight/obesity was highest in urban areas among adolescents (29%) and similar across areas among mothers (15%–19%). Conclusions Urbanicity was positively associated with healthier diets due to greater healthy food consumption, but also with higher risks of adolescent overweight/obesity. Differences by study area, however, were small and diet healthiness was low across all settings. Innovative school and food environment interventions and policies are needed to promote greater consumption of healthy foods and limit unhealthy food intake among Vietnamese adolescents and their mothers, and to prevent and control rising overweight/obesity.

Year published

2026

Authors

Nguyen, Phuong Hong; Maasen, Kim; Talsma, Elise F.; Zagré, Rock Romaric; Gune, Soyra; Tran, Lan Mai; Truong, Mai Tuyet; Hoang, Nga Thu; Vuong, Ngoc Ho Thi; Fretes, Gabriela; Brouwer, Inge D.; Ruel, Marie T.; Leroy, Jef L.

Citation

Nguyen, Phuong Hong; Maasen, Kim; Talsma, Elise F.; Zagré, Rock Romaric; Gune, Soyra; et al. 2026. Urbanicity and the diets and nutritional status of adolescents and their mothers in Vietnam. Journal of Nutrition 156(7): 101624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101624

Country/Region

Vietnam

Keywords

Asia; South-eastern Asia; Urbanism; Diet; Healthy Diets; Nutritional Status; Adolescents; Nutrient Intake; Trace Elements; Rural Areas

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101624 Source record

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Blogs

When climate shocks reduce harvests, children pay the price: Evidence from Nigeria
Research Post
 | 
June 05, 2026

When climate shocks reduce harvests, children pay the price: Evidence from Nigeria

By Mulubrhan Amare and Bedru Balana

The pathway from climate change to child nutrition and health.

School meals and school-based actions for people and the planet: Nourishing bodies, minds, and futures
Research Post
 | 
May 01, 2026

School meals and school-based actions for people and the planet: Nourishing bodies, minds, and futures

By Tamsin Zandstra, Aulo Gelli, Daniel Gilligan, and Eleanor Jones

Impacts on education and beyond.

How school meals are transforming education in Zamfara State, Nigeria
Research Post
 | 
March 27, 2026

How school meals are transforming education in Zamfara State, Nigeria

By Oliver Kiptoo Kirui, Chibuzo Nwagboso, Asabe Maidawa, and Aisha Ololade

Scaling up a promising program.

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Events

IFPRI @ NUTRITION 2026 – American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting
IFPRI at External Event

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July 25 to 28, 2026

IFPRI @ NUTRITION 2026 – American Society for Nutrition Annual Meeting

Poor diets are a leading driver of chronic disease and premature death worldwide, contributing to obesity, diabetes, and other conditions that strain health systems and economies. Rigorous nutrition science is critical to understanding these challenges and informing the policies and interventions needed to achieve healthier diets. NUTRITION 2026, the American Society for Nutrition’s annual meeting, […]

Inequality within and outside the household: Reflections from Agnes Quisumbing's career
IFPRI Policy Seminar

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June 24, 2026, 10:00 – 11:30 am

Inequality within and outside the household: Reflections from Agnes Quisumbing’s career

Throughout a career spanning more than four decades, Agnes Quisumbing has made major contributions to research on intrahousehold allocation, poverty and economic mobility, women’s empowerment, and the design and implementation of gender-sensitive agricultural programs. Stemming from her long-standing interest in inequality, Agnes’s work on gender, property rights, and women’s empowerment examines how inequality within the […]

Food Systems Futures: Launch of IFPRI and CAAS Flagship Reports
Series/Special Event

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June 10, 2026, 9:00 – 11:00 am

Food Systems Futures: Launch of IFPRI and CAAS Flagship Reports

The contemporary global economic environment is characterized by heightened complexity and volatility, presenting significant challenges to the sustainable evolution of food systems worldwide.  The International Food Policy Research Institute’s (IFPRI) report, What Do We Know About the Future of Food Systems?, adopts a comprehensive, globally oriented analytical framework to examine viable pathways for transforming food […]

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News

June 04, 2026 | In the News

Zamfara transforming education through school meals — IFPRI, WFP (Vanguard News, The Punch)

Vanguard News and The Punch (Nigeria) highlight findings from a recent IFPRI and World Food Programme (WFP) assessment of Zamfara State’s school feeding program, launched in 2025 to address persistent education challenges linked to poverty, insecurity, and weak infrastructure. The articles quote a recent IFPRI piece by Oliver Kiptoo Kirui, Chibuzo Nwagboso, Asabe Maidawa, and […]

May 18, 2026 | In the News

“Hidden hunger”: Climate crisis reduces nutrients in food and widens global inequalities (O Globo)

Brazil’s O Globo interviewed IFPRI’s Timothy Sulser for the article examining how rising atmospheric CO₂ levels are reducing the nutritional quality of staple crops.

April 22, 2026 | In the News

Earth Day 2026: Agroecology and micronutrient supplements power food sovereignty (Nutrition Insight)

The article features recent IFPRI research on combining agriculture programs with micronutrient supplementation, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and behavior change interventions.

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Projects

School Meals and School-based Actions for People and the Planet

School Meals and School-based Actions for People and the Planet

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True Value of Food

True Value of Food

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UFED: Urban Food Environments and Diets online tool

UFED: Urban Food Environments and Diets online tool

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BRIGHT Sri Lanka

BRIGHT Sri Lanka

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Our experts

Daniel Gilligan

Daniel Gilligan

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

Purnima Menon

Purnima Menon

Director of Strategy and Partnerships, Strategy
and Partnership

Deanna Olney

Deanna Olney

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

Carlo Azzarri

Carlo Azzarri

Senior Research Fellow, Agrifood
Innovation and Resilience

Francisco Ceballos

Francisco Ceballos

Research Fellow, Markets,
Trade, and Institutions, Latin America and the Caribbean

Neha Kumar

Neha Kumar

Senior Research Fellow, Nutrition,
Diets, and Health

Razin Kabir

Razin Kabir

Senior Program Manager, Poverty,
Gender, and Inclusion