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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.

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experts

Nutrition, Diets, and Health

Marie Ruel

Senior Research Fellow

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Marie Ruel

Bio

Marie T. Ruel is a Senior Research Fellow in the Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit. She was the Director of IFPRI’s Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division from 2004 to 2023, after serving as Senior Research Fellow and Research Fellow in that division beginning in 1996. She led the Multi-Country Program on Challenges to Urban Food and Nutrition and the Global Regional Project on Diet Quality and Diet Changes of the Poor. She also led the development of the CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH) and was a member of its Program Management Committee, where she led its portfolio of research on integrated programs and policies.

Dr. Ruel has worked for more than 25 years on policies and programs to alleviate poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition in developing countries. She has published extensively in nutrition and epidemiology journals on topics such as maternal and child nutrition, food-based strategies to improve diet quality and micronutrient nutrition, urban livelihoods, food security and nutrition, and the development and validation of simple indicators to measure child feeding, care-giving practices, and food security. Her current research focuses on the evaluation and strengthening of a wide range of integrated, multisectoral development programs in the areas of agriculture, social protection, and health, and on building evidence on their role in reducing maternal and child malnutrition globally.

Prior to IFPRI, Dr. Ruel was head of the Nutrition and Health Division at the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama/Pan American Health Organization (INCAP/PAHO) in Guatemala, where she worked and lived for six years. Dr. Ruel has served on various international expert committees, such as the National Academy of Sciences, the International Zinc in Nutrition Consultative Group, and the Micronutrient Forum. She received her PhD in International Nutrition from Cornell University and her master’s degree in Health Sciences from Laval University in Canada.

Languages spoken: English, French, Spanish

Publications

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Publications

Resource thumbnail

Book Chapter

Diets and nutrition: The potential of a food systems approach

2024Ruel, Marie T.; Brouwer, Inge D.
Details

Diets and nutrition: The potential of a food systems approach

As priorities in nutrition research and practice have evolved over time, food systems have increasingly become the organizing principle for work on nutrition and diets, with “food systems for sustainable healthy diets” emerging as the latest paradigm in nutrition. This chapter summarizes how learning from decades of work on the linkages between agriculture and nutrition paved the way to adopting the new food systems for sustainable healthy diets framework, and reflects on the emerging challenges and opportunities that arise for the nutrition community as we navigate this new global agenda.

Year published

2024

Authors

Ruel, Marie T.; Brouwer, Inge D.

Citation

Ruel, Marie T.; and Brouwer, Inge D. 2024. Diets and nutrition: The potential of a food systems approach. In Global food policy report 2024: Food systems for healthy diets and nutrition. Chapter 2, Pp. 18-24. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/141886

Keywords

Diet; Nutrition; Food Systems; Frameworks; Malnutrition

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Book Chapter

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Journal Article

The cost and cost-effectiveness of an integrated wasting prevention and screening intervention package in Burkina Faso and Mali

2024Brander, Rebecca L.; Puett, Chloe; Becquey, Elodie; Leroy, Jef L.; Ruel, Marie T.; Sessou, Fidele Eric; Huybregts, Lieven
Details

The cost and cost-effectiveness of an integrated wasting prevention and screening intervention package in Burkina Faso and Mali

Background Little is known about costs and cost-effectiveness of interventions that integrate wasting prevention into screening for child wasting. Objective This study’s objective was to estimate the cost and cost-effectiveness of an intervention that integrated behavior change communication (BCC) and small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) into platforms for wasting screening in Burkina Faso (a facility-based platform, where BCC was enhanced compared to standard care) and Mali (a community-based platform, with standard BCC). Methods Activity-based costing was used to estimate the cost per child-contact for the intervention and the comparison group, which did not receive the intervention. Costs were ascertained from accounting records, interviews, surveys, and observations. The number of child-contacts were calculated using population size estimates and average attendance rates for each service. Costs per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted were estimated using a Markov model populated with data from the parent trials on impact on wasting incidence and treatment coverage. Results In the intervention group in Burkina Faso, the cost per child-contact of facility-based screening was $0.85, of enhanced BCC was $4.28, and of SQ-LNS was $8.86. In Mali, the cost per child-contact of community-based screening was $0.57, of standard BCC was $0.72, and of SQ-LNS was $4.14. Although no SQ-LNS costs were incurred in the comparison groups (hence lower total costs), costs per child-contact for screening and BCC were higher because coverage of these services was lower. The intervention package cost $1,073 per DALY averted in Burkina Faso and $747 in Mali. Conclusions Integration of wasting prevention into screening for child wasting led to higher total costs but lower unit costs than standard screening due to increased coverage. Greater cost-effectiveness could be achieved if BCC were strengthened and led to improved caregiver health and nutrition practices and if screening triggered appropriate use of services and higher treatment coverage.

Year published

2024

Authors

Brander, Rebecca L.; Puett, Chloe; Becquey, Elodie; Leroy, Jef L.; Ruel, Marie T.; Sessou, Fidele Eric; Huybregts, Lieven

Citation

Brander, Rebecca L.; Puett, Chloe; Becquey, Elodie; Leroy, Jef L.; Ruel, Marie T.; Sessou, Fidele Eric; and Huybregts, Lieven. The cost and cost-effectiveness of an integrated wasting prevention and screening intervention package in Burkina Faso and Mali. Journal of Nutrition. Article in press. First published online on April 8, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.04.010

Country/Region

Burkina Faso; Mali

Keywords

Southern Africa; Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Malnutrition; Wasting Disease (nutritional Disorder); Economic Value; Cost Analysis; Screening; Supplementary Feeding; Lipids

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.04.010 Source record

Project

Agriculture for Nutrition and Health

Record type

Journal Article

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

Effects of an integrated poultry value chain, nutrition, gender and WASH intervention (SELEVER) on hygiene and child morbidity and anthropometry in Burkina Faso: A secondary outcome analysis of a cluster randomised trial

2023
Gelli, Aulo; Collishaw, Anissa; Awonon, Josue; Becquey, Elodie; Diatta, Elodie; Diop, Loty; Ganaba, Rasmané; Headey, Derek D.; Hien, Alain; Ngure, Francis
…more Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Santacroce, Marco; Toe, Laeticia Celine; Verhoef, Hans; Alderman, Harold; Ruel, Marie T.
Details

Effects of an integrated poultry value chain, nutrition, gender and WASH intervention (SELEVER) on hygiene and child morbidity and anthropometry in Burkina Faso: A secondary outcome analysis of a cluster randomised trial

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture programmes have the potential to improve child nutrition outcomes, but livestock intensification may pose risks related to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions. We assessed the impact of SELEVER, a nutrition- and gender-sensitive poultry intervention, with and without added WASH focus, on hygiene practices, morbidity and anthropometric indices of nutrition in children aged 2−4 years in Burkina Faso. A 3-year cluster randomised controlled trial was implemented in 120 villages in 60 communes (districts) supported by the SELEVER project. Communes were randomly assigned using restricted randomisation to one of three groups: (1) SELEVER intervention (n = 446 households); (2) SELEVER plus WASH intervention (n = 432 households); and (3) control without intervention (n = 899 households). The study population included women aged 15−49 years with an index child aged 2−4 years. We assessed the effects 1.5-years (WASH substudy) and 3-years (endline) post-intervention on child morbidity and child anthropometry secondary trial outcomes using mixed effects regression models. Participation in intervention activities was low in the SELEVER groups, ranging from 25% at 1.5 years and 10% at endline. At endline, households in the SELEVER groups had higher caregiver knowledge of WASH-livestock risks (∆ = 0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.04−0.16]) and were more likely to keep children separated from poultry (∆ = 0.09, 95% CI [0.03−0.15]) than in the control group. No differences were found for other hygiene practices, child morbidity symptoms or anthropometry indicators. Integrating livestock WASH interventions alongside poultry and nutrition interventions can increase knowledge of livestock-related risks and improve livestock-hygiene-related practices, yet may not be sufficient to improve the morbidity and nutritional status of young children.

Year published

2023

Authors

Gelli, Aulo; Collishaw, Anissa; Awonon, Josue; Becquey, Elodie; Diatta, Elodie; Diop, Loty; Ganaba, Rasmané; Headey, Derek D.; Hien, Alain; Ngure, Francis; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Santacroce, Marco; Toe, Laeticia Celine; Verhoef, Hans; Alderman, Harold; Ruel, Marie T.

Citation

Gelli, Aulo; Collishaw, Anissa; Awonon, Josue; Becquey, Elodie; Diatta, Elodie; Diop, Loty; Ganaba, Rasmane; Headey, Derek; Hien, Alain; Ngure, Francis; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Santacroce, Marco; Toe, Laeticia C.; Verhoef, Hans; Alderman, Harold; and Ruel, Marie T. 2023. Effects of an integrated poultry value chain, nutrition, gender and WASH intervention (SELEVER) on hygiene and child morbidity and anthropometry in Burkina Faso: A secondary outcome analysis of a cluster randomised trial. Maternal & Child Nutrition 19(4): e13528. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13528

Country/Region

Burkina Faso

Keywords

Western Africa; Agriculture; Gender; Hygiene; Morbidity; Nutrition; Poultry; Preschool Children; Value Chains; Water

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13528 Source record

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Blogs

Rising food prices are putting children in harm’s way
IFPRI Blog
 | 
February 29, 2024

Rising food prices are putting children in harm’s way

By Derek Headey and Marie Ruel

New evidence quantifies significant negative health effects.

Unlocking opportunities for planet-friendly school meals
IFPRI Blog
 | 
December 08, 2023

Unlocking opportunities for planet-friendly school meals

By Aulo Gelli and Marie Ruel

Balancing nutrition and climate.

The global food price crisis threatens to cause a global nutrition crisis: New evidence from 1.27 million young children on the effects of inflation
IFPRI Blog
 | 
December 14, 2022

The global food price crisis threatens to cause a global nutrition crisis: New evidence from 1.27 million young children on the effects of inflation

By Derek Headey and Marie Ruel

Research links high food prices to wasting and stunting.

Events

2024 Global Food Policy Report: Improving Diets and Nutrition through Food Systems: What Will it Take?
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

May 29, 2024, 9:30 – 11:00 am

2024 Global Food Policy Report: Improving Diets and Nutrition through Food Systems: What Will it Take?

Hybrid Event: May 29, 2024 at 9:30am-11:00am EDT. IFPRI’s 2024 Global Food Policy Report on Food Systems for Healthy Diets, presents evidence-based policy and governance solutions to strengthen diet quality and nutrition in low- and middle-income countries, and examines priorities for future research on food systems for better nutrition.

My Reflections on Africa’s Year of Nutrition
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

December 12, 2022, 10:00 – 11:30 am

My Reflections on Africa’s Year of Nutrition

Virtual Event: December 12, 2022 – 10:00 AM- 11:30 AM EST. IFPRI is delighted to announce the 32nd Annual Martin J. Forman Memorial Lecture, which will be delivered by Her Excellency Minata Samaté Cessouma, the African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development.

Nudging for Good: AI driven diagnostics and behavior change to improve diets and nutrition
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

July 28, 2022, 12:00 – 2:00 pm

Nudging for Good: AI driven diagnostics and behavior change to improve diets and nutrition

Virtual Event: July 28, 2022 – 12:00 PM to 02:00 PM EDT. This seminar will launch the FRANI app and discuss the results of new dietary assessment technologies and perspectives on the way forward for technology-assisted diet assessment.

News

September 20, 2023 | Press Release

New study reveals alarming impact of food inflation on child undernutrition in low and middle-income countries

September 20, 2023, Washington, DC: A new study published in Nature Communications sheds light on the critical relationship between food inflation and child undernutrition in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The study, conducted by Derek Headey and Marie Ruel of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), explores the impact of food price volatility on […]

January 03, 2023 | In the News

Food price spike may fuel nutrition crisis (The Nation) 

Growing food crises with spiking prices will have an impact on poor and food insecure populations writes the Nation (Nigeria), quoting a recent analysis by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) which notes that food inflation poses larger wasting risks for children of poor and landless rural households, exacerbating existing inequalities.  According to IFPRI, food prices […]

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 […]