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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

Liangzhi You

Liangzhi You is a Senior Research Fellow and theme leader in the Foresight and Policy Modeling Unit, based in Washington, DC. His research focuses on climate resilience, spatial data and analytics, agroecosystems, and agricultural science policy. Gridded crop production data of the world (SPAM) and the agricultural technology evaluation model (DREAM) are among his research contributions. 

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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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partnerships

Helen Keller International, a non-governmental organization, focuses on saving and improving the sight and quality of life for individuals all over the world. Helen Keller International tackles the causes associated with blindness, such as poor health and lack of nutrition. Helen Keller International works to reduce malnutrition by promoting solutions aimed at improving nutrition practices for millions of families.

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Publications

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Journal Article

Four-year effects of a 2-year nutrition- and gender-sensitive agricultural program on women’s nutritional status, knowledge, and empowerment in rural Burkina Faso

2022Bliznashka, Lilia; Becquey, Elodie; Ruel, Marie T.; Olney, Deanna K.
Details

Four-year effects of a 2-year nutrition- and gender-sensitive agricultural program on women’s nutritional status, knowledge, and empowerment in rural Burkina Faso

Little is known about the sustained effects of nutrition- and gender-sensitive agricultural programs (NSAPs) after they end.To examine the 4-year effects (2010-2014) of a 2-year NSAP (2010-2012) on women’s outcomes in rural Burkina Faso.We used baseline (2010) and endline (2012) data from a cluster-randomized controlled trial of Helen Keller International’s Enhanced Homestead Food Production (EHFP) program and baseline (2014) data from a new program. We included 134 women: 82 who participated in the 2-year EHFP program (treatment) and 52 who did not (control). We examined program (2010-2012), post-program (2012-2014), and overall 4-year effects (2010-2014) using difference-in-difference analysis (DID).We found significant positive program effects (2010-2012) on women’s underweight prevalence (DID: 16.44 percentage points [pp]; P = .09) and on women’s knowledge about appropriate age to introduce liquids (DID: 28.40 pp; P = .01). Although there were no significant postprogram effects (2012-2014), differences found in 2012 between the treatment and control group were sustained resulting in an overall 4-year (2010-2014) reduction in women’s underweight prevalence (DID: 18.26 pp; P = .02) and an improvement in women’s knowledge about appropriate age to introduce liquids (DID: 31.29 pp; P = .02). We observed no postprogram or overall 4-year effects on women’s knowledge of child feeding and handwashing practices or women’s empowerment.Nutrition- and gender-sensitive agricultural programs demonstrate potential for sustained improvements in women’s nutritional status and nutritional knowledge. Postprogram assessments of NSAPs should be embedded in program evaluations to help further understand the potential of NSAPs to generate sustainable impacts on women’s outcomes.

Year published

2022

Authors

Bliznashka, Lilia; Becquey, Elodie; Ruel, Marie T.; Olney, Deanna K.

Citation

Bliznashka, Lilia; Becquey, Elodie; Ruel, Marie T.; and Olney, Deanna K. Four-year effects of a 2-year nutrition- and gender-sensitive agricultural program on women’s nutritional status, knowledge, and empowerment in rural Burkina Faso. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 43(3): 364-375. https://doi.org/10.1177/03795721221090380

Country/Region

Burkina Faso

Keywords

Western Africa; Africa; Nutrition-sensitive Agriculture; Agriculture; Nutrition; Gender; Women; Nutritional Status; Knowledge; Empowerment; Child Feeding; Infant Feeding; Rural Areas; Food Science

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Links

https://doi.org/10.1177/03795721221090380 Source record

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

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Brief

Women’s voices in civil society organizations: Evidence from a civil society mapping project in Mali

2021Bleck, Jaimie; Gottlieb, Jessica; Kosec, Katrina; Boss, Lindsey
Details

Women’s voices in civil society organizations: Evidence from a civil society mapping project in Mali

Tremendous optimism prevails around bottomup accountability — a situation in which citizens effectively hold their government to account. This contrasts with top-down accountability, whereby higher tiers of governments, donors, or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) fulfill this role by restraining, monitoring, and rewarding or sanctioning government. Bottom-up accountability can involve direct citizen participation (often involving efforts to provide them information, voice, and involvement in policymaking) or can be mediated through civil society organizations (CSOs) that monitor and potentially reward or sanction government. A large variety of different types of CSOs exist, distinguished both by their organizational purpose and the composition of their membership, possibly with different willingness and ability to hold government accountable.

Year published

2021

Authors

Bleck, Jaimie; Gottlieb, Jessica; Kosec, Katrina; Boss, Lindsey

Citation

Bleck, Jaimie; Gottlieb, Jessica; Kosec, Katrina; and Boss, Lindsey. 2021. Women’s voices in civil society organizations: Evidence from a civil society mapping project in Mali. IFPRI Issue Brief April 2021. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896294141

Country/Region

Mali

Keywords

Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Africa; Gender; Civil Society; Capacity Development; Social Participation; Organization; Civil Society Organizations; Women

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896294141 Source record

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Brief

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Journal Article

Using structural equation modelling to understand the contributors to anemia among young Burkinabe children

2020Bliznashka, Lilia; Arsenault, Joanne E.; Becquey, Elodie; Ruel, Marie T.; Olney, Deanna K.
Details

Using structural equation modelling to understand the contributors to anemia among young Burkinabe children

Anaemia is a persistent problem among young Burkinabe children, yet population-specific information on its determinants is scant. We used baseline data from an evaluation of Helen Keller International’s Enhanced Homestead Food Production Program (n=1210 children) to quantify household-, mother-, and child-level factors associated with anaemia in Burkinabe children aged 6-12 months. We used structural equation modelling to assess a theoretical model, which tested four categories of factors: (a) household food security and dietary diversity, (b) household sanitation and hygiene (latrine and poultry access and bednet ownership), (c) maternal factors (anaemia, stress, cleanliness, and health, hygiene and feeding knowledge and practices), and (d) child nutrition and health (iron deficiency (ID), retinol binding protein (RBP), malaria, and inflammation). The model also included household socio-economic status, size, and polygamy; maternal age and education; and child age and sex. Results showed that ID, malaria, and inflammation were the primary direct determinants of anaemia, contributing 15%, 10%, and 10%, respectively. Maternal knowledge directly explained improved child feeding practices and household bednet ownership. Household dietary diversity directly explained 18% of child feeding practices. Additionally, RBP, child age and sex, and maternal anaemia directly predicted child haemoglobin. Our findings suggest that program effectiveness could be increased by addressing the multiple, context-specific contributors of child anaemia. For young Burkinabe children, anaemia control programs that include interventions to reduce ID, malaria, and inflammation should be tested. Other potential intervention entry points suggested by our model include improving maternal knowledge of optimal health, hygiene, and nutrition practices and household dietary diversity.

Year published

2020

Authors

Bliznashka, Lilia; Arsenault, Joanne E.; Becquey, Elodie; Ruel, Marie T.; Olney, Deanna K.

Citation

Bliznashka, Lilia; Arsenault, Joanne E.; Becquey, Elodie; Ruel, Marie T.; and Olney, Deanna K. 2020. Using structural equation modelling to understand the contributors to anemia among young Burkinabe children. Maternal and Child Nutrition 16(1): e12881. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12881

Country/Region

Burkina Faso

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Western Africa; Iron Deficiency Chlorosis; Anaemia; Child Nutrition; Micronutrient Deficiencies; Nutrition; Children

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12881 Source record

Project

Agriculture for Nutrition and Health

Record type

Journal Article