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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.

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researcher spotlight

Samuel Benin

Samuel Benin is the Acting Director for Africa in the Development Strategies and Governance Unit. He conducts research on national strategies and public investment for accelerating food systems transformation in Africa and provides analytical support to the African Union’s CAADP Biennial Review.

Where we work

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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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experts

Nutrition, Diets, and Health

Jef Leroy

Senior Research Fellow

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Bio

Jef Leroy is a Senior Research Fellow in IFPRI’s Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit. He studies the impact of nutrition-sensitive agriculture and social protection programs on maternal and child nutrition. His evaluation studies use experimental designs combined with process evaluations and costing studies. Jef currently works on the evaluation of a social protection program in Bangladesh designed to improve birth outcomes and on the evaluation of a training and certification program aimed at improving the quality of milk sold by informal vendors in Nairobi. In addition, he studies the role of food environments in adolescent nutrition in urban areas in Ghana, Viet Nam, and Ethiopia. He also conducts research on the use of child linear growth in development. Jef recently completed the evaluation of two large-scale food-assisted maternal and child health and nutrition programs in Burundi and Guatemala. He has also conducted research on the impact of aflatoxin on child linear growth in Kenya and Mexico.

Before joining IFPRI, Jef was a research associate at the Center for Evaluation Research and Surveys at Mexico’s National Institute of Public Health, where he worked on the evaluation of the urban and rural Oportunidades programs and of the Programa de Apoyo Alimentario (a cash and in-kind transfer program).

Jef Leroy, a Belgian citizen, has a PhD in International Nutrition from Cornell University, USA, and an MSc in Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences from Ghent University, Belgium.

Languages spoken: Dutch, English, French, Spanish, Afrikaans

Publications

Google Scholar Profile

Google Scholar Citations

CV

Publications

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Journal Article

Food systems interventions for nutrition: Lessons from six program evaluations in Africa and South Asia

2024
Neufeld, Lynnette M.; Nordhagen, Stella; Leroy, Jef L.; Aberman, Noora-Lisa; Barnett, Inka; Wouabe, Eric Djimeu; Girard, Amy Webb; Gonzalez, Wendy; Levin, Carol E.; Mbuya, Mduduzi N. N.
…more Nakasone, Eduardo; Dhillon, Christina Nyhus; Prescott, Dave; Smith, Matt; Tschirley, David
Details

Food systems interventions for nutrition: Lessons from six program evaluations in Africa and South Asia

While there is growing global momentum behind food systems strategies to improve planetary and human health—including nutrition—there is limited evidence of what types of food systems interventions work. Evaluating these types of interventions is challenging due to their complex and dynamic nature and lack of fit with standard evaluation methods. In this paper, we draw on a portfolio of six evaluations of food systems interventions in Africa and South Asia that were intended to improve nutrition. We identify key methodological challenges and formulate recommendations to improve the quality of such studies. We highlight five challenges: a lack of evidence base to justify the intervention; the dynamic and multifaceted nature of the interventions; addressing attribution; collecting or accessing accurate and timely data; and defining and measuring appropriate outcomes. In addition to more specific guidance, we identify six cross-cutting recommendations, including a need to use multiple and diverse methods and flexible designs. We also note that these evaluation challenges present opportunities to develop new methods and highlight several specific needs in this space.

Year published

2024

Authors

Neufeld, Lynnette M.; Nordhagen, Stella; Leroy, Jef L.; Aberman, Noora-Lisa; Barnett, Inka; Wouabe, Eric Djimeu; Girard, Amy Webb; Gonzalez, Wendy; Levin, Carol E.; Mbuya, Mduduzi N. N.; Nakasone, Eduardo; Dhillon, Christina Nyhus; Prescott, Dave; Smith, Matt; Tschirley, David

Citation

Neufeld, Lynnette M.; Nordhagen, Stella; Leroy, Jef L.; Aberman, Noora-Lisa; Barnett, Inka; Wouabe, Eric Djimeu; et al. 2024. Food systems interventions for nutrition: Lessons from six program evaluations in Africa and South Asia. Journal of Nutrition 154(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.04.005

Keywords

Africa; South Asia; Theory of Change; Methods; Food Systems; Nutrition; Evaluation; Health

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.04.005 Source record

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

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Book Chapter

Food environments: Improving their healthfulness

2024Fretes, Gabriela; Marshall, Quinn; Leroy, Jef L.
Details

Food environments: Improving their healthfulness

The food environment is the setting in which people choose what to eat, where they buy those foods, and where, when, and how they eat. This chapter examines some of the key challenges and opportunities for food environments amid the rapid transitions occurring in low- and middle-income countries. It presents examples of evidence-based food environment policies and actions that are being implemented to promote diet quality in a diverse range of countries. The conclusions reflect on potential policies for improving diets through changes in food environments, and discuss actions needed to move forward in strengthening the healthfulness of food environments.

Year published

2024

Authors

Fretes, Gabriela; Marshall, Quinn; Leroy, Jef L.

Citation

Fretes, Gabriela; Marshall, Quinn; and Leroy, Jef L. 2024. Food environments: Improving their healthfulness. In Global food policy report 2024: Food systems for healthy diets and nutrition. Chapter 5, Pp. 46-52. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/141887

Keywords

Food Environment; Healthy Diets; Ultraprocessed Foods; Developing Countries; Food Safety; Digital Technology; Food Policies

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Book Chapter

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Book Chapter

Animal-source foods: Their role in sustainable healthy diets

2024Leroy, Jef L.; Alonso, Silvia
Details

Animal-source foods: Their role in sustainable healthy diets

As part of the rapid evolution of diets in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), consumption of animal-source foods (ASFs) has increased sharply in recent decades. This chapter examines ASFs as part of a sustainable healthy diet by exploring the beneficial role of ASFs in providing essential micronutrients in some age cohorts and populations in LMICs, the potential negative health impacts, and the environmental impacts associated with livestock production. It concludes with recommendations for ASF consumption, including policies and interventions for reducing excess consumption and promoting consumption where ASFs could play a larger role in sustainable healthy diets.

Year published

2024

Authors

Leroy, Jef L.; Alonso, Silvia

Citation

Leroy, Jef L.; and Alonso, Silvia. 2024. Animal-source foods: Their role in sustainable healthy diets. In Global food policy report 2024: Food systems for healthy diets and nutrition. Chapter 7, Pp. 62-70. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/141890

Keywords

Animal Source Foods; Healthy Diets; Animal Protein; Foodborne Diseases; Food Safety; Livestock

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Book Chapter

Blogs

Estimating the burden of child acute malnutrition accurately
IFPRI Blog
 | 
December 03, 2020

Estimating the burden of child acute malnutrition accurately

By Francisco Barba, Lieven Huybregts, and Jef Leroy

Current global numbers are likely undercounts.

Incorporating prevention into community-based management of acute malnutrition: Insights from Mali and Burkina Faso
IFPRI Blog
 | 
October 04, 2019

Incorporating prevention into community-based management of acute malnutrition: Insights from Mali and Burkina Faso

By Lieven Huybregts, Elodie Becquey, Jef Leroy, and Marie Ruel

Studies show mixed results for a program that coupled acute malnutrition screenings with dietary supplements.

Ending undernutrition requires a different focus on stunting
IFPRI Blog
 | 
April 29, 2019

Ending undernutrition requires a different focus on stunting

By Jef Leroy

The widespread focus on stunting has generated unprecedented interest in and support for nutrition goals, but misunderstandings about when it is the right outcome to address may be creating too narrow a focus that harms the global nutrition agenda.

Events

NUTRITION 2024: Where the best in science & health meet
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

June 29 to July 2, 2024

NUTRITION 2024: Where the best in science & health meet

IFPRI is pleased to participate in the NUTRITION 2024 conference. The conference program will feature scientific symposia and educational sessions, unpublished oral research study presentations, poster sessions and flash talks. As well as award lectures delivered by distinguished leaders, professional and career development opportunities, and events with ASN’s vibrant scientific communities known as Groups Engaging […]

2024 Global Food Policy Report LAC: Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Nutrition
Series/Special Event

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June 27, 2024, 3:00 – 4:30 pm

2024 Global Food Policy Report LAC: Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Nutrition

Unhealthy diets are a major driver of all forms of malnutrition, including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight and obesity. At the same time, our food systems contribute about a third of greenhouse gas emissions and degrade natural resources. The 2024 Global Food Policy Report examines policies, innovations, and governance solutions to strengthen diet quality and […]

Can Sustainable Livestock Systems and Alternative Proteins Address the Climate Crisis?
Series/Special Event

 | 

November 7, 2023, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Can Sustainable Livestock Systems and Alternative Proteins Address the Climate Crisis?

Virtual Event: November 7, 2023 – 9:30 AM- 11:00 AM EDT. This CGIAR seminar will delve into the report’s findings and recommendations around livestock and alternative proteins, and identify promising initiatives and technologies that can be pursued in order to advance on three priorities outlined in the Agricultural Breakthrough report.

News

December 10, 2020 | In the News

Covid-19 and the irreversible marks undernutrition will leave in its wake (Poshan Outlook)

Poshan Outlook (India) published an op-ed by Poverty, Heath, and Nutrition Division Director Marie Ruel and Senior Research Fellow, Jef Leroy that stated one of the key objectives of India’s Covid-19 mitigation efforts is to prevent child undernutrition now rather than to treat it later, without compromising on maternal, child health and nutrition services. What started as a health crisis has developed into a […]

September 09, 2019 | In the News

Guatemalans grew an inch in half a century (Prensa Libre)

Guatemala’s Prensa Libre reported on the recent finding that Guatemalan women’s average height has increased an average of one centimeter over the past fifty years, making them the shortest female population in the world. The article explained the connections between stature and other indicators of health and quality of life and quoted Senior Research Fellow […]