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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.

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.

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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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Taddese Zerfu

Research Fellow

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Bio

Taddese Zerfu is a Research Fellow in the Development Strategies and Governance Unit, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Together with the Ethiopian team, he coordinates the Ethiopia National Information Platforms for Nutrition (NIPN) Technical Advisory Project (ENTAP). He has conducted a modeling study using the Lives Saved Tool (LiST) software, which has resulted in a significant policy impact in relation to Ethiopia’s Seqota Declaration activity.

Before joining IFPRI, Taddese worked as a clinician, researcher, and academic in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. In Ethiopia, he served as a technical advisor and later a senior research advisor for the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH). Taddese completed two postdoctoral fellowships and the Marie Curie Fellowship at the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems (GAAFS), University of Edinburgh. He is also the winner of the 2016 Tore Godal Medal award.

Languages: English, four Ethiopian local languages

Google Scholar Citations

Publications

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Blog Post

Introducing the BMC Series SDG Editorial Board Members: Taddese Zerfu

2024Zerfu, Taddese Alemu
Details

Introducing the BMC Series SDG Editorial Board Members: Taddese Zerfu

Taddese Zerfu is a research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), focusing on the nexus between agriculture, nutrition, and health. His research examines the impact of livestock farming and animal-source foods on maternal and child nutrition in low- and middle-income countries. Previously, Taddese worked as a clinician, researcher, and academic in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and the UK. He holds a PhD in Food Science and Nutrition from Addis Ababa University and a Master’s in Public Health from Jimma University. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at Tufts University and the African Population and Health Research Center. His work has earned several awards, including the Tore Godal Medal and the African Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship. He belongs to the Editorial Board of BMC Public Health. This blog post and interview delve into my endeavors concerning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), shedding light on the challenges encountered during my research journey.

Year published

2024

Authors

Zerfu, Taddese Alemu

Citation

Zerfu, Taddese Alemu. 2024. Introducing the BMC Series SDG Editorial Board Members: Taddese Zerfu. BMC Blog Post. First published online July 5, 2024. https://blogs.biomedcentral.com/bmcseriesblog/2024/07/05/introducing-the-bmc-series-sdg-editorial-board-members-taddese-zerfu/

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Agriculture; Nutrition; Health; Policy Innovation

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Record type

Blog Post

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Journal Article

Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022–2050: A forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

2024GBD 2021 Forecasting Collaborators; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu
Details

Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022–2050: A forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BACKGROUND Future trends in disease burden and drivers of health are of great interest to policy makers and the public at large. This information can be used for policy and long-term health investment, planning, and prioritisation. We have expanded and improved upon previous forecasts produced as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) and provide a reference forecast (the most likely future), and alternative scenarios assessing disease burden trajectories if selected sets of risk factors were eliminated from current levels by 2050. INTERPRETATION Globally, life expectancy and age-standardised disease burden were forecasted to improve between 2022 and 2050, with the majority of the burden continuing to shift from CMNNs to NCDs. That said, continued progress on reducing the CMNN disease burden will be dependent on maintaining investment in and policy emphasis on CMNN disease prevention and treatment. Mostly due to growth and ageing of populations, the number of deaths and DALYs due to all causes combined will generally increase. By constructing alternative future scenarios wherein certain risk exposures are eliminated by 2050, we have shown that opportunities exist to substantially improve health outcomes in the future through concerted efforts to prevent exposure to well established risk factors and to expand access to key health interventions.

Year published

2024

Authors

GBD 2021 Forecasting Collaborators; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu

Citation

GBD 2021 Forecasting Collaborators. 2024. Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022–2050: A forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet 403(10440): 2204-2256. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00685-8

Keywords

Diseases; Health; Health Policies; Forecasting; Modelling; Mortality

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(24)00685-8 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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Journal Article

Perceptions towards management of acute malnutrition by community health volunteers in northern Kenya

2024
Wambui, Elizabeth; Wilunda, Calistus; Donfouet, Hermann Pythagore Pierre; Mwangi, Bonventure; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu; Daniel, Tewoldeberha; Agutu, Olivia; Samburu, Betty; Kavoo, Daniel; Karimurio, Lydia
…more Cuellar, Pilar Charle; Keane, Emily; Schofield, Lilly; Njiru, James; Chabi, Martin; Maina, Lucy Gathigi; Okoth, Peter F.; Raburu, Judith; Gichohi, Grace; Mutua, Alex; Matanda, Charles; Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth
Details

Perceptions towards management of acute malnutrition by community health volunteers in northern Kenya

Child undernutrition is a persistent challenge in arid and semi-arid areas due to low and erratic rainfall, recurrent droughts and food insecurity. In these settings, caregivers face several challenges in accessing health services for sick and/or malnourished children, including long distances to health facilities, harsh terrain, and lack of money to pay for transportation costs to the health facilities, leading to low service coverage and sub-optimal treatment outcomes. To address these challenges and optimize treatment outcomes, the World Health Organization recommends utilizing community health volunteers (CHVs) to manage acute malnutrition in the community. This study explored the perceptions of community members regarding acute malnutrition treatment by CHVs in Turkana and Isiolo counties in Kenya. The study utilized a cross-sectional study design and included a purposive sample of caregivers of children, CHVs, officers who trained and supervised CHVs and community leaders in the intervention area. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used to explore perceptions towards the management of acute malnutrition by CHVs. Generally, caregivers and CHVs perceived the intervention to be beneficial as it readily addressed acute malnutrition treatment needs in the community. The intervention was perceived to be acceptable, effective, and easily accessible. The community health structure provided a platform for commodity supply and management and CHV support supervision. This was a major enabler in implementing the intervention. The intervention faced operational and systemic challenges that should be considered before scale-up.

Year published

2024

Authors

Wambui, Elizabeth; Wilunda, Calistus; Donfouet, Hermann Pythagore Pierre; Mwangi, Bonventure; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu; Daniel, Tewoldeberha; Agutu, Olivia; Samburu, Betty; Kavoo, Daniel; Karimurio, Lydia; Cuellar, Pilar Charle; Keane, Emily; Schofield, Lilly; Njiru, James; Chabi, Martin; Maina, Lucy Gathigi; Okoth, Peter F.; Raburu, Judith; Gichohi, Grace; Mutua, Alex; Matanda, Charles; Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth

Citation

Wambui, Elizabeth; Wilunda, Calistus; Donfouet, Hermann Pythagore Pierre; Mwangi, Bonventure; Zerfu, Taddese Alemu; et al. 2024. Perceptions towards management of acute malnutrition by community health volunteers in northern Kenya. PLOS Global Public Health 4(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002564

Country/Region

Kenya

Keywords

Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Africa; Malnutrition; Food Security; Health Services; Transport; Children; Child Care

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002564 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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May 16 and 17, 2023 (9:00am – 5:00pm Addis Ababa): The Strengthen PSNP5 Institutions and Resilience (SPIR II) Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in Ethiopia is a five-year project (2021-2026) that supports implementation of the fifth phase of the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP5) in Amhara and Oromia regions and provides additional graduation model programming through complementary gender-sensitive livelihood, nutrition, and climate resilience activities to strengthen the program and expand its impacts.