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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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Providing Research-Based Policy Solutions that Sustainably

Reduce Poverty and End Hunger and Malnutrition

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What’s New

Global Food Policy Report 2024 Latin America and the Caribbean launch: Promoting sustainable healthy diets to address diverse nutrition challenges
IFPRI Blog
 | 
August 12, 2024

Global Food Policy Report 2024 Latin America and the Caribbean launch: Promoting sustainable healthy diets to address diverse nutrition challenges

By Brian McNamara

Creative policy solutions to difficult problems.

Higher wheat prices push Egypt to increase price of subsidized bread for first time since 1989
IFPRI Blog
 | 
August 07, 2024

Higher wheat prices push Egypt to increase price of subsidized bread for first time since 1989

By Nina Jovanovic and Joseph Glauber

Navigating an economic crisis.

Training Ugandan coffee farmers on agronomy practices more than pays for itself
IFPRI Blog
 | 
August 05, 2024

Training Ugandan coffee farmers on agronomy practices more than pays for itself

By Vivian Hoffmann

Promise for boosting yields and income.

After a year, India’s rice export restrictions continue to fuel high prices
IFPRI Blog
 | 
July 29, 2024

After a year, India’s rice export restrictions continue to fuel high prices

By Joseph Glauber and Abdullah Mamun

A key staple for low-income consumers in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions.

Behavioral explanations for the sell-low-buy-high puzzle in smallholder market participation: Lessons from a field experiment in Malawi
IFPRI Blog
 | 
July 22, 2024

Behavioral explanations for the sell-low-buy-high puzzle in smallholder market participation: Lessons from a field experiment in Malawi

By Joachim De Weerdt, Brian Dillon, Emmanuel Hami, Bjorn Van Campenhout, and Leocardia Nabwire

Our study tested two behavioral interventions—budgeting and sales planning—to understand and mitigate this paradox.

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Journal Article

A qualitative study of maternal and paternal parenting knowledge and practices in rural Mozambique

2024Ahun, Marilyn N.; Bliznashka, Lilia; Karuskina-Drivdale, Svetlana; Regina, Gino; Yousafzai, Aisha K.; Jeong, Joshua

A qualitative study of maternal and paternal parenting knowledge and practices in rural Mozambique

Background Providing nurturing care for young children is essential for promoting early child development (ECD). However, there is limited knowledge about how mothers and fathers across diverse contexts in sub-Saharan Africa care for their children and from whom they receive guidance and support in their caregiving roles. We aimed to examine caregivers’ nurturing care practices and sources of parenting knowledge in rural Mozambique. Methods This is a secondary analysis using data from a qualitative evaluation of a pilot intervention to improve nurturing care for early child health and development within existing health systems. The evaluation was conducted across three primary care health facilities and their catchment areas in Nampula province, Mozambique. For this study, we analyzed data from in-depth interviews conducted with 36 caregivers (32 mothers and 4 fathers) to investigate mothers’ and fathers’ daily caregiving experiences. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results Caregivers described various caregiving roles relating to general caregiving of young children (e.g., feeding, bathing, caring for child’s health) and stimulation (e.g., play and communication) activities. Mothers more commonly engaged in general caregiving activities than fathers, whereas both mothers and fathers engaged in stimulation activities. Other family members, including siblings, grandparents, and aunts/uncles, were also actively engaged in general caregiving activities. With respect to sources of parenting knowledge, caregivers received parenting guidance and support primarily from their own mothers/parents and facility-based health providers. Conclusions These findings highlight the importance of adopting a holistic approach involving caregivers and their context and reveal potential strategies to promote caregiving and ECD in rural Mozambique and similar contexts.

Year published

2024

Authors

Ahun, Marilyn N.; Bliznashka, Lilia; Karuskina-Drivdale, Svetlana; Regina, Gino; Yousafzai, Aisha K.; Jeong, Joshua

Citation

Ahun, Marilyn N.; Bliznashka, Lilia; Karuskina-Drivdale, Svetlana; Regina, Gino; Yousafzai, Aisha K.; and Jeong, Joshua. 2024. A qualitative study of maternal and paternal parenting knowledge and practices in rural Mozambique. BMC Public Health 24: 1778 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19291-2

Country/Region

Mozambique

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Parental Behaviour; Maternal Behaviour; Child Development; Fathers; Mothers

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19291-2 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Soil fertility in mixed crop-livestock farming systems of Punjab, Pakistan: The role of institutional factors and sustainable land management practices

2024Sheikh, Asjad Tariq; Chaudhary, Ashok Kumar; Mufti, Samaa; Davies, Stephen; Rola-Rubzen, Maria Fay

Soil fertility in mixed crop-livestock farming systems of Punjab, Pakistan: The role of institutional factors and sustainable land management practices

CONTEXT Soil salinization is a significant environmental challenge prevalent in arid and semi-arid regions, causing adverse effects on crop yields and jeopardizing household food security. Previous research has examined the influence of institutional dynamics and the adoption of sustainable land management practices in bolstering agricultural output, and some have investigated the interplay among socioeconomic determinants, institutional frameworks, and the uptake of climate-resilient and sustainable methodologies, or the association between soil health and agricultural productivity. Yet, there has been a lack of studies that considered this relationship altogether and their role in enhancing soil fertility. OBJECTIVE We investigate the relationship among socioeconomic and institutional factors, adoption of sustainable land management practices, and the resulting changes in soil fertility between 2016 and 2019 within the context of mixed crop-livestock farms in the three irrigated agroecological zones of Punjab, Pakistan. A household survey was conducted in 2019 to complement soil attributes data collected by the Government of Punjab in 2016. Households that implemented sustainable land management practices between 2016 and 2019 were analysed to investigate the effect of various factors on soil fertility, including the adoption of sustainable land management practices and their influence on soil fertility dynamics. METHODS A structural equation model was employed to examine the relationship among exogenous variables, moderating variables, and endogenous variables, to explain their collective influence on soil fertility between the two periods. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The key findings highlight the significant role of institutional factors, including access to formal information channels such as extension services, demonstration trials, and credit facilities, alongside secure land rights, in predicting the adoption of sustainable land management practices such as gypsum application, laser land leveling, farmyard manuring, and agroforestry. Furthermore, specific SLM practices, particularly agroforestry featuring intercropping with Acacia spp. and farmyard manure application, exhibited positive impacts on change in soil organic matter, albeit with agroforestry showing a negative influence on soil phosphorus levels. The adoption of gypsum and LLL displayed positive effects on soil phosphorus levels over time, contrasting with LLL’s adverse impact on soil organic matter. SIGNIFICANCE Our findings suggest that soil fertility benefits from policies enacted through public-private partnerships that lead to improved access to sustainable land management information, reduced credit barriers, establishment of local soil testing facilities, and expedited land entitlement processes. These findings highlight the critical role of collaborative partnerships and institutional arrangements in enhancing agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.

Year published

2024

Authors

Sheikh, Asjad Tariq; Chaudhary, Ashok Kumar; Mufti, Samaa; Davies, Stephen; Rola-Rubzen, Maria Fay

Citation

Sheikh, Asjad Tariq; Chaudhary, Ashok Kumar; Mufti, Samaa; Davies, Stephen; and Rola-Rubzen, Maria Fay. 2024. Soil fertility in mixed crop-livestock farming systems of Punjab, Pakistan: The role of institutional factors and sustainable land management practices. Agricultural Systems 218: 103964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.103964

Country/Region

Pakistan

Keywords

Southern Asia; Asia; Soil Fertility; Crops; Livestock; Farming Systems; Land Management; Sustainable Land Management

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.103964 Source record

Project

NEXUS Gains

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Estimating the cost and affordability of healthy diets: How much do methods matter?

2024Headey, Derek D.; Hirvonen, Kalle; Alderman, Harold

Estimating the cost and affordability of healthy diets: How much do methods matter?

Recently developed cost and affordability of healthy diet (CoAHD) metrics have quickly become mainstream food security indicators. However, published research on the sensitivity of estimation methods is limited. This paper focuses on two important innovations in CoAHD measurement at the global level. First, we develop a demographic scaling factor to adjust healthy diet costs for cross-country differences in age structures, since younger populations generally require fewer calories than older populations. Second, we improve the way in which household expenditure available for purchasing food (“food budgets”) are derived. In addition, we explore sensitivity of global CoAHD estimates to potential problems with the representativeness and food product coverage of global food price data and vary assumptions for activity levels that shape energy expenditure requirements. We apply these explorations to the EAT-Lancet reference diet in 137 countries using price data from 2017. Relative to the conventional methods, we find that demographic scaling and improved food budget derivation substantially reduces the estimated population who cannot afford a healthy diet, from 3.02 to 2.13 billion. Adjustments for low product coverage can lead to modest reductions for specific regions and food groups, while higher physical activity assumptions increase the share of people who cannot afford a healthy diet, though perhaps implausibly so. Methods clearly matter in CoAHD estimation, and more accurate and timelier CoAHD estimates have substantial scope to improve policy analysis, design and targeting.

Year published

2024

Authors

Headey, Derek D.; Hirvonen, Kalle; Alderman, Harold

Citation

Headey, Derek D.; Hirvonen, Kalle; and Alderman, Harold. 2024. Estimating the cost and affordability of healthy diets: How much do methods matter? Food Policy 126(July 2024): 102654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2024.102654

Keywords

Affordability; Food Security; Healthy Diets; Prices

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2024.102654 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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The 2024 Global Food Policy Report

Food systems and diets underpin many critical challenges to public health and environmental sustainability, including malnutrition, noncommunicable diseases, and climate change, but healthy diets have the unique potential to reshape the future for both human and planetary well-being. Drawing on recent evidence and experience, the 2024 Global Food Policy Report highlights opportunities for transforming food systems to ensure sustainable healthy diets for all.

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DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

IFPRI and CGIAR

IFPRI is a Research Center of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. IFPRI researchers work in close partnership with researchers from other CGIAR Centers and partners through many CGIAR Research Initiatives and Platforms. Our work contributes to the CGIAR mission of delivering science and innovation that advance the transformation of food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis.

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Experts in Our Field

IFPRI’s experts work around the world to provide the evidence that supports effective policies to reduce poverty and end malnutrition.

600+

staff across the world

80+

countries where we work

#1

in the field of Agricultural Economics

20,000+

research outputs

Meet a Researcher

Askar Mukashov is an Associate Research Fellow in IFPRI’s Foresight and Policy Modeling Unit. He is a development economist whose research focuses on climate-related economic uncertainty and development strategies, using country-specific computable general equilibrium (CGE) models and various satellite models. His past research included evaluating public investments and policies, analyzing the economywide impact of external shocks such as climate change, and several methodologically focused contributions dedicated to modeling uncertainty. Before recently joining IFPRI, Askar worked as a postdoctoral researcher at…

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Askar Mukashov

From our video channel

Agnes Kalibata, President of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and UN Secretary General Special Envoy to the Food Systems Summit explains Rwanda’s success at reducing poverty.
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Our Events

Against the grain: Could farmers feed the world and heal the planet?
Series/Special Event

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August 27, 2024, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Against the grain: Could farmers feed the world and heal the planet?

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. Humanity relies on agriculture to provide nourishment, yet there is an urgent need to reduce the agricultural sector’s environmental footprint. Meeting these two […]

Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor: Launch of the 7th edition – AATM 2024
Series/Special Event

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August 29, 2024, 8:30 – 10:35 am

Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor: Launch of the 7th edition – AATM 2024

AKADEMIYA2063 and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), are convening a hybrid event to debate and promote the findings of the Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM) 2024. As in prior editions, the seventh AATM provides improved trade statistics, uses consistent indicators to […]

Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 Summit
IFPRI at External Event

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September 2 to 6, 2024

Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 Summit

The Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 annual summit will be a timely opportunity to convene diverse stakeholders, including world leaders, investors, academia, farmers’ organizations, and the private sector, to spotlight innovations, technologies, best practices, business models, policy delivery mechanisms, and investments to accelerate food systems transformation in Africa and beyond, with youth and women at […]

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Making a Difference Blog Series

For more than three decades, IFPRI has worked with the Government of Ethiopia to provide evidence-based advice on the development of the country’s agricultural sector.

IFPRI’s research and policy recommendations led to the establishment of Ethiopia’s Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) in 2010, which continues to play a critical role in guiding the country’s agricultural development and sustainability.

Tamsin Zandstra, Gashaw T. Abate, Shahidur Rashid, and Nicholas Minot outline how IFPRI’s long-term strategic research support to the ATA has led to several tangible government policy outcomes.

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