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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.

Aulo Gelli

Aulo Gelli is a Senior Research Fellow in the Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion Unit. His main interests and experience are in the intersection of food policy and nutrition, with a particular focus on evaluating the impact of child health and nutrition interventions. Prior to working at IFPRI, Aulo worked as a Research Fellow at Imperial College, as a Policy Analyst at the UK Collaborative on Development Sciences, and as a Statistician at the World Food Programme. 

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What we do

Since 1975, IFPRI’s research has been informing policies and development programs to improve food security, nutrition, and livelihoods around the world.

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.

Publications and Datasets

IFPRI publications provide evidence-based insights and analysis on critical issues related to policies for food systems, food security, agriculture, diets and nutrition, poverty, and sustainability, helping to inform effective policies and strategies. Materials published by IFPRI are released under a Creative Commons license, and are available for download. IFPRI authors also publish in external sources, such as academic journals and books. Where possible we provide a download link for the full text of these publications.

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By Title By Author By Country/Region By Keyword

Journal Article

Sustainable poverty reduction through social assistance: Modality, context, and complementary programming in Bangladesh

2025Ahmed, Akhter; Hidrobo, Melissa; Hoddinott, John; Kolt, Bastien; Roy, Shalini; Tauseef, Salauddin

Sustainable poverty reduction through social assistance: Modality, context, and complementary programming in Bangladesh

Social assistance programs can increase consumption and reduce poverty, but less is known about whether these impacts are sustained after programs end, or how design and context influence sustainability. Using data collected in two regions of Bangladesh four years after a randomized intervention ended, we find that combining cash transfers with complementary programming led to sustained increases in consumption and reductions in poverty. Combining food transfers with complementary programming showed similar patterns, to a lesser extent. Cash alone had context-specific sustained effects; food alone had no sustained impacts. Results suggest that context, modality, and complementary programming matter for sustained impacts.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ahmed, Akhter; Hidrobo, Melissa; Hoddinott, John; Kolt, Bastien; Roy, Shalini; Tauseef, Salauddin

Citation

Ahmed, Akhter; Hidrobo, Melissa; Hoddinott, John; Kolt, Bastien; Roy, Shalini; and Tauseef, Salauddin. Sustainable poverty reduction through social assistance: Modality, context, and complementary programming in Bangladesh. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics. Article in Press. First online on December 5, 2024. https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/app.20230108

Country/Region

Bangladesh

Keywords

Southern Asia; Aid Programmes; Poverty; Sustainability; Cash Transfers; Food; Social Protection

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

Gender Equality

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Adapting the women’s empowerment in nutrition index: Lessons from Kenya

2025Lentz, Erin; Jensen, Nathan; Lepariyo, Watson; Narayanan, Sudha; Bageant, Elizabeth

Adapting the women’s empowerment in nutrition index: Lessons from Kenya

Women face a disproportionate burden of malnutrition and food insecurity. Research has shown that women’s empowerment can buffer women against nutritional problems. This paper contributes to ongoing efforts to measure women’s empowerment that are both context-sensitive and universal, focusing on the recently developed Women’s Empowerment in Nutrition Index (WENI). Earlier research has shown it is both a valid construct and positively related to dietary and nutritional outcomes of women in South Asia. We establish that WENI is generalizable to agropastoral and pastoral Kenya, an area with substantially different livelihoods, food system, norms, and institutions than South Asia. We find that a locally contextualized WENI is strongly associated with women’s body mass index and dietary diversity as well as household level food insecurity. We also present findings for two shorter variations of WENI: an abbreviated WENI (A-WENI) and a cross context WENI (CC-WENI). A-WENI contains a small subset of WENI indicators identified using machine learning with South Asian data and therefore is context-specific. CC-WENI does not contain indicators specific to the validation context. We find that they perform comparably well with caveats. Thus, as use of WENI expands we recommend adapting WENI for in-depth analyses of women’s nutritional empowerment; using CC-WENI for cross-context comparisons; and using A-WENI for rapid appraisals of community level progress in a given context.

Year published

2025

Authors

Lentz, Erin; Jensen, Nathan; Lepariyo, Watson; Narayanan, Sudha; Bageant, Elizabeth

Citation

Lentz, Erin; Jensen, Nathan; Lepariyo, Watson; Narayanan, Sudha; and Bageant, Elizabeth. 2024. Adapting the women’s empowerment in nutrition index: Lessons from Kenya. World Development 188: 106887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106887

Country/Region

Kenya

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Women’s Empowerment; Malnutrition; Food Security; Livelihoods; Food Systems; Indicators

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Livestock

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Conflicts, crop choice, and agricultural investments: Empirical evidence from Nigeria

2025Amare, Mulubrhan; Abay, Kibrom A.; Berhane, Guush; Andam, Kwaw S.; Adeyanju, Dolapo

Conflicts, crop choice, and agricultural investments: Empirical evidence from Nigeria

Conflict remains a major driver of poverty in Africa. Conflicts and political instability in the region have been increasing recently and are drawing more attention in public discourse. While it is widely acknowledged that conflicts disrupt agricultural production and food systems, the full extent of the damage inflicted on the lives and livelihoods of farming households and the mechanisms to redress this harm remain poorly understood. In particular, the link between violent conflicts and households’ land allocation and related agricultural investment decisions remains understudied. In this study, we use geocoded longitudinal data along with detailed agricultural panel household surveys in Nigeria to assess the impact of violent conflicts on crop choice decisions and related agricultural investments. Specifically, we explore how farmers’ land allocation and agricultural investment decisions relate or respond to the outbreak and intensity of violent conflicts. We find that violent conflicts are associated with a reduction in the share of both land area cultivated and area harvested. We also find suggestive evidence that violent conflicts may shape farmers’ crop choices and related investments, as violent conflicts are associated with reduction in the share of land allocated to long-term crops (e.g., perennial crops, trees, roots and tubers). Overall, our findings suggest that violent conflicts can negatively influence farmers’ agricultural investments directly by affecting both land utilization patterns and portfolio allocation across activities with varying returns to investments.

Year published

2025

Authors

Amare, Mulubrhan; Abay, Kibrom A.; Berhane, Guush; Andam, Kwaw S.; Adeyanju, Dolapo

Citation

Amare, Mulubrhan; Abay, Kibrom A.; Berhane, Guush; Andam, Kwaw S.; and Adeyanju, Dolapo. 2025. Conflicts, crop choice, and agricultural investments: Empirical evidence from Nigeria. Land Use Policy 148(January 2025): 107391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2024.107391

Country/Region

Nigeria

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Western Africa; Conflicts; Investment; Smallholders; Decision Making; Gender

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Fragility, Conflict, and Migration

Record type

Journal Article


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Journal Article

Front-of-pack labels and young consumers: An experimental investigation of nutrition and sustainability claims in Chile

2025Fretes, Gabriela; Wilson, Norbert L.W.; Corvalan, Camila; Economos, Christina D.; Cash, Sean B.
Details

Front-of-pack labels and young consumers: An experimental investigation of nutrition and sustainability claims in Chile

Year published

2025

Authors

Fretes, Gabriela; Wilson, Norbert L.W.; Corvalan, Camila; Economos, Christina D.; Cash, Sean B.

Citation

Fretes, Gabriela; Wilson, Norbert L.W.; Corvalan, Camila; Economos, Christina D.; and Cash, Sean B. 2025. Front-of-pack labels and young consumers: An experimental investigation of nutrition and sustainability claims in Chile. Food Quality and Preference 127(June 2025): 105432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105432

Country/Region

Chile

Keywords

Americas; South America; Consumer Behaviour; Nutrition; Sustainability; Youth

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Rural institutions and the technical efficiency of teff production in Ethiopia

2025Hailu, Getu; Weersink, Alfons; Minten, Bart
Details

Rural institutions and the technical efficiency of teff production in Ethiopia

We examine the effect of rural institutions on plot-level technical efficiency of teff production. We account for differences in production technology, access to the market, plot characteristics, and weather shocks across plots and investigate the robustness of the effects of rural institutions on technical efficiency across various specifications. Using a large and detailed cross-section of teff plots, we find that teff output could be increased by approximately 25 percent with the available inputs and technology through improved technical efficiency. The magnitude of technical inefficiency is robust to alternative functional forms and variable specifications. Community discussion groups and distance to the nearest agricultural co-operative have a positive relationship with technical efficiency, highlighting their potential to enhance agricultural productivity. However, we find limited evidence on the relationship between co-operative membership, visits with extension and technical efficiency of teff producers. Our results show that when studying the impact of new programs and policies in agriculture, it is important to look beyond just whether farmers are members of co-operatives. We might consider other factors, such as how much access they have to co-operative services. It is crucial for policymakers to consider implementing targeted interventions to share information on best management practices and agricultural technologies in order to address the efficiency gap in teff production. JEL classification: D02, D24, C54, P13, N57

Year published

2025

Authors

Hailu, Getu; Weersink, Alfons; Minten, Bart

Citation

Hailu, Getu; Weersink, Alfons; and Minten, Bart. 2025. Rural institutions and the technical efficiency of teff production in Ethiopia. Journal of Co-operative Organization and Management 13(1): 100259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcom.2024.100259

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Extension; Productivity; Rural Areas; Technology; Teff

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-4.0

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Storage management practices and mycotoxin contamination of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in northwest Ethiopia

2025Sadik, J.A.; Righetti, L.; Fentahun, N.; Brouwer, Inge D.; Tessema, M.; Abera, M.; van der Fels-Klerx, H.J.
Details

Storage management practices and mycotoxin contamination of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in northwest Ethiopia

Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by certain fungal species that affect animal and human health. Data on the relationships between specific traditional storage management practices of sorghum and mycotoxin contamination are rarely available in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to investigate current sorghum storage management practices in major sorghum producer locations in Northwest Ethiopia and their relationships with mycotoxin contamination. Sorghum storage management practices of 120 farmers were surveyed, the occurrence of multiple mycotoxins in samples from their stored sorghum was determined, and potential relationships between the traditional storage management practices and mycotoxin contamination were analyzed. Samples were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS for 33 different mycotoxins. About 88% of the samples were contaminated with at least one mycotoxin. The detected mycotoxins belong to one of the four mycotoxin categories, produced by Aspergillus spp, Fusarium spp, Penicillium spp, and Alternaria spp. From the total, 3%, 7%, and 3% of the samples were contaminated with aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and zearalenone, respectively, above the EU regulatory limits. The measured concentrations that bypassed EU regulatory limits were 9.14, 18.34 and 29.13 (μg/kg) for total aflatoxins, 5.31, 12.50, 14.94, 15.77, 32.94, 56.81, 58.07 and 112.59 (μg/kg) for Ochratoxin A, and 123.48, 238.43 and 431.78 (μg/kg) for Zearalenone, respectively. Logistic regression showed relationships between the traditional storage management practices with mycotoxin contamination. The age and the experience of the Main Person Responsible for Storage management (MPRS), the placement of the storage structure, and the insecticide application showed negative relationships with multi-mycotoxin contamination. On the other hand, the educational status of the MPRS and the type of storage structure showed positive relationships with mycotoxin contamination. Therefore, it is recommended that farmers receive training in proper sorghum storage management to further reduce the mycotoxin contamination in the grain.

Year published

2025

Authors

Sadik, J.A.; Righetti, L.; Fentahun, N.; Brouwer, Inge D.; Tessema, M.; Abera, M.; van der Fels-Klerx, H.J.

Citation

Sadik, J.A.; Righetti, L.; Fentahun, N.; Brouwer, I.D.; Tessema, M.; Abera, M.; and van der Fels-Klerx, H.J. 2025. Storage management practices and mycotoxin contamination of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in northwest Ethiopia. Journal of Stored Products Research 11: 102535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2024.102535

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Storage Conditions; Sorghum Bicolor; Mycotoxins; Contamination; Farmers

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Fertilizer and conflicts: Evidence from Myanmar

2025Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Minten, Bart; van Asselt, Joanna; Lambrecht, Isabel B.; Masias, Ian; Goeb, Joseph; Aung, Zin Wai; Htar, May Thet
Details

Fertilizer and conflicts: Evidence from Myanmar

The number of farmers residing in fragile and conflict-affected countries is rising globally, yet the impacts of conflict on the economics of inorganic fertilizer in these settings remain poorly understood. We study how conflicts in Myanmar, combined with global fertilizer market disruptions, have affected inorganic fertilizer prices, use, response, and efficiency. We utilize unique nationally representative household panel survey data and a comprehensive approach that employs various analytical methods to examine the nexus between conflicts and fertilizer-related issues. Our findings reveal that greater intensity of violent events is associated with higher prices of major types of inorganic fertilizer, particularly in areas farther from major import locations. These price changes and increases in violent events have suppressed both the likelihood and quantity of inorganic fertilizer usage, leading to decreased rice yield responses at given nitrogen application levels. Panel stochastic frontier analyses, combined with a method addressing the endogeneity of inorganic fertilizer use, suggest a significant decline in fertilizer use efficiency each year since the onset of conflict. The increase in violent events is also associated with the reduced use of extension services, seeds from markets, irrigation, and optimal fertilizer blends, which may partly explain the diminished returns and efficiency of inorganic fertilizer use. Conflict therefore seems to be associated with a change in the economics of inorganic fertilizer use through various impact channels, affecting agricultural performance in these fragile and conflict-affected settings.

Year published

2025

Authors

Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Minten, Bart; van Asselt, Joanna; Lambrecht, Isabel B.; Masias, Ian; Goeb, Joseph; Aung, Zin Wai; Htar, May Thet

Citation

Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Minten, Bart; van Asselt, Joanna; Lambrecht, Isabel Brigitte; Masias, Ian; Goeb, Joseph; Aung, Zin Wai; and Htar, May Thet. 2025. Fertilizer and conflicts: Evidence from Myanmar. Food Policy 133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2024.102786

Country/Region

Myanmar

Keywords

Asia; South-eastern Asia; Fertilizers; Conflicts; Prices; Imports; Farmers; Markets; Data; Rice; Yields; Agricultural Productivity

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Global shocks to fertilizer markets: Impacts on prices, demand and farm profitability

2025Vos, Rob; Glauber, Joseph W.; Hebebrand, Charlotte; Rice, Brendan
Details

Global shocks to fertilizer markets: Impacts on prices, demand and farm profitability

During 2021–2022, spiking fertilizer prices raised fears that fertilizer application would drop around the world, leading to lower crop production, higher food prices, and greater food insecurity. Even writing mid-2024, a paucity of data impedes a full assessment of how the underlying global market shocks may have affected farmers and food production around the world. Using proxy indicators for fertilizer demand and farm profitability, we find that despite the steep increase in input costs, global demand for fertilizer fell only modestly during the 2022–2023 crop cycle, suggesting many (commercial) farmers were able and willing to absorb increased input costs in the context of generally good harvest prospects and, at the time, high crop prices. However, we also find the fertilizer price spikes have not been felt equally, with many farmers in Africa estimated to have been affected more adversely, even though with varied impacts also amongst those farmers.

Year published

2025

Authors

Vos, Rob; Glauber, Joseph W.; Hebebrand, Charlotte; Rice, Brendan

Citation

Vos, Rob; Glauber, Joseph W.; Hebebrand, Charlotte; and Rice, Brendan. 2025. Global shocks to fertilizer markets: Impacts on prices, demand and farm profitability. Food Policy 133(May 2025): 102790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2024.102790

Keywords

Shock; Fertilizers; Markets; Prices; Profitability; Global Value Chains; Supply Chain Disruptions

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Project

Rethinking Food Markets

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Fertilizer demand and profitability amid global fuel-food-fertilizer crisis: Evidence from Ethiopia

2025Assefa, Thomas W.; Berhane, Guush; Abate, Gashaw T.; Abay, Kibrom A.
Details

Fertilizer demand and profitability amid global fuel-food-fertilizer crisis: Evidence from Ethiopia

We assess fertilizer demand and profitability in Ethiopia in the face of the recent global fuel–food–fertilizer price crisis and other domestic shocks. We first examine farmers’ response to changes in both fertilizer and food prices by estimating price elasticity of demand. We then evaluate the profitability of fertilizer by computing average value–cost ratios (AVCRs) associated with fertilizer application before and after these crises. We use detailed longitudinal household survey data collected in three rounds, covering both pre-crisis (2016 and 2019) and post-crisis (2023) production periods, focusing on three main staple crops in Ethiopia (maize, teff, and wheat). Our analysis shows that fertilizer adoption, and yield levels were increasing until the recent crises, but these trends have been halted by these crises. We also find slightly larger fertilizer price elasticity of demand estimates than previous estimates, ranging between −0.40 and −1.12, which vary across crops. We find that farmers are more responsive to fertilizer prices than to output prices. Farmers’ response to increases in staple prices was statistically insignificant and hence not as strong as theoretically perceived. Households with smaller farm sizes are relatively more responsive to changes in fertilizer prices. Finally, we show important dynamics in the profitability of chemical fertilizer. While the AVCRs show profitable trends for most crops, the share of farmers with profitable AVCRs declined following the fertilizer price surges. Our findings offer important insights for policy focusing on mitigating the adverse effects of fertilizer price shocks.

Year published

2025

Authors

Assefa, Thomas W.; Berhane, Guush; Abate, Gashaw T.; Abay, Kibrom A.

Citation

Assefa, Thomas W.; Berhane, Guush; Abate, Gashaw T.; and Abay, Kibrom A. 2025. Fertilizer demand and profitability amid global fuel-food-fertilizer crisis: Evidence from Ethiopia. Food Policy 133: 102785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2024.102785

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Fertilizers; Prices; Farmers; Household Surveys; Maize; Teff; Wheat; Yields

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

National Policies and Strategies

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Maize yield responsiveness and profitability of fertilizer: New survey evidence from six African countries

2025Ragasa, Catherine; Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Asante, Seth; Amare, Mulubrhan; Ma, Ning; Olanrewaju, Opeyemi; Duchoslav, Jan
Details

Maize yield responsiveness and profitability of fertilizer: New survey evidence from six African countries

Enhancing maize productivity growth is pivotal for revolutionizing the agrifood system in Africa, with inorganic fertilizer serving as a fundamental input for catalyzing this progress. However, concerns are mounting about the low and decreasing yield response and profitability of inorganic fertilizer use, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to refine yield response and profitability models by incorporating recent data from nationally representative and panel datasets spanning six countries. Most countries exhibited low nitrogen yield responsiveness (4–7 kg), while Ghana and Uganda showed higher responsiveness (15–20 kg) per additional 1 kg of nitrogen. Analysis of fertilizer-to-maize price ratios from 2010 to 2023 showed a downward trend, with spikes in 2022 in Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Overall, except for those years, the data suggest a trend of increasingly favorable price incentives for fertilizer use. Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda experienced declines in the fertilizer-to-maize price ratio. Increasing inorganic fertilizer use would be profitable in Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda at current market prices, but not in Malawi or Tanzania. Subsidies in Malawi and Tanzania have boosted profitability, but these may not be necessary in Ghana, Nigeria, or Uganda, which already have favorable price incentives; Malawi could benefit by substantially reducing its 80 percent subsidy while maintaining decent price incentives and farm profits. The paper proposes policy options based on factors influencing yield responsiveness and potential improvements drawn from new modeling and synthesis of the literature.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ragasa, Catherine; Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Asante, Seth; Amare, Mulubrhan; Ma, Ning; Olanrewaju, Opeyemi; Duchoslav, Jan

Citation

Ragasa, Catherine; Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Asante, Seth; Amare, Mulubrhan; Ma, Ning; Olanrewaju, Opeyemi; and Duchoslav, Jan. 2025. Maize yield responsiveness and profitability of fertilizer: New survey evidence from six African countries. Food Policy 133(May 2025): 102815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102815

Country/Region

Ghana; Uganda; Malawi; Nigeria; Ethiopia

Keywords

Tanzania; Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Maize; Agricultural Productivity; Agrifood Systems; Inorganic Fertilizers; Yields; Profitability; Data; Prices

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

National Policies and Strategies

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Estimating the direct and indirect effects of improved seed adoption on yields: Evidence from DNA-fingerprinting, crop cuts, and self-reporting in Ethiopia

2025Jovanovic, Nina; Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob
Details

Estimating the direct and indirect effects of improved seed adoption on yields: Evidence from DNA-fingerprinting, crop cuts, and self-reporting in Ethiopia

Farmers’ adoption of improved crop varieties could increase yields in low-income countries. However, the presence of measurement error in household surveys poses a challenge to estimating true returns. Using the 2018/19 Ethiopia Socio-economic Survey, we analyze the impacts of how three sources of measurement error: misperceptions of seed varieties, land area, and quantities harvested affect maize yields and input use. These data include DNA-fingerprinting of seed, GPS plot size information, and crop cuts that we compare to farmers’ self-reported estimates of these measures. Results indicate that the measurement error in self-reported seed variety adoption, especially from farmers who did not know they were using improved maize varieties, attenuates their estimated yield gains by 25 percentage points on average. The enhanced genetics of improved seed varieties accounts for a 41-percentage point yield increase over non-improved varieties, and increased input use accounts for a 30-percentage point gain for improved varieties on average. JEL classification: D13, O13, N57, Q12, Q16

Year published

2025

Authors

Jovanovic, Nina; Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob

Citation

Jovanovic, Nina; and Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob. 2025. Estimating the direct and indirect effects of improved seed adoption on yields: Evidence from DNA-fingerprinting, crop cuts, and self-reporting in Ethiopia. Journal of Development Economics 174(May 2025): 103466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2025.103466

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Crop Yield; Deoxyribonuclease; Seed; Technology Adoption

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

National Policies and Strategies

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Adapting the women’s empowerment in nutrition index: Lessons from Kenya

2025Lentz, Erin; Jensen, Nathan; Lepariyo, Watson; Narayanan, Sudha; Bageant, Elizabeth
Details

Adapting the women’s empowerment in nutrition index: Lessons from Kenya

Women face a disproportionate burden of malnutrition and food insecurity. Research has shown that women’s empowerment can buffer women against nutritional problems. This paper contributes to ongoing efforts to measure women’s empowerment that are both context-sensitive and universal, focusing on the recently developed Women’s Empowerment in Nutrition Index (WENI). Earlier research has shown it is both a valid construct and positively related to dietary and nutritional outcomes of women in South Asia. We establish that WENI is generalizable to agropastoral and pastoral Kenya, an area with substantially different livelihoods, food system, norms, and institutions than South Asia. We find that a locally contextualized WENI is strongly associated with women’s body mass index and dietary diversity as well as household level food insecurity. We also present findings for two shorter variations of WENI: an abbreviated WENI (A-WENI) and a cross context WENI (CC-WENI). A-WENI contains a small subset of WENI indicators identified using machine learning with South Asian data and therefore is context-specific. CC-WENI does not contain indicators specific to the validation context. We find that they perform comparably well with caveats. Thus, as use of WENI expands we recommend adapting WENI for in-depth analyses of women’s nutritional empowerment; using CC-WENI for cross-context comparisons; and using A-WENI for rapid appraisals of community level progress in a given context.

Year published

2025

Authors

Lentz, Erin; Jensen, Nathan; Lepariyo, Watson; Narayanan, Sudha; Bageant, Elizabeth

Citation

Lentz, Erin; Jensen, Nathan; Lepariyo, Watson; Narayanan, Sudha; and Bageant, Elizabeth. 2024. Adapting the women’s empowerment in nutrition index: Lessons from Kenya. World Development 188: 106887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106887

Country/Region

Kenya

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Women’s Empowerment; Malnutrition; Food Security; Livelihoods; Food Systems; Indicators

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Livestock

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Adapting the Women’s Empowerment in Nutrition Index: Lessons from Kenya

2025Lentz, E.; Jensen, Nathaniel D.; Lepariyo, Watson; Narayanan, S.; Bageant, E.
Details

Adapting the Women’s Empowerment in Nutrition Index: Lessons from Kenya

Women face a disproportionate burden of malnutrition and food insecurity. Research has shown that women’s empowerment can buffer women against nutritional problems. This paper contributes to ongoing efforts to measure women’s empowerment that are both context-sensitive and universal, focusing on the recently developed Women’s Empowerment in Nutrition Index (WENI). Earlier research has shown it is both a valid construct and positively related to dietary and nutritional outcomes of women in South Asia. We establish that WENI is generalizable to agropastoral and pastoral Kenya, an area with substantially different livelihoods, food system, norms, and institutions than South Asia. We find that a locally contextualized WENI is strongly associated with women’s body mass index and dietary diversity as well as household level food insecurity. We also present findings for two shorter variations of WENI: an abbreviated WENI (A-WENI) and a cross context WENI (CC-WENI). A-WENI contains a small subset of WENI indicators identified using machine learning with South Asian data and therefore is context-specific. CC-WENI does not contain indicators specific to the validation context. We find that they perform comparably well with caveats. Thus, as use of WENI expands we recommend adapting WENI for in-depth analyses of women’s nutritional empowerment; using CC-WENI for cross-context comparisons; and using A-WENI for rapid appraisals of community level progress in a given context.

Year published

2025

Authors

Lentz, E.; Jensen, Nathaniel D.; Lepariyo, Watson; Narayanan, S.; Bageant, E.

Citation

Lentz, E., Jensen, N., Lepariyo, W., Narayanan, S. and Bageant, E. 2025. Adapting the Women’s Empowerment in Nutrition Index: Lessons from Kenya. World Development 188: 106887.

Country/Region

Kenya

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Nutrition; Women

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Armed conflict and gendered participation in agrifood systems: Survey evidence from 29 African countries

2025Ronzani, Piero; Stojetz, Wolfgang; Azzarri, Carlo; Nico, Gianluigi; Mane, Erdgin; Brück, Tilman
Details

Armed conflict and gendered participation in agrifood systems: Survey evidence from 29 African countries

This paper provides empirical micro-level evidence on the gendered impacts of armed conflict on economic activity in agriculture and other sectors, combining large-N sex-disaggregated survey data with temporally and spatially disaggregated conflict event data from 29 African countries. We find that local conflict exposure is only weakly related to labour-force participation, but strongly reduces the total number of hours worked and increases engagement in the agricultural sector. These net impacts exist for both men and women. However, the reduction in hours worked is significantly greater among men, while the increase in agricultural activity is significantly greater among women. In the longer term, impacts of conflict on employment two years later are stronger when no more conflict ensues than if further conflict occurs, challenging the widespread idea of one-off conflict shocks fading away over time and suggesting that labour markets adapt to and absorb lasting conflict situations. Different types of conflict event have qualitatively similar impacts, which are strongest for explosions, such as from air strikes or landmines. Overall, our findings underline that armed conflict entails structural economic, social and institutional change, which creates complex, gendered impacts on economic activity.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ronzani, Piero; Stojetz, Wolfgang; Azzarri, Carlo; Nico, Gianluigi; Mane, Erdgin; Brück, Tilman

Citation

Ronzani, Piero; Stojetz, Wolfgang; Azzarri, Carlo; Nico, Gianluigi; Mane, Erdgin; and Brück, Tilman. 2025. Armed conflict and gendered participation in agrifood systems: Survey evidence from 29 African countries. Global Food Security 44: 100821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2024.100821

Keywords

Africa; Data; Gender; Labour Market; Armed Conflicts; Agriculture; Employment; Women’s Participation; Agrifood Systems

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Building Ethiopia’s food security resilience to climate and hydrological change

2025Murgatroyd, Anna; Thomas, Timothy S.; Koo, Jawoo; Strzepek, Kenneth M.; Hall, Jim
Details

Building Ethiopia’s food security resilience to climate and hydrological change

Historically Ethiopia’s food security has been sensitive to climatic variability, but changes in future weather and climate could lead to overall reductions and increased variability in agricultural production, without further adaptation. We present an integrated modelling assessment framework which combines climate, crop, and hydrological modelling to quantify future risks to Ethiopia’s food security. We explore the impacts of 2°C and higher climate change scenarios on water availability and crop yields and simulate how future climate shocks may impact Ethiopia’s food. We consider three adaptations to agricultural management practices (improved seed varieties, increased use of nitrogen fertilizer and supplementary irrigation) and quantify their effectiveness in enhancing the resilience of Ethiopia’s food system to climate and hydrological change by 2050. Results show that, without policy intervention, climate change creates a risk of declining Meher season crop yields across Ethiopia. Under the worst climate change scenario, teff (−12.0%), barley (−6.7%), and wheat (−4.4%) are projected to have the largest decline in average yields, whilst maize (−0.1%) and sorghum (+0.9%) yields are less impacted thanks to more favourable growing conditions. However, the results also indicate that the adaptation options have a bigger beneficial effect than the climate impact. Of the policies evaluated, improved seeds have a relatively greater effect than increased fertilizer use. Supplementary irrigation could help to mitigate increases in crop water requirements under warmer climate conditions and is most effective in drought prone basins and for drought-vulnerable crops. Overall, the results show that locally relevant agricultural policies are necessary to build Ethiopia’s food system resilience to climate and hydrological change by the mid-century.

Year published

2025

Authors

Murgatroyd, Anna; Thomas, Timothy S.; Koo, Jawoo; Strzepek, Kenneth M.; Hall, Jim

Citation

Murgatroyd, Anna; Thomas, Timothy S.; Koo, Jawoo; Strzepek, Kenneth M.; and Hall, Jim. 2025. Building Ethiopia’s food security resilience to climate and hydrological change. Environmental Research: Food Systems 2(1): 015008. https://doi.org/10.1088/2976-601X/ad99dd

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Food Security; Resilience; Climate Change; Climate Resilience; Hydrological Cycle

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Foresight

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Seed certification, certified seeds use and yield outcomes in Nigeria: Insights from nationally-representative farm panel data and seed company location data

2025
Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Ragasa, Catherine; Bamiwuye, Temilolu; Andam, Kwaw S.; Spielman, David J.; Edeh, Hyacinth O.; Fasoranti, Adetunji; Haile, Beliyou; Nwagboso, Chibuzo; Omoigui, Lucky O.
…more Abdoulaye, Tahirou; Kumar, P. Lava; Wossen, Tesfamicheal
Details

Seed certification, certified seeds use and yield outcomes in Nigeria: Insights from nationally-representative farm panel data and seed company location data

CONTEXT Despite the importance of enhanced seed quality to agricultural productivity growth, evidence remains scarce regarding the nature and possible drivers of returns to formal sector quality assurance systems, including certified seeds production in countries like Nigeria that focus significantly on the formal-sector seed systems. OBJECTIVE This study narrows this knowledge gap by estimating the effect of the quantity of certified seeds produced and the spatial variations where they are produced on the use of certified seeds and yields. We also assess the yield effects of certified seeds use and their relationship with agroclimatic and socioeconomic conditions. METHODS We combine nationally-representative farm-household survey panel data with spatial data on the headquarters locations of seed companies, the quantity of certified seeds for maize, cowpea, and rice that they produce, and spatially explicit agroecological data. We apply panel fixed effects methods as well as instrumental-variable methods to address potential endogeneity associated with certified seeds use while also controlling for the use of improved varieties to separate their effects from the effects of certified seeds. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that the availability of certified seeds—captured by indicators of certified seeds produced by seed companies headquartered in the states of survey respondents—is associated with positive but declining marginal effects on certified seeds use and yields. These results are robust when we also consider the potential within-state heterogeneity in the proximity to seed company headquarters, as well as potential spillovers from the nearest adjacent states. The yield effects of certified seeds are heterogeneous and depend on agroclimatic conditions and farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics. The use of certified seeds is somewhat higher in areas with higher yield effects after controlling for certified seeds production. These patterns partly lead to observed non-linearities in certified seeds use because certified seeds may be more likely to be used by farmers with higher expected returns than farmers with lower expected returns. These results underscore the importance of spatially targeted efforts in enhancing certified seeds production capacity, together with the exploration of intermediate quality standards in the short term where costs of seed certification are high relative to returns. SIGNIFICANCE The study provides unique quantitative evidence in a nationally representative framework in an African country that returns to seed certification systems in the current setting significantly vary depending on contexts, including agroclimatic conditions.

Year published

2025

Authors

Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Ragasa, Catherine; Bamiwuye, Temilolu; Andam, Kwaw S.; Spielman, David J.; Edeh, Hyacinth O.; Fasoranti, Adetunji; Haile, Beliyou; Nwagboso, Chibuzo; Omoigui, Lucky O.; Abdoulaye, Tahirou; Kumar, P. Lava; Wossen, Tesfamicheal

Citation

Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Ragasa, Catherine; Bamiwuye, Temilolu; Andam, Kwaw S.; Spielman, David J.; Edeh, Hyacinth O.; Fasoranti, Adetunji; Haile, Beliyou; et al. 2025. Seed certification, certified seeds use and yield outcomes in Nigeria: Insights from nationally-representative farm panel data and seed company location data. Agricultural Systems 224(March 2025): 104268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104268

Country/Region

Nigeria

Keywords

Africa; Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Seed Certification; Seeds; Yields; Data; Agricultural Productivity; Spatial Data; Surveys

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Seed Equal

Record type

Journal Article

Working Paper

Unique datasets on shocks, food security, and household coping strategies: Creating new analytical playgrounds to study coping behavior in the multi-shock environments of Mali, Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso (2018-2023)

2025Marivoet, Wim; Sib, Ollo; Samake, Aliou Badara; Dieme, Ndeye Fatou; Hema, Aboubacar; Doehnert, Federico; Suzuki, Mina
Details

Unique datasets on shocks, food security, and household coping strategies: Creating new analytical playgrounds to study coping behavior in the multi-shock environments of Mali, Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso (2018-2023)

To inform the Cadre Harmonisé process in West Africa, large-scale national household surveys are usually implemented twice a year to capture data on household food security and several forms of consumption- and livelihood-based coping strategies. These cross-sectional surveys typically take place around February-March (before the start of the lean season) and September-October (at the end of the lean season or beginning of the harvesting period), and they are generally representative at the second-tier administrative level. Despite their different names (that is, ENSAN in Mali, ENSA in Chad, EVIAM in Niger, and ENISAN in Burkina Faso) and the methodological revisions introduced over the years, these surveys have a large common set of variables that were pooled together by standardizing the modalities of all common variables found across the multiple survey waves between 2018 and 2023. Apart from reconsolidation and reprocessing of initial data files, this process also involved the re-computation of several key indicators on food security and household coping as to assure maximum methodological consistency over time.

Year published

2025

Authors

Marivoet, Wim; Sib, Ollo; Samake, Aliou Badara; Dieme, Ndeye Fatou; Hema, Aboubacar; Doehnert, Federico; Suzuki, Mina

Citation

Marivoet, Wim; Sib, Ollo; Samake, Aliou Badara; Dieme, Ndeye Fatou; Hema, Aboubacar; Doehnert, Federico; and Suzuki, Mina. 2025. Unique datasets on shocks, food security, and household coping strategies: Creating new analytical playgrounds to study coping behavior in the multi-shock environments of Mali, Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso (2018-2023). Fragility, Conflict, and Migration Initiative. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute.

Country/Region

Mali; Chad; Niger; Burkina Faso

Keywords

Western Africa; Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Datasets; Shock; Food Security; Households

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Fragility, Conflict, and Migration

Record type

Working Paper

Report

IFPRI Malawi monthly maize market report, January 2025

2025International Food Policy Research Institute; Banda, Chimwemwe
Details

IFPRI Malawi monthly maize market report, January 2025

Highlights  Retail prices of maize increased by 21 percent in January.  Maize prices were lowest in the Northern region, where informal imports from Tanzania and northern Zambia enter the country, and increased southward.  Some maize was exported to southern Zambia, but high prices in southern Malawi attracted imports from Mozambique.  At the market exchange rate, retail prices of maize in Malawi were similar to those in Zambia and lower than in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Year published

2025

Authors

International Food Policy Research Institute; Banda, Chimwemwe

Citation

International Food Policy Research Institute. 2025. IFPRI Malawi monthly maize market report, January 2025. MaSSP Monthly Maize Market Report January 2025. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172961

Country/Region

Malawi

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Markets; Prices; Retail Prices; Food Prices; Maize

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

National Policies and Strategies

Record type

Report

Report

The cluster panacea? An evaluation of three interventions in shrimp value chains in Bangladesh

2025Narayanan, Sudha; Belton, Ben; Kabir, Razin; Sakil, Abdul Zabbar; Khan, Asraul Hoque; Hernandez, Ricardo
Details

The cluster panacea? An evaluation of three interventions in shrimp value chains in Bangladesh

Clustering farming has often been proposed as an effective way to overcome the significant transactions costs faced by downstream buyers in interacting and negotiating with many small farmers, while making it easier for extension workers and governments to dispense advice, provide upstream services and inputs. In this study, we evaluate the impact of a set of three initiatives in Bangladesh, implemented by a government department, a private sector processing firm and a not-for-profit industrial advocacy body, all involving clustering contiguous shrimp farm ponds to enable group certification necessary for global market access. We implement a canonical difference-in-differences model using two rounds of surveys of a sample of over 1,222 farmers in 2023 and 2024 to assess the impacts on pond management practices, net profits and any unintended impacts on food security and dietary diversity. Our results suggest that the cluster interventions had impressive impacts on adoption of better farm management practices. However, these do not appear to translate into significant gains in net profits, perhaps because these interventions are still relatively new. Further, it appears that cluster farmers pay a penalty on account of a shift to more intensive cultivation, represented by a loss in species diversity and lower incomes from fish and vegetables. We find that there are no significant spillover effects as yet on shrimp farmers in the same village as the clusters. This study reflects critically on the efficacy of clustering that is presumed to enhance access to global markets.

Year published

2025

Authors

Narayanan, Sudha; Belton, Ben; Kabir, Razin; Sakil, Abdul Zabbar; Khan, Asraul Hoque; Hernandez, Ricardo

Citation

Narayanan, Sudha; Belton, Ben; Kabir, Razin; Sakil, Abdul Zabbar; Khan, Asraul Hoque; and Hernandez, Ricardo. 2025. The cluster panacea? An evaluation of three interventions in shrimp value chains in Bangladesh. CGIAR Initiative on Rethinking Food Markets Technical Report. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172964

Country/Region

Bangladesh

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Transaction Costs; Farmers; Shrimp Culture; Food Security; Profit

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Rethinking Food Markets

Record type

Report

Preprint

Can district level support enhance coverage and equity? Evidence from India’s nutrition program

2025
Gune, Soyra; Alderman, Harold; Avula, Rasmi; Nguyen, Phuong; Dwivedi, Laxmikant; Kapur, Avani; Shukla, Ritwik; Pedgaonkar, Sarang; Singh, Shri Kant; Menon, Purnima
…more Chakrabarti, Suman
Details

Can district level support enhance coverage and equity? Evidence from India’s nutrition program

Importance: India’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program is among the world’s largest nutrition and health programs that offers services to pregnant, lactating mothers, and young children. To support national investments towards universalization of ICDS interventions, between 2016 and 2020, the Indian government in collaboration with multiple partners, introduced system strengthening mechanisms at the district (subnational administrative unit) level in 64% of India’s districts. Objectives: To examine national-level trends in coverage and equity of ICDS interventions and the role of district-level support mechanisms in improving equitable coverage. Design, Setting, and Participants: This quasi-experimental assessment used data (N=393,097 mother-child pairs) from three rounds of nationally representative surveys in 2006, 2016, and 2020. We used inequity indices and regression models to assess changes in equity by wealth, caste, and residence. We applied difference-in-differences (DID) models to investigate changes in coverage due to district support mechanisms between 2016 and 2020. Intervention: The district support mechanisms were introduced between 2016 and 2020 and included a combination of input features such as capacity building of frontline workers, additional human resources, financial, infrastructural, and technological support, among others. Main Outcomes and Measures: Our primary outcomes were the receipt of thirteen ICDS services during pregnancy, lactation, and early childhood. District support mechanisms were grouped into three treatment arms for DID analyses using an intention-to-treat approach with heterogeneous treatments. Results: ICDS utilization continued to increase from 2016 to 2020, with the most improvement observed in health and nutrition education (20-21pp). Unlike 2006-2016, there were large improvements in coverage equity between 2016-2020. DID models show, on average, that districts receiving any programmatic support had significant and faster improvements in coverage (2.2-14.7pp). Pooled effects sizes were larger, on average, for districts that received financial support in addition to human resources (8.9pp, 95% CI 7.3-10.74) compared to districts that only received human resource support (4.5pp, 95% CI 3.4-5.7). Conclusions: India’s programmatic efforts to further strengthen the ICDS were successful in increasing coverage of ICDS program at the national-level and reducing coverage inequities that persisted earlier. Focused district support mechanisms enabled faster progress in coverage and equity.

Year published

2025

Authors

Gune, Soyra; Alderman, Harold; Avula, Rasmi; Nguyen, Phuong; Dwivedi, Laxmikant; Kapur, Avani; Shukla, Ritwik; Pedgaonkar, Sarang; Singh, Shri Kant; Menon, Purnima; Chakrabarti, Suman

Citation

Gune, Soyra; Alderman, Harold; Avula, Rasmi; Nguyen, Phuong Hong; Dwivedi, Laxmikant; Kapur, Avani; Shukla, Ritwik; Pedgaonkar, Sarang; et al. 2025. Can district level support enhance coverage and equity? Evidence from India’s nutrition program. SSRN Preprint. Available February 7, 2025. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5109736

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Equity; Nutrition; Women; Children; Child Development

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Project

National Policies and Strategies

Record type

Preprint

Journal Article

How helpful are the “hidden costs of food systems” numbers?

2025Brooks, Jonathan; Diaz-Bonilla, Eugenio
Details

How helpful are the “hidden costs of food systems” numbers?

Year published

2025

Authors

Brooks, Jonathan; Diaz-Bonilla, Eugenio

Citation

Brooks, Jonathan; and Diaz-Bonilla, Eugenio. 2025. How helpful are the “hidden costs of food systems” numbers? Food Policy 131(February 2025): 102796. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2024.102796

Keywords

Food Systems; Policies; Economic Aspects; Public Goods; Agriculture

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Project

National Policies and Strategies

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

The long-run and intergenerational impact of early exposure to the Great Chinese Famine of 1959–61 on mental health

2025Tan, Chih Ming; Zhang, Xiaobo; Zhang, Xin
Details

The long-run and intergenerational impact of early exposure to the Great Chinese Famine of 1959–61 on mental health

We study the effects of early exposure to the Great Chinese Famine on the mental health and subjective well-being of survivors as well as their offspring using data from the 2010 and 2014 waves of the China Family Panel Studies. Our analysis focuses on K6 scores, severe mental illness, and life dissatisfaction. We find that early exposure to the famine has impaired the mental health outcomes of women, but not men (i.e., the first generation). For the second generation, negative effects only show up among the sons of male famine survivors. Some preliminary evidence suggests that the mechanism for such transmission may have to do with the cultural son preference.

Year published

2025

Authors

Tan, Chih Ming; Zhang, Xiaobo; Zhang, Xin

Citation

Tan, Chih Ming; Zhang, Xiaobo; and Zhang, Xin. 2025. The long-run and intergenerational impact of early exposure to the Great Chinese Famine of 1959–61 on mental health. Economics and Human Biology 56(February 2025): 101461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2024.101461

Country/Region

China

Keywords

Asia; South-eastern Asia; Capacity Development; Famine; Mental Health; Men; Data; Women; Gender

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Project

Fragility, Conflict, and Migration

Record type

Journal Article

Brief

Madagascar assessment

2025Resnick, Danielle
Details

Madagascar assessment

Large-scale food fortification (LSFF) presents a promising intervention in Madagascar, where approximately 75% of the population lives below the poverty line and faces multiple malnutrition burdens. For instance, 39.8% of children under age five are stunted, and 37.8% of reproductive age women suffer from anemia (Development Initiatives 2022). These trends persist despite a long history of nutrition programs and alliances, including the introduction of a mandatory salt iodization program in 1995, several national nutrition policies and action plans since 2004, and the country’s participation in the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement since 2021. Moreover, despite several voluntary standards in place, progress in implementing mandatory LSFF for widely consumed foods remains stalled, lagging behind LSFF in many other African countries.

Year published

2025

Authors

Resnick, Danielle

Citation

Resnick, Danielle. 2025. Madagascar assessment. PEDAL Brief 2. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172757

Country/Region

Madagascar

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Food Fortification; Micronutrient Deficiencies; Poverty; Stakeholders; Assessment

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Brief

Brief

Methodology [of the PEDAL project]

2025Resnick, Danielle
Details

Methodology [of the PEDAL project]

Large-scale food fortification (LSFF) is considered one of the most cost-effective ways of addressing micronutrient deficiencies. The intervention involves adding essential minerals and vitamins to widely consumed foods and requires minimal changes to consumption patterns while relying on existing food delivery systems. However, there is a lot of variability across countries in the adoption of mandatory and voluntary LSFF standards, that is, the government legislation requiring that specific staple foods or condiments be fortified. In fact, there are more than 80 countries where micronutrient deficiencies are widespread but a mandatory fortification standard has not been adopted. Even in countries where standards have been adopted, implementation could not be financially sustained over the years or laboratory tests revealed that designated food vehicles lacked the stipulated micronutrients. The Political Economy Diagnostic for Assessing Large-Scale Food Fortification (PEDAL) is designed to identify the ways in which political and institutional factors may contribute to differences in the uptake and implementation of LSFF standards. While political economy is acknowledged to be an important factor underlying the success or failure of LSFF, few studies on LSFF explicitly incorporate it into their analyses. By reducing LSFF to a purely technical intervention, bottlenecks to policy traction can worsen and derail uptake. In contrast, PEDAL offers a systematic diagnostic of the political economy environment for LSFF to identify these bottlenecks ex ante and to calibrate policy interventions accordingly. In doing so, PEDAL aims to help countries advance toward achieving healthier diets and reducing micronutrient deficiencies. PEDAL focuses on two core elements of the enabling environment: political will and implementation capacity (see Figure 1). Political will consists of the range of interests that motivate different stakeholders, the ideational goals that underlie their policy preferences, and their degree of leverage to exert their preferences. Implementation capacity consists of both the institutional architecture established to make continuous decisions related to LSFF policy and the technical capacity to ensure regulations are adhered to at the processing and retail levels. Across both dimensions, the diagnostic examines three sets of actors: the public sector (including government ministries, agencies, executives, legislators, and bureaucrats), the private sector (such as food producers, processors, and retailers) and civil society (including consumers, research institutes, universities, journalists, and nongovernmental organizations). The remainder of this brief examines these components in more detail and highlights how they can be assessed by researchers and practitioners.

Year published

2025

Authors

Resnick, Danielle

Citation

Resnick, Danielle. 2025. Methodology. PEDAL Brief 1. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172758

Keywords

Economics; Food Fortification; Implementation; Micronutrient Deficiencies

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Brief

Brief

Conditional contracts in indirect local procurement of maize from smallholder farmers in Uganda: A study design to assess impacts

2025Raghunathan, Kalyani; Abate, Gashaw T.; Van Campenhout, Bjorn; Nabwire, Leocardia; Mukangabo, Emerence; Mugabo, Serge; Benin, Samuel
Details

Conditional contracts in indirect local procurement of maize from smallholder farmers in Uganda: A study design to assess impacts

Improving smallholder farmers’ access to reliable markets can have significant impacts on their wellbeing, income, poverty reduction, dietary diversity, and rural economic growth. As the choice of marketing channels may influence outcomes differently depending on the context, a key issue is understanding the effectiveness of different marketing instruments. One such modality is a conditional contract between a buyer and the traders supplying it. Such a contract requires traders to source a certain percentage of their supplies directly from smallholder farmers. This raises the question of whether conditional contracts create access to reliable markets for smallholder farmers, result in value chain transformation, and sustain market engagement between traders and smallholder farmers.

Year published

2025

Authors

Raghunathan, Kalyani; Abate, Gashaw T.; Van Campenhout, Bjorn; Nabwire, Leocardia; Mukangabo, Emerence; Mugabo, Serge; Benin, Samuel

Citation

Raghunathan, Kalyani; Abate, Gashaw T.; Van Campenhout, Bjorn; Nabwire, Leocardia; Mukangabo, Emerence; Mugabo, Serge; and Benin, Samuel. 2025. Conditional contracts in indirect local procurement of maize from smallholder farmers in Uganda: A study design to assess impacts. SFS4Youth Project Note 2. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172818

Country/Region

Uganda

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Contracts; Maize; Smallholders; Value Chains

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Brief

Journal Article

The effects of prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation and small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplementation on small vulnerable newborn types in low-income and middle-income countries: A meta-analysis of individual participant data

2025
Wang, Dongqing; Liu, Enju; Perumal, Nandita; Partap, Uttara; Cliffer, Ilana R.; Costa, Janaína Calu; Wang, Molin; Fawzi, Wafaie W.; Adu-Afarwuah, Seth; Ashorn, Per
…more Ashorn, Ulla; Mridha, Malay Kanti; Arifeen, Shams; Bhutta, Zulfiqar A.; Cheng, Yue; Christian, Parul; Costello, Anthony M.; Dewey, Kathryn G.; Friis, Henrik; Gomo, Exnevia; Grais, Rebecca; Guindo, Ousmane; Krebs, Nancy F.; Huybregts, Lieven; Isanaka, Sheila; Lachat, Carl; Lartey, Anna; LeClerq, Steven C.; Maleta, Kenneth; Manandhar, Dharma S.; Martorell, Reynaldo; Matias, Susana L.; McClure, Elizabeth M.; Moore, Sophie E.; Osrin, David; Urassa, Willy; Pembe, Andrea B.; Prentice, Andrew M.; Ramakrishnan, Usha; Rivera, Juan; Rizvi, Arjumand; Roberfroid, Dominique; Shamim, Abu Ahmed; Soofi, Sajid; Schulze, Kerry; West Jr., Keith P.; Wu, Lee; Zeng, Lingxia; Zhu, Zhonghai
Details

The effects of prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation and small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplementation on small vulnerable newborn types in low-income and middle-income countries: A meta-analysis of individual participant data

Background Small vulnerable newborn types, defined by combinations of being born too soon or too small, have distinct determinants and health consequences. We aimed to assess the effects of prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) and small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplementation (SQ-LNS) on small vulnerable newborn types, which are currently unknown. Methods In this meta-analysis, individual participant data from randomised controlled trials of MMS and randomised controlled trials of SQ-LNS in low-income and middle-income countries were used. We systematically searched the literature using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify randomised controlled trials of prenatal nutritional supplementation using MMS or SQ-LNS among pregnant people published between Jan 1, 2000, and Dec 31, 2021. Studies were excluded if they were conducted exclusively among participants selected by pre-existing health conditions, such as anaemia status, HIV infection, or diabetes. We contacted the corresponding authors of all identified studies to seek data contribution. As individual participant data became available, we mapped relevant variables and harmonised the data across studies. Iron and folic acid supplementation was the control group in most studies. Newborns were classified into ten groups through the combinations of preterm or term birth, small, appropriate, and large for gestational age, and low birthweight (LBW) or non-LBW. Newborns were also analysed using a four-group categorisation of preterm or term and LBW or non-LBW. Log-binomial models were used to estimate study-specific risk ratios (RRs), which were pooled using meta-analyses. Findings 14 randomised controlled trials of MMS (n=42 618; the mean maternal age at study enrolment was 24·3 years [SD 5.6]; 22 086 [51·8%] male neonates and 20 532 [48·2%] female neonates) and four randomised controlled trials of SQ-LNS (n=6246; the mean maternal age at study enrolment was 23·3 years [SD 5·3]; 3137 [50·2%] male neonates and 3109 [49·8%] female neonates) were used. In the ten-group categorisation of small vulnerable newborns, prenatal MMS reduced the risk of preterm–small for gestational age (SGA)–LBW (RR 0·73, 95% CI 0·64–0·84; p=0·0003); preterm–appropriate for gestational age (AGA)–LBW (0·82, 0·74–0·91; p=0·0010); preterm–AGA–non-LBW (0·89, 0·80–0·98; p=0·019); term–SGA–LBW (0·91, 0·85–0·96; p=0·0046); and term–SGA–non-LBW (0·95, 0·90–1·00; p=0·050). In the four-group categorisation, prenatal MMS reduced the risk of preterm–SGA (0·71, 0·62–0·82; p=0·0002) and term–SGA (0·93, 0·89–0·98; p=0·0066). Prenatal SQ-LNS had no significant effects on the risk of giving birth to small vulnerable newborns except for preterm–large for gestational age–non-LBW in the ten-group categorisation (0·78, 0·65–0·94; p=0·023). Interpretation Prenatal MMS and SQ-LNS reduce the risk of giving birth to small vulnerable newborns to varying extents, with the greatest magnitude of effects observed for small vulnerable newborn types that confer the greatest neonatal mortality risk. This study underscores the importance of nutritional supplements in prenatal care.

Year published

2025

Authors

Wang, Dongqing; Liu, Enju; Perumal, Nandita; Partap, Uttara; Cliffer, Ilana R.; Costa, Janaína Calu; Wang, Molin; Fawzi, Wafaie W.; Adu-Afarwuah, Seth; Ashorn, Per; Ashorn, Ulla; Mridha, Malay Kanti; Arifeen, Shams; Bhutta, Zulfiqar A.; Cheng, Yue; Christian, Parul; Costello, Anthony M.; Dewey, Kathryn G.; Friis, Henrik; Gomo, Exnevia; Grais, Rebecca; Guindo, Ousmane; Krebs, Nancy F.; Huybregts, Lieven; Isanaka, Sheila; Lachat, Carl; Lartey, Anna; LeClerq, Steven C.; Maleta, Kenneth; Manandhar, Dharma S.; Martorell, Reynaldo; Matias, Susana L.; McClure, Elizabeth M.; Moore, Sophie E.; Osrin, David; Urassa, Willy; Pembe, Andrea B.; Prentice, Andrew M.; Ramakrishnan, Usha; Rivera, Juan; Rizvi, Arjumand; Roberfroid, Dominique; Shamim, Abu Ahmed; Soofi, Sajid; Schulze, Kerry; West Jr., Keith P.; Wu, Lee; Zeng, Lingxia; Zhu, Zhonghai

Citation

Wang, Dongqing; Liu, Enju; Perumal, Nandita; Partap, Uttara; Cliffer, Ilana R.; Costa, Janaína Calu; Wang, Molin; Fawzi, Wafaie W.; and the Gestational Weight Gain Pooling Project Consortium. 2025. The effects of prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation and small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplementation on small vulnerable newborn types in low-income and middle-income countries: A meta-analysis of individual participant data. Lancet Global Health 13(2): e298-e308. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00449-2

Keywords

Infants; Prematurity; Health; Perinatal Period; Micronutrient Deficiencies; Nutrition

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Working Paper

Household coping strategies and food security in the multi-shock environment of Mali

2025Ulimwengu, John M.
Details

Household coping strategies and food security in the multi-shock environment of Mali

This study investigates household coping strategies and food security outcomes within the context of multiple, overlapping shocks, including conflict, food price volatility, climate events, and economic instability. Utilizing a unique household dataset on Mali combined with probit models to account for the compounded effects of these systemic shocks, the analysis highlights significant elasticities between specific shocks and household responses. Key findings demonstrate that while preventive measures, such as income diversification, strengthen resilience, reactive strategies like selling productive assets or borrowing money or food provide only short-term relief but undermine long-term sustainability. The impact of coping strategies on food security measures, including the Food Consumption Score (FCS), Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), and Household Hunger Scale (HHS), reveals the trade-offs Malian households make between immediate needs and future stability. The study emphasizes the critical role of policy interventions in mitigating these vulnerabilities, including strengthening social safety nets, expanding access to financial services, and promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices. By integrating the analysis of multiple shocks, this research provides actionable insights for building household and community resilience in environments of compounded risk.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ulimwengu, John M.

Citation

Ulimwengu, John M. 2025. Household coping strategies and food security in the multi-shock environment of Mali. CGIAR Initiative on Fragility, Conflict, and Migration. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172684

Country/Region

Mali

Keywords

Africa; Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Households; Food Security; Shock; Conflicts; Food Prices; Resilience; Social Safety Nets

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Fragility, Conflict, and Migration

Record type

Working Paper

Brief

Papua New Guinea food price bulletin: January 2025

2025International Food Policy Research Institute; Schmidt, Emily; Kedir Jemal, Mekamu
Details

Papua New Guinea food price bulletin: January 2025

Download time series food price data, and build graphs and tables for over 20 different food crops at our food price database webpage: https://www.ifpri.org/project/fresh-food-price-analysis-papua-new-guinea/ Price trends: Quarterly comparisons (Q4 2024 vs. Q4 2023 and Q4 2022) Sweet potato prices in Q4 of 2024 were 20.4 percent higher in all markets compared to Q4 of 2023 (averaging 1.64 PGK/kg in Q4 of 2023, and 1.79 PGK/kg in 2024). However, sweet potato prices in Kokopo were 13 percent lower in 2024 (1.35 PGK/kg) compared to 2023 Q4 price (1.55/PGK/kg) Rice prices have increased slowly (but remained stable) since 2022. Compared to Q4 2023, rice prices in 2024 were 14 percent higher in Kokopo, Lae and Port Moresby. Vegetable prices, on average, in Q4 of 2024 were 23.6 lower in Goroka compared to Q4 of 2023. Compared to Q4 2022, the price of vegetables, on average, in 2024 were 22.1 percent lower in highland markets. Fruits saw mixed price movements between 2023 and 2024: lemon prices in Q4 2024 were 28.4 percent lower, on average, across all markets.

Year published

2025

Authors

International Food Policy Research Institute; Schmidt, Emily; Kedir Jemal, Mekamu

Citation

International Food Policy Research Institute. 2025. Papua New Guinea food price bulletin: January 2025. Papua New Guinea Food Price Bulletin January 2025. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172690

Country/Region

Papua New Guinea

Keywords

Melanesia; Asia; Markets; Food Prices; Rice; Sweet Potatoes; Fruits

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Record type

Brief

Working Paper

Integrated agro-industrial parks in Ethiopia: Status, success and challenges with a focus on Yirgalem IAIP

2025Alemnew, Teklebirhan; Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum
Details

Integrated agro-industrial parks in Ethiopia: Status, success and challenges with a focus on Yirgalem IAIP

This study aims to assess the current state, successes, and challenges of Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks (IAIPs) in Ethiopia, with a specific focus on the Yirgalem Integrated Agro-Industrial Park (YIAIP). The analysis is based on an extensive literature review and semi-structured interviews with key informants (KIIs). By examining the current state of Ethiopia’s IAIPs, the research provides valuable insights into their successes and shortcomings, offering critical lessons to enhance the sustainability of IAIPs in Ethiopia and guide the development of similar initiatives in other Sub-Saharan African countries.

Year published

2025

Authors

Alemnew, Teklebirhan; Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum

Citation

Alemnew, Teklebirhan; and Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum. 2025. Integrated agro-industrial parks in Ethiopia: Status, success and challenges with a focus on Yirgalem IAIP. National Policies and Strategies Initiative Working Paper. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172672

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Agro-industrial Complexes; Literature Reviews; Sustainability; Industrialization; Development; Infrastructure; Domestic Production

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

National Policies and Strategies

Record type

Working Paper

Report

Synthesis report: Agricultural transformation and market integration in the ASEAN region: Responding to food security and inclusiveness concerns

2025Roy, Devesh; Kamar, Abul; Pradhan, Mamata; Saroj, Sunil
Details

Synthesis report: Agricultural transformation and market integration in the ASEAN region: Responding to food security and inclusiveness concerns

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional grouping of Southeast Asian countries formed in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined this association in 1984. ASEAN expanded to 10 countries between 1995 and 1999 by extending memberships to Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam. These 10 Southeast Asian countries entered into the trade agreement to ensure the free flow of goods, including agricultural products. Agreements related to services and investment were also signed to enhance economic cooperation and to develop an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) in 2003 helped liberalize the intra-ASEAN agricultural trade, which grew steadily during the period under review. Further, the dynamics of intra ASEAN trade show that after the food price crisis of 2007/2008, intra-ASEAN agricultural trade increased sharply, which reflects ASEAN’s efforts to create a food security action plan aimed at improving sustainable food trade among ASEAN members.

Year published

2025

Authors

Roy, Devesh; Kamar, Abul; Pradhan, Mamata; Saroj, Sunil

Citation

Roy, Devesh; Kamar, Abul; Pradhan, Mamata; and Saroj, Sunil. 2025. Synthesis report: Agricultural transformation and market integration in the ASEAN region: Responding to food security and inclusiveness concerns. New Delhi, India: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/170266

Country/Region

Philippines; Singapore

Keywords

Asia; South-eastern Asia; Agriculture; Food Security; Trade; Economic Aspects; Prices

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Report

Report

Completion report: Agricultural transformation and market integration in the ASEAN region: Responding to food security and inclusiveness concerns

2025International Food Policy Research Institute; Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture
Details

Completion report: Agricultural transformation and market integration in the ASEAN region: Responding to food security and inclusiveness concerns

The ATMI-ASEAN project was launched on October 7–8, 2016, in the Philippines. It is a five-year project funded by International Funds for Agriculture Development (IFAD) with a year’s extension due to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The implementation of the project was led by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and co-implemented by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). The ATMI-ASEAN project comprises three main components: Component 1. Policy studies and expert workshops; Component 2. High-level policy forums (HLPFs) and roundtables; and Component 3. Technical assistance for planning and policy development. Each component was scheduled and implemented over the project implementation from 2016 to 2021, then extended for a year to finalize the project implementation affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This report elaborates on all project outputs throughout the implementation.

Year published

2025

Authors

International Food Policy Research Institute; Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture

Citation

International Food Policy Research Institute; and Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture. 2025. Completion report: Agricultural transformation and market integration in the ASEAN region: Responding to food security and inclusiveness concerns. New Delhi, India: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/170263

Country/Region

Philippines

Keywords

Asia; South-eastern Asia; Policies; Development; Food Security; Agrifood Sector; Value Chains; Capacity Development

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Record type

Report

Working Paper

Agrifood value chains in India: A state-level analysis using a social accounting matrix

2025Pal, Barun Deb; Thurlow, James; Pauw, Karl; Diao, Xinshen; Ajmani, Manmeet Singh
Details

Agrifood value chains in India: A state-level analysis using a social accounting matrix

This study describes disparities in per capita income, in the structure of the economy, and in agrifood systems (AFS) across states in India. We use the gross value added (GVA) obtained from state-specific agrifood value chains (AVCs) to describe the size and structure of the AFS in each state of India. This study also presents the size of employment and variability in labor productivity within the AFS across states. A special focus is given to female and youth employment in the state specific AVCs. The 2017/18 state-level social accounting matrix (SAM) for India is the primary data source for estimating statewise GVA from the AFS. Periodic Labor Force Survey data are used to estimate the size of AFS employment. Our results reveal that the bottom half of the Indian population has an average per capita income of US$1,019, 2.5 times lower than that of the top half. India’s AFS is valued at $756 billion, or 31 percent of its GVA. Primary agriculture comprises 59 percent of the AFS, and off-farm activities the rest. The share of off-farm activities in the AFS rises moving from lower-income states to higher-income states, corroborating the theory of structural transformation. The national average share of female workers in total employment is 23 percent and the majority of women who do work are engaged in primary agriculture. The share of women employed in the primary agriculture sector does not change between low- and high-income states in India. In contrast, the share of youth in primary agriculture declines between lower- and higher-income states. Since state governments in India are empowered to design their own policy and development strategies, this study provides an important policy insight to both the federal (central) and state governments.

Year published

2025

Authors

Pal, Barun Deb; Thurlow, James; Pauw, Karl; Diao, Xinshen; Ajmani, Manmeet Singh

Citation

Pal, Barun Deb; Thurlow, James; Pauw, Karl; Diao, Xinshen; and Ajmani, Manmeet Singh. 2025. Agrifood value chains in India: A state-level analysis using a social accounting matrix. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2325. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/170111

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Income; Agrifood Systems; Value Added; Value Chains; Employment; Labour Productivity; Data; Women; Gender

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Project

Foresight

Record type

Working Paper

Infographic

Child growth and development in rural Papua New Guinea

2025Mukerjee, Rishabh; Schmidt, Emily
Details

Child growth and development in rural Papua New Guinea

Year published

2025

Authors

Mukerjee, Rishabh; Schmidt, Emily

Citation

Mukerjee, Rishabh; and Schmidt, Emily. 2025. Child growth and development in rural Papua New Guinea. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169764

Country/Region

Papua New Guinea

Keywords

Melanesia; Child Growth; Child Development; Rural Areas; Stunting

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Infographic

Working Paper

Stakeholder disconnect: Differences between farmers, extension workers, and researchers on preferred strategies for timely wheat sowing in Bihar, India

2025Gupta, Shweta; Kishore, Avinash; Burton, Michael
Details

Stakeholder disconnect: Differences between farmers, extension workers, and researchers on preferred strategies for timely wheat sowing in Bihar, India

Late sowing of wheat is a persistent problem in South Asia despite widespread awareness that it lowers crop yields. We asked 2034 farmers, 33 researchers, and 114 frontline extension workers (EW) in Bihar, India to rank 6 commonly recommended solutions for their effectiveness. Respondents faced repeated rounds of best-worst choices to obtain a full ranking of the options. Responses were analyzed using random utility models. Farmers ranked timely and affordable irrigation as the most effective solution and zero-tillage (ZT) the least effective one; researchers ranked ZT the highest. The EW were somewhere in the middle. A better understanding of the reasons behind the differences in the assessments of researchers, extension personnel, and farmers about what will work the best will generate better solutions.

Year published

2025

Authors

Gupta, Shweta; Kishore, Avinash; Burton, Michael

Citation

Gupta, Shweta; Kishore, Avinash; and Burton, Michael. 2025. Stakeholder disconnect: Differences between farmers, extension workers, and researchers on preferred strategies for timely wheat sowing in Bihar, India. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2324. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169687

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Advisory Officers; Farmers; Scientists; Stakeholders; Wheat

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Record type

Working Paper

Brief

The case for food system knowledge support system (FS-KSS)

2025Ulimwengu, John M.; Mutyasira, Vine; Keizire, Boaz
Details

The case for food system knowledge support system (FS-KSS)

The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035) is a key framework aimed at transforming Africa’s agrifood systems to achieve sustainable agricultural growth, food security, and economic development across the continent. Building on the lessons from the Malabo Declaration, the Plan emphasizes the need for sustainable food production, inclusivity, and resilience in the face of climate change and other challenges. However, achieving these ambitious goals requires a robust and integrated support system that can provide accurate, real time data, facilitate evidence-based decision-making, and promote accountability among stakeholders. Without a well-functioning knowledge system, the efforts to transform agrifood systems may be hindered by data gaps, limited analytical capacity, and a lack of coordination among various actors. The effectiveness of food systems in Africa is often hindered by data gaps, inconsistencies, and limited capacity for data analysis. These issues compromise the ability of governments and other stakeholders to make informed decisions, implement sound policies, and monitor progress toward national and continental goals such as food security and climate resilience. This is where the Food System Knowledge Support System (FS-KSS) becomes crucial, as it provides the necessary tools to ensure effective implementation of the CAADP Strategy and Action Plan.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ulimwengu, John M.; Mutyasira, Vine; Keizire, Boaz

Citation

Ulimwengu, John; Mutyasira, Vine; and Keizire, Boaz. 2024. The case for food system knowledge support system (FS-KSS). AGRA-IFPRI Policy Brief 3. Nairobi, Kenya: AGRA, IFPRI, and IDRC.

Keywords

Africa; Sustainable Agriculture; Sustainable Development; Agrifood Systems; Caadp; Food Security; Data Analysis

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Brief

Brief

The case for post Malabo Agenda implementation guidelines

2025Ulimwengu, John M.; Mutyasira, Vine; Keizire, Boaz
Details

The case for post Malabo Agenda implementation guidelines

The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), developed by the African Union (AU) in 2003, marked a significant turning point for Africa’s agricultural development. CAADP’s objective was to transform agriculture into a key driver of economic growth, poverty reduction, and food security across the continent. Through a focus on increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring that agricultural development was aligned with national and regional priorities, CAADP sought to tackle Africa’s persistent challenges of hunger, malnutrition, and economic stagnation. In 2014, the Malabo Declaration was introduced as the second phase of CAADP implementation, with a new set of ambitious targets aimed at ending hunger and halving poverty by 2025. The declaration reinforced the importance of agricultural-led growth and committed African governments to specific goals, including increasing agricultural productivity by at least 6% annually and allocating at least 10% of national budgets to agriculture. It also emphasized sustainable agriculture, resilience to climate change, and equitable access to resources, particularly for women and smallholder farmers.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ulimwengu, John M.; Mutyasira, Vine; Keizire, Boaz

Citation

Ulimwengu, John; Mutyasira, Vine; and Keizire, Boaz. 2025. The case for post Malabo Agenda implementation guidelines. AGRA-IFPRI Policy Brief 2. Nairobi: AGRA, IFPRI, and IDRC. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169385

Keywords

Africa; Caadp; Agricultural Development; Agriculture; Economic Development; Food Security; Poverty; Malnutrition; Hunger; Climate Resilience

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Brief

Brief

Comprehensive mapping of food systems is necessary to guide transformation efforts: The case of Rwanda

2025Ulimwengu, John M.; Warner, James; Mutyasira, Vine; Keizire, Boaz
Details

Comprehensive mapping of food systems is necessary to guide transformation efforts: The case of Rwanda

Rwanda has made significant strides in improving its food systems, with notable progress in reducing malnutrition and stunting, especially among children. Stunting rates declined from over 50% in the early 2000s to 33% by 2020, reflecting the government’s commitment to addressing food insecurity and enhancing nutrition through a range of agricultural and public health initiatives. The country’s Crop Intensification Program (CIP) has played a pivotal role in increasing agricultural productivity, especially for staple crops like maize, beans, and Irish potatoes, which has contributed to better food availability across the country. Despite these achievements, substantial challenges persist. Almost 19% of households still face food insecurity, with the highest prevalence in rural areas. Additionally, malnutrition continues to affect vulnerable populations, with anemia rates among women of reproductive age at 37%, signaling gaps in nutrition security. Environmental concerns, including soil degradation, water scarcity, and climate change, further complicate efforts to sustain agricultural productivity. Approximately 40% of Rwanda’s land is affected by soil erosion, and shifting climate patterns pose increasing risks to agricultural yields. These challenges indicate the need for a more strategic, research-based approach to understanding and transforming Rwanda’s food system.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ulimwengu, John M.; Warner, James; Mutyasira, Vine; Keizire, Boaz

Citation

Ulimwengu, John; Warner, James; Mutyasira, Vine; and Keizire, Boaz. 2025. Comprehensive mapping of food systems is necessary to guide transformation efforts: The case of Rwanda. AGRA-IFPRI Policy Brief 4. Nairobi: AGRA, IFPRI, and IDRC. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169384

Country/Region

Rwanda

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Southern Africa; Food Systems; Malnutrition; Stunting; Food Security; Agriculture; Public Health; Intensification; Agricultural Productivity; Sustainability

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Brief

Report

Farmers brace for a new round of trade wars

2025Glauber, Joseph W.
Details

Farmers brace for a new round of trade wars

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take up residence at the White House for the second time, US farmers nervously await what is in store for the agricultural sector, particularly in trade. In 2018 and 2019, US agriculture suffered from collateral damage during the previous Trump administration as the president’s unilateral actions on trade against foreign suppliers of US imports had serious repercussions for US agricultural exports.

Year published

2025

Authors

Glauber, Joseph W.

Citation

Glauber, Joseph W. 2025. Farmers brace for a new round of trade wars. Washington, DC: American Enterprise Institute (AEI). https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/farmers-brace-for-a-new-round-of-trade-wars/

Country/Region

United States

Keywords

Americas; Northern America; Agriculture; Farmers; Tariffs; Trade

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Project

Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Report

Brochure

IFPRI’s approach to research

2025International Food Policy Research Institute
Details

IFPRI’s approach to research

The International Food Policy Research Institute provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end malnutrition in low-and middle-income countries and has played a vital role in informing policies, programs, and investments since its founding in 1975. This document provides a brief introduction to IFPRI and sets out how we approach our research, along with the scope of our current work.

Year published

2025

Authors

International Food Policy Research Institute

Citation

International Food Policy Research Institute. 2025. IFPRI’s approach to research. IFPRI Brochure. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169160

Keywords

Research

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Brochure

Preprint

Can rights-based conditional cash transfers improve children’s nutrition at scale? Evidence from India’s maternity benefit program

2025Ray, Soumyajit; Chakrabarti, Suman; Pal, Sumantra; Nguyen, Phuong Hong; Scott, Samuel P.; Menon, Purnima
Details

Can rights-based conditional cash transfers improve children’s nutrition at scale? Evidence from India’s maternity benefit program

This study evaluates the impact of India’s Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), a large-scale conditional cash transfer (CCT) program targeting women during their first birth, on child nutrition. Using National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data from 2005 to 2021, we assess changes in growth for 296,782 children under five years old before and after PMMVY implementation. To address potential biases, we employ a quasi-experimental approach with a Triple Difference analysis, comparing first- to second-born children of CCT and non-CCT mothers. We find that potential exposure to PMMVY is associated with improvements in weight-for-age and height-for-age z-scores. These effects likely operate through increased pregnancy registration, antenatal care, and immunizations. PMMVY is cost-effective, with a short-run benefit-cost ratio of 1.35. This study underscores the importance of CCT programs targeting mothers in enhancing child nutrition in low- and middle-income countries.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ray, Soumyajit; Chakrabarti, Suman; Pal, Sumantra; Nguyen, Phuong Hong; Scott, Samuel P.; Menon, Purnima

Citation

Ray, Soumyajit; Chakrabarti, Suman; Pal, Sumantra; Nguyen, Phuong; Scott, Samuel P.; and Menon, Purnima. Can rights-based conditional cash transfers improve children’s nutrition at scale? Evidence from India’s maternity benefit program. MedRxiv Preprint. Available January 13, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.12.25320443

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Cash Transfers; Nutrition; Children; Maternity

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-ND-4.0

Record type

Preprint

Preprint

Perceived constraints to healthy diets: Evidence from agrifood system assessments in rural South Asia

2025Patwardhan, Sharvari; Chakrabarti, Suman; Choo, Esther M.; Boncyk, Morgan; Blake, Christine; Kim, Sunny S.; Scott, Samuel P.
Details

Perceived constraints to healthy diets: Evidence from agrifood system assessments in rural South Asia

The healthfulness of diets in South Asia is limited by socio-economic and public infrastructure challenges. Perceptions about food such as availability, accessibility, desirability, and convenience can impact food choice and ultimately diets. However, there are limited tools to understand consumers’ perceptions of these factors and if perceptions relate to actual food intake. Using a novel tool administered across five rural districts in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, we quantify the association between food perceptions and food intake. A Likert scale (agree, neutral, disagree) was used to capture respondents’ perceptions about seven food choice drivers (affordability, accessibility, desirability, convenience, food quality, food safety, availability) for a list of six common foods. For each food, principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to identify latent “drivers”. The association between these and diets (using 24-hour dietary recall data) was estimated using multivariable regression analysis. There was considerable heterogeneity across countries with respect to the relative importance of food choice drivers and diet quality. There is a need to measure and understand individual food perceptions that drive food choice to help develop policies that promote healthier food choices.

Year published

2025

Authors

Patwardhan, Sharvari; Chakrabarti, Suman; Choo, Esther M.; Boncyk, Morgan; Blake, Christine; Kim, Sunny S.; Scott, Samuel P.

Citation

Patwardhan, Sharvari; Chakrabarti, Suman; Choo, Esther M.; Boncyk, Morgan; Blake, Christine; et al. 2025. Perceived constraints to healthy diets: Evidence from agrifood system assessments in rural South Asia. MedRxiv available January 9, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.06.25320037

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Capacity Building; Rural Areas; Healthy Diets; Agrifood Systems; Surveys

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Project

Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia

Record type

Preprint

Preprint

Intrahousehold dynamics in South Asia: Understanding the relationships between women’s empowerment, task sharing, decision making, and diets among women

2025Kumar, Neha; Quisumbing, Agnes; Manohar, Swetha; Banerjee, Archis; Gupta, Shivani; Chauhan, Alka; Patwardhan, Sharvari; Koirala, Uma
Details

Intrahousehold dynamics in South Asia: Understanding the relationships between women’s empowerment, task sharing, decision making, and diets among women

Despite the growing evidence on the role of women in agriculture and nutrition, interlinkages between empowerment among women, gendered task allocation, and nutrition are rarely studied together. Using data from the Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia (TAFSSA), a household survey that used a plate-to-farm assessment approach in three countries (Bangladesh, India and Nepal), the paper investigates the associations between empowerment of women, gendered task allocation, decision-making among women, and diets among women. Our findings reveal complex and context-specific differences in associations between task allocation, decision-making and empowerment among. While agency in decision-making among women is positively associated with empowerment in all three country contexts, associations between gendered task allocation and empowerment vary. The share of tasks performed by females, particularly in agriculture and food preparation) is positively associated with empowerment among women, but the proportion of tasks shared equally between males and females does not necessarily empower women. Gendered task allocation and empowerment among women are not significantly associated with diets of women in the three countries, owing to the greater importance of broader socio-economic and context-specific factors such as wealth, education, and regional factors in explaining the variance in dietary outcomes. These findings highlight the need to take a holistic approach that addresses gender norms and household resource constraints to improving empowerment of women, while also addressing local accessibility/availability of nutritious foods to enhance the quality of diets of women.

Year published

2025

Authors

Kumar, Neha; Quisumbing, Agnes; Manohar, Swetha; Banerjee, Archis; Gupta, Shivani; Chauhan, Alka; Patwardhan, Sharvari; Koirala, Uma

Citation

Kumar, Neha; Quisumbing, Agnes; Manohar, Swetha; Banerjee, Archis; Gupta, Shivani; Chauhan, Alka; Patwardhan, Sharvari; and Koirala, Uma. 2025. Intrahousehold dynamics in South Asia: understanding the relationships between women’s empowerment, task sharing, decision making, and diets among women. MedRxiv Preprint. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.08.25320196

Country/Region

Bangladesh; India; Nepal

Keywords

Southern Asia; Asia; Intrahousehold Relations; Decision Making; Women’s Empowerment; Diet; Agriculture; Household Surveys; Gender Norms

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia

Record type

Preprint

Report

IFPRI Malawi monthly maize market report, December 2024

2025International Food Policy Research Institute; Banda, Chimwemwe
Details

IFPRI Malawi monthly maize market report, December 2024

Highlights Retail prices of maize increased by 15 percent in December. Maize prices were lowest in the Northern region, where informal imports from Tanzania enter the country, and increased southward. At the market exchange rate, retail prices of maize in Malawi were similar to those in Zambia and lower than in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Year published

2025

Authors

International Food Policy Research Institute; Banda, Chimwemwe

Citation

International Food Policy Research Institute. 2024. IFPRI Malawi monthly maize market report, December 2024. MaSSP Monthly Maize Market Report December 2024. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168721

Country/Region

Malawi

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Maize; Market Prices; Retail Prices; Food Prices

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Project

National Policies and Strategies

Record type

Report

Brief

Use of fertilizers in agriculture sector of Tajikistan

2025Ashurov, Timur; Khakimov, Parviz; Aliev, Jovidon; Goibov, Manuchehr
Details

Use of fertilizers in agriculture sector of Tajikistan

Tajikistan’s heavily relies on imported mineral fertilizers. Fertilizers, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, are crucial for enhancing crop yields, increasing income and supporting farmers’ livelihoods. However, limited access to this input, along with rising global fertilizer prices, has restricted farmers’ ability to fully benefit from them. Particularly due to the result of this, agricultural productivity has been constrained, affecting food security and farmer incomes. Key challenges • Fertilizer application rates, particularly for both mineral and organic types, remain below the recommended norms set by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). Farmers across the country, especially smallholders, struggle to apply adequate amounts of fertilizers due to high costs and limited access. • Access to high-quality mineral fertilizers is further hindered by the country’s dependency on imports, which can exacerbate local price volatility. • Fertilizer use varies across different regions of Tajikistan. In Khatlon and Sughd regions fertilizer use is higher, particularly for cotton and vegetable farming. However, in other regions fertilizer use remains comparatively low, limiting agricultural productivity. • While fertilizers are essential for improving crop yields, excessive or inefficient use can lead to environmental risks, including soil salinity and degradation. Careful management of fertilizer use is needed to prevent harm to biodiversity and soil ecosystems, particularly in regions with intensive farming, such as those producing cotton. Recommended actions • Promote training on organic fertilizer benefits and sustainable practices like composting. Support better manure management to increase organic fertilizer application. • Abolishing or reducing value added tax and import tariffs for fertilizers could make them more cost-effective and attainable for farmers. • Introduce targeted subsidies for mineral fertilizers to make fertilizers more affordable and accessible. • Promote efficient fertilizer use and broader sustainable practices like soil conservation and integrated pest management to ensure long-term productivity.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ashurov, Timur; Khakimov, Parviz; Aliev, Jovidon; Goibov, Manuchehr

Citation

Ashurov, Timur; Khakimov, Parviz; Aliev, Jovidon; and Goibov, Manuchehr. 2025. Use of fertilizers in agriculture sector of Tajikistan. Central Asia Policy Brief 19. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168662

Country/Region

Tajikistan

Keywords

Asia; Central Asia; Fertilizers; Agricultural Sector; Inorganic Fertilizers; Farmers; Crop Yield; Prices; Food Security; Income; Sustainability

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Record type

Brief

Brief

Agricultural advisory services in Tajikistan: Private sector role

2025Aliev, Jovidon; Khakimov, Parviz; Ashurov, Timur; Goibov, Manuchehr
Details

Agricultural advisory services in Tajikistan: Private sector role

Agricultural advisory services (AAS) may play a crucial role in supporting Tajikistan’s food security and rural development by helping farmers to increase productivity, adopt new technologies, and access to the markets. Despite their significance, AAS remain underdeveloped with limited coverage and accessibility. Strengthening AAS through government support, private sector engagement, and in partnership with NGOs can address the challenges and contribute to sustainable growth of the sector. Key challenges and developments • Limited coverage and accessibility: In 2021, around 5 percent of Tajikistan’s farms and 14 percent of arable land benefited from professional AAS, while over 90 percent of farmers need these services. • Resource constraints: Financial needs and limited number of AAS providers are the main constraints to scaling-up the services to meet nationwide farmers’ needs. • Positive impacts of current initiatives: Despite limited resources, Sarob and Neksigol Mushovir private and non-profit cooperatives through providing AAS to the farmers contributes on yield increases across the country, at the same time reduce an irrigation water use. • Digital innovation: Neksigol Mushovir’s AgroSpace platform, with mobile applications, e-library resources, and online consultations, has significantly improved access to agricultural knowledge. • Climate-smart agriculture: Sarob’s initiatives in climate-smart practices, such as zero tillage and water-saving technologies, have reduced inputs use and an increased crops yield. Recommended actions • Expand institutional support: Public support to scaling up of the AAS is crucial. • Enhance public-private partnerships: Encourage collaboration between public institutions, private sector, and NGOs to pool resources and knowledge is vital to expanding AAS to the farmers. • Enhance digital solutions for AAS: Invest in digital platforms to provide accessible, low-cost advisory services, real-time market information, and climate adaptation tools to the farmers. • Focus on climate resilience: Scale up climate-smart agricultural practices and provide training in water management, pest control, and sustainable farming techniques to enhance productivity under changing climate conditions.

Year published

2025

Authors

Aliev, Jovidon; Khakimov, Parviz; Ashurov, Timur; Goibov, Manuchehr

Citation

Aliev, Jovidon; Khakimov, Parviz; Ashurov, Timur; and Goibov, Manuchehr. 2025. Agricultural advisory services in Tajikistan: Private sector role. Central Asia Policy Brief 21. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168661

Country/Region

Tajikistan

Keywords

Asia; Central Asia; Agriculture; Advisory Services; Food Security; Rural Development; Digital Innovation; Climate-smart Agriculture; Private Sector

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Record type

Brief

Working Paper

Rural diets under pressure: Food environments and their influence on food choice in South Asia

2025Chauhan, Alka; Scott, Samuel P.; Joe, William; Maharjan, Nanda Kumar; Menon, Purnima; Chakrabarti, Suman
Details

Rural diets under pressure: Food environments and their influence on food choice in South Asia

The rapid South Asia rural transformation, driven by globalization and industrialization, has introduced a complex interaction between traditional and modern food systems. This study characterizes rural food environments in five districts across Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, focusing on how affordability, availability, accessibility, desirability, and convenience shape dietary choices and quality. Through extensive household and market surveys, we find rural diets characterized by low intake of healthy foods and moderate to high consumption of unhealthy options, influenced by a lack of affordability and the desirability and widespread availability of cheap ultra-processed products in rural markets. Snacking plays a significant role in shaping dietary patterns, promoting both dietary diversity and unhealthy food consumption. These findings provide essential insights for designing interventions tailored to rural food systems, supporting efforts to improve nutrition and health outcomes in rapidly changing markets.

Year published

2025

Authors

Chauhan, Alka; Scott, Samuel P.; Joe, William; Maharjan, Nanda Kumar; Menon, Purnima; Chakrabarti, Suman

Citation

Chauhan, Alka; Scott, Samuel P.; Joe, William; Maharjan, Nanda Kumar; Menon, Purnima; and Chakrabarti, Suman. 2025. Rural diets under pressure: Food environments and their influence on food choice in South Asia. SSRN Working Paper. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5082127

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Capacity Building; Rural Areas; Diet; Food Environment; Feeding Preferences

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Project

Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia

Record type

Working Paper

Brief

Agrifood trade in Tajikistan

2025Khakimov, Parviz; Ashurov, Timur; Aliev, Jovidon; Goibov, Manuchehr
Details

Agrifood trade in Tajikistan

Despite being an agrarian economy, Tajikistan heavily relies on agrifood imports. Agrifood imports have increased sharply in recent years, while export growth has been modest. This brief outline the key trends in Tajikistan’s agrifood trade and provides policy recommendations to reduce import dependence and boost domestic agricultural production. Key trends in agrifood trade • Between 2000 and 2023, Tajikistan’s agrifood imports grew 16 times, with vegetable products (primarily cereals) and prepared foodstuffs (sugar, animal fodder, flour, oil) accounting for 83 percent of total imports. • While imports have surged, agrifood exports have grown by only 2.2 times during the same period. Exports remain concentrated in a few products, with dry fruits and nuts making up 75 percent of total agrifood exports in 2023. • Processed food imports have significantly increased, reflecting both changing consumer preferences and domestic production gaps. This shift, particularly in urban areas, underscores the growing role of imports in meeting demand for food products beyond basic staples. • Tajikistan’s agrifood imports and exports are dominated by trade with Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. These long-standing trade ties reflect logistical advantages and shared histories. However, this reliance on a narrow set of trading partners limits the potential to access new, more lucrative markets. Recommended actions • Tajikistan needs to focus on modernizing its agricultural sector to raise productivity and lessening the country’s reliance on imports. • Strengthening Tajikistan’s agrifood processing sector will help reduce the growing dependency on processed food imports. Investments in food processing infrastructure and the promotion of local agribusinesses could meet the rising demand for processed products. • Diversifying the range of exported agrifood products is crucial. Developing processing industries and value added products can help reduce dependency on a few commodities and open doors to new export markets. • While CIS countries are important trading partners, Tajikistan should explore opportunities to expand market access outside the region. Improving the quality of agrifood exports and meeting international standards will enable the country to participate in more global value chains and trade agreements.

Year published

2025

Authors

Khakimov, Parviz; Ashurov, Timur; Aliev, Jovidon; Goibov, Manuchehr

Citation

Khakimov, Parviz; Ashurov, Timur; Aliev, Jovidon; and Goibov, Manuchehr. 2025. Agrifood trade in Tajikistan. Central Asia Policy Brief 17. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168644

Country/Region

Tajikistan

Keywords

Asia; Central Asia; Agrifood Systems; Imports; Exports; Agricultural Sector; Trade; Markets

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Record type

Brief

Preprint

Assessing food acquisition, preparation, and consumption practices in South Asia: A systematic review of assessment tools

2025Patwardhan, Sharvari; Boncyk, Morgan; Avula, Rasmi; Blake, Christine; Akter, Fahmida; Das, Jai K.; Silva, Renuka; Menon, Purnima; Scott, Samuel P.
Details

Assessing food acquisition, preparation, and consumption practices in South Asia: A systematic review of assessment tools

Assessing behaviors related to food choice at individual- and household-levels is essential for improving household diets, but assessment tools are limited. We conducted a systematic review to identify gaps in existing assessment tools for food acquisition, preparation, and household consumption practices in South Asia, wherein diets are rapidly changing, and triple burden of malnutrition is emerging. Systematic search of three academic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection) using pre-defined keywords were undertaken to identify studies assessing food acquisition, food preparation, and household consumption practices in South Asia, published in English between 2000 and December 2023. Following PRISMA guidelines, two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts based on the inclusion criteria, and extracted data on study characteristics and the assessment tools used to examine the food choice behaviors. Of 11,288 unique articles identified, 46 were included for synthesis. Food acquisition behaviors were assessed by 25 studies, food preparation by eight studies and household consumption practices by 26 studies. Most studies used quantitative methods (n=30), some used qualitative (n=13), and few used mixed methods (n=3), and varied by type of behavior assessed. Likert scales were the most widely used tools of quantitative assessments, while semi-structured interviews were the most common for qualitative assessments. Across the 46 studies, 59 different tools were used to assess food-related behaviors and only 14 studies claimed using validated tools and many studies did not include the full tool in the text or supplement (n=22). Our review highlights the need for expanding food choice behavior assessments to include the less-studied populations such as exploring young children and adolescents’ food choice behaviors and developing a contextually adaptable repository of validated tools to advance our understanding of food choice behaviors in various settings.

Year published

2025

Authors

Patwardhan, Sharvari; Boncyk, Morgan; Avula, Rasmi; Blake, Christine; Akter, Fahmida; Das, Jai K.; Silva, Renuka; Menon, Purnima; Scott, Samuel P.

Citation

Patwardhan, Sharvari; Boncyk, Morgan; Avula, Rasmi; Blake, Christine; Akter, Fahmida; et al. 2025. Assessing food acquisition, preparation, and consumption practices in South Asia: A systematic review of assessment tools. MedRxiv available January 6, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.06.25320042

Keywords

Southern Asia; Asia; Capacity Building; Food Consumption; Assessment; Feeding Preferences

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Project

Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia

Record type

Preprint

Working Paper

The political economy of food self sufficiency policies and food security in African countries

2025Bouët, Antoine; Traoré, Fousseini; Mamboundou, Pierre; Diop, Insa; Sy, Abdourahmane
Details

The political economy of food self sufficiency policies and food security in African countries

Food security deteriorated in Africa during the past decade, and the number of undernourished people has been increasing since 2010. The prevalence of undernourishment is now above pre-pandemic levelsat 9.7% compared with 7.2% in 2019, and Africa reports the highest level in the world. External factors, such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have contributed to this increase Projections show that almost 600 million people in Africa will be chronically undernourished in 2030. Moreover, Africa is not on track for SDG2, eradicate hunger by 2030. To achieve food security and reduce the number of undernourished people, many policymakers are advocating for food self-sufficiency. Relying on local production and promoting it through various policy measures, including restrictive trade policies, appears to many to be a natural solution. Yet, there has been a long-standing debate among analysts as to whether trade restrictions are a good strategy, especially in Africa, to achieve food security. The proponents of food self-sufficiency argue that trade liberalization increases food dependency (and import bills) and makes consumers vulnerable to external shocks in food availability, as well as exposing them to unhealthy foods. They advocate for stimulating local production with subsidies and trade restrictions. For the opponents, opening borders to international trade is a guarantee of cheap and easy access to diversified food products. Furthermore, by partially decoupling local markets from domestic shocks, trade can also help stabilize domestic food markets. This report contributes to that debate. Using both qualitative and quantitative analysis, we reach the conclusion that food self-sufficiency is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for food security. Food security is a multidimensional concept, and only two dimensions– availability and utilization—seem to be affected by food self-sufficiency in Africa. Also, while public support to agriculture can help achieve food self-sufficiency, its impact is not linear, and beyond a certain threshold, diminishing returns are observed. Overall, different approaches can achieve food security, and there is no “one-size-fits-all strategy.” International or regional trade can contribute to food security and stabilize domestic food markets, as regional production is usually less volatile than domestic supply.

Year published

2025

Authors

Bouët, Antoine; Traoré, Fousseini; Mamboundou, Pierre; Diop, Insa; Sy, Abdourahmane

Citation

Bouët, Antoine; Traoré, Fousseini; Mamboundou, Pierre; Diop, Insa; and Sy, Abdourahmane. 2025. The political economy of food self sufficiency policies and food security in African countries. SFS4Youth Working Paper 4. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168579

Keywords

Africa; Food Security; Nutrition; Sustainable Development Goals; Self-sufficiency; Trade; Policies; Agriculture

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Record type

Working Paper

Preprint

What adults in rural South Asia eat and when they eat it: Evidence from Bangladesh, India, and Nepal

2025Scott, Samuel P.; Patwardhan, Sharvari; Ruel, Marie T.; Chakrabarti, Suman; Neupane, Sumanta; Manohar, Swetha; Moursi, Mourad; Menon, Purnima
Details

What adults in rural South Asia eat and when they eat it: Evidence from Bangladesh, India, and Nepal

Background Poor diets pose a threat to all forms of malnutrition and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Data on dietary patterns are scarce in South Asia. Objectives We sought to describe overall diet quality, intake of foods and food groups, and eating occasions among adults in rural South Asia. Methods Data were from five districts across Bangladesh (n=2,802 individuals), India (n=1,672), and Nepal (n=1,451). The Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) application was used to measure intake of foods on the previous day, with each food tagged to an eating occasion. Diet quality and the risk of diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) were described using GDQS total (0–49), GDQS positive (0–32) and GDQS negative (0–17) metrics for overall, healthy, and unhealthy food intake respectively. Results Diet quality was low, with similar scores across countries for GDQS total (17-19 depending on country), GDQS positive (7–8) and GDQS negative (10–12), indicating low intake of healthy foods as the main contributor to poor diets. Over 90% of adults had levels of GQDS scores associated with moderate/high risk for diet-related NCDs, with the proportion at high risk in Bangladesh being 2-3x higher than other countries. Across sites, intake of refined grains (white rice), sweets (sugar, biscuits), and white tubers (potatoes) was common. One-third of adults did not eat breakfast in Nepal, and snacking was twice as common in males (63%) versus females (33%) in Bangladesh. Conclusions These findings highlight the need to improve diets in rural South Asia and may help inform interventions targeting food intake patterns.

Year published

2025

Authors

Scott, Samuel P.; Patwardhan, Sharvari; Ruel, Marie T.; Chakrabarti, Suman; Neupane, Sumanta; Manohar, Swetha; Moursi, Mourad; Menon, Purnima

Citation

Scott, Samuel P.; Patwardhan, Sharvari; Ruel, Marie T.; Chakrabarti, Suman; Neupane, Sumanta; et al. 2025. What adults in rural South Asia eat and when they eat it: Evidence from Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. MedRxiv available January 6, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.06.25320064

Country/Region

Bangladesh; India; Nepal

Keywords

Southern Asia; Asia; Capacity Building; Rural Areas; Feeding Habits; Diet; Health

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia

Record type

Preprint

Brief

Agriculture sector reform and sectoral programs in Tajikistan

2025Goibov, Manuchehr; Khakimov, Parviz; Ashurov, Timur; Aliev, Jovidon
Details

Agriculture sector reform and sectoral programs in Tajikistan

Tajikistan’s agricultural sector, despite its challenging environment and limited natural resources, remains a vital component of the national economy, providing employment and income for a significant portion of the rural population. However, the sector faces critical challenges including inefficient land use, outdated farming practices, inadequate infrastructure, and the lingering influence of Soviet-era agricultural systems. Since the early 1990s, Tajikistan has embarked on a series of agricultural reforms aimed at improving productivity and sustainability. Key reforms include land redistribution, water sector restructuring, and the adoption of policies to modernize the agricultural sector. The “Agriculture Reform Program” (ARP) for 2012-2020 was a major initiative targeting structural changes in land and water management, as well as the reorientation of the Ministry of Agriculture from a central planning body to a facilitator and regulator.

Year published

2025

Authors

Goibov, Manuchehr; Khakimov, Parviz; Ashurov, Timur; Aliev, Jovidon

Citation

Goibov, Manuchehr; Khakimov, Parviz; Ashurov, Timur; and Aliev, Jovidon. 2025. Agriculture sector reform and sectoral programs in Tajikistan. Central Asia Policy Brief 15. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168561

Country/Region

Tajikistan

Keywords

Asia; Central Asia; Agricultural Sector; Employment; Rural Population; Agricultural Productivity; Sustainability; Reforms

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Project

National Policies and Strategies

Record type

Brief

Journal Article

Does rural non-farm employment relieve or exacerbate the agricultural diversification-farm efficiency tradeoff: The case of aquaculture in Bangladesh

2025Abaidoo, Eric; Belton, Ben; Reardon, Thomas; Jin, Songqing; Malone, Trey
Details

Does rural non-farm employment relieve or exacerbate the agricultural diversification-farm efficiency tradeoff: The case of aquaculture in Bangladesh

This paper studies how rural non-farm employment conditions the relationship between agricultural diversification and fish production efficiency. Competition for scarce productive resources typically implies a compromise between agricultural diversification and efficiency. Yet, the potential for non-farm income to resolve this tradeoff remains understudied. Cash from non-farm sources may support productivity-enhancing input purchase, thereby improving efficiency. On the other hand, by diversifying both on- and off-farm, household resources such as labor may be stretched too thin, lowering fish production efficiency. Using micro-level data on fish farming households in Southern Bangladesh, we show that at higher levels of the non-farm income share, diversification into crops results in significant allocative inefficiencies. Results are inconclusive for the technical efficiency measure.

Year published

2025

Authors

Abaidoo, Eric; Belton, Ben; Reardon, Thomas; Jin, Songqing; Malone, Trey

Citation

Abaidoo, Eric; Belton, Ben; Reardon, Thomas; Jin, Songqing; and Malone, Trey. Does rural non-farm employment relieve or exacerbate the agricultural diversification-farm efficiency tradeoff: The case of aquaculture in Bangladesh. Aquaculture Economics and Management. Article in press. First available online January 5, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1080/13657305.2024.2446142

Country/Region

Bangladesh

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Rural Employment; Agriculture; Diversification; Aquaculture; Efficiency; Labour Allocation

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Do youth work in agriculture? Short-term dynamics of on-farm rural youth employment in Tanzania and Malawi

2025Kafle, Kashi; Paliwal, Neha; Benfica, Rui
Details

Do youth work in agriculture? Short-term dynamics of on-farm rural youth employment in Tanzania and Malawi

Year published

2025

Authors

Kafle, Kashi; Paliwal, Neha; Benfica, Rui

Citation

Kafle, Kashi; Paliwal, Neha; and Benfica, Rui. Do youth work in agriculture? Short-term dynamics of on-farm rural youth employment in Tanzania and Malawi. Journal of Development studies. Article in press. First published online on November 14, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2024.2420019

Country/Region

Malawi

Keywords

Tanzania; Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Youth; Agriculture; Youth Employment; Development Policies; Gender; Rural Areas; Rural Employment

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

Water, Land and Ecosystems

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Polycentric governance of commons through multi-stakeholder platforms: Insights from two case studies in India

2025ElDidi, Hagar; Rawat, Shivanyaa; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.; Chaturvedi, Rahul; Sanil, Richu
Details

Polycentric governance of commons through multi-stakeholder platforms: Insights from two case studies in India

This paper examines the complexities of commons governance, focusing on the role of multistakeholder platforms (MSPs) in addressing tensions among diverse decision-making centers. Drawing on the experiences of the Indian NGO Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) in Gujarat and Odisha, the study analyzes two MSPs operating at the block level, engaging communities, government, and private sector actors. Through surveys, interviews, and analysis of institutional reports, the research identifies key benefits of MSPs, including enhanced multi-stakeholder engagement, scale, and enabling conditions. It argues that MSPs can effectively support polycentric governance by facilitating inter-community collaboration, strengthening local voices, and building trust over time. The study also underscores the importance of external actors like NGOs in supporting community agency and fostering collaboration across different governance levels.

Year published

2025

Authors

ElDidi, Hagar; Rawat, Shivanyaa; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.; Chaturvedi, Rahul; Sanil, Richu

Citation

ElDidi, Hagar; Rawat, Shivanyaa; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth; Chaturvedi, Rahul; and Sanil, Richu. Polycentric governance of commons through multi-stakeholder platforms: insights from two case studies in India. Environment, Development and Sustainability. Article in press. First published online on April 12, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-04896-9

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Commons; Multi-stakeholder Processes; Governance; Stakeholders; Non-governmental Organizations; Collective Action

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Levelling the field: A review of the ICT revolution and agricultural extension in the Global South

2025Khan, Rashid Parvez; Gupta, Saurabh; Daum, Thomas; Birner, Regina; Ringler, Claudia
Details

Levelling the field: A review of the ICT revolution and agricultural extension in the Global South

Information and communications technology has evolved significantly over the last seven decades, beginning with radio and video vans and culminating in the rise of smartphones and mobile internet in remote areas of the Global South. While ICT is an integral part of agricultural extension, little is known about how these changes have influenced agricultural extension practices. After a systematic review of 131 papers, we find that changes in ICT have shaped agricultural extension, enabling a shift from linear dissemination and “one-way communication” to co-innovation and farmer-to-farmer learning. The results indicate the potential for smartphones and mobile internet to democratize agricultural extension.

Year published

2025

Authors

Khan, Rashid Parvez; Gupta, Saurabh; Daum, Thomas; Birner, Regina; Ringler, Claudia

Citation

Khan, Rashid Parvez; Gupta, Saurabh; Daum, Thomas; Birner, Regina; and Ringler, Claudia. 2025. Levelling the field: A review of the ICT revolution and agricultural extension in the Global South. Journal of International Development 37(1): 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3949

Keywords

Africa; Latin America; Caribbean; Asia; Oceania; Agricultural Extension; Communication; Farmers; Information and Communication Technologies; Smartphones

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Biofortification as a food-based strategy to improve nutrition in high-income countries: A scoping review

2025Gulyas, Boglarka Z.; Mogeni, Brenda; Jackson, Peter; Walton, Jenny; Caton, Samantha J.
Details

Biofortification as a food-based strategy to improve nutrition in high-income countries: A scoping review

Biofortification (increasing the micronutrient content of food before harvest) has been successfully used to nutritionally improve staple foods in low- and middle-income countries. This approach could also help address micronutrient shortfalls in at-risk populations in high-income countries (HICs), however, the potential of biofortification interventions in this context is not well understood. The aim of this scoping review is to assess the nature and extent of available research evidence on biofortified foods in relation to human consumption in HICs. Literature searches were conducted in MEDLINE, WoS, ProQuest, CINAHL, AGRIS and Epistemonikos. Forty-six peer-reviewed articles were included. Most research was conducted in the USA (n = 15) and Italy (n = 11), on cereal crops (n = 14) and vegetables (n = 11), and on selenium (n = 12) and provitamin A (n = 11). Seven research domains were identified in the literature: bioavailability (n = 17); nutrient stability (n = 11); opinions and attitudes (n = 9); functionality (n = 9); sensory properties (n = 2); safety (n = 1); and modeling (n = 1). Evidence from HICs in each domain is limited. There is a need for more research particularly in areas sensitive to the cultural and socio-economic context.

Year published

2025

Authors

Gulyas, Boglarka Z.; Mogeni, Brenda; Jackson, Peter; Walton, Jenny; Caton, Samantha J.

Citation

Gulyas, Boglarka Z.; Mogeni, Brenda; Jackson, Peter; Walton, Jenny; and Caton, Samantha J. Biofortification as a food-based strategy to improve nutrition in high-income countries: A scoping review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. Article in press. First published online on September 13, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2024.2402998

Keywords

Biofortification; Trace Elements; Foods; Nutrition; Research; Public Health

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

The influence of environmental cues on behavioral response: An assessment of the Protective Action Decision Model in the context of COVID-19

2025Silver, Amber; Koyratty, Nadia; Penta, Samantha; Clay, Lauren
Details

The influence of environmental cues on behavioral response: An assessment of the Protective Action Decision Model in the context of COVID-19

Year published

2025

Authors

Silver, Amber; Koyratty, Nadia; Penta, Samantha; Clay, Lauren

Citation

Silver, Amber; Koyratty, Nadia; Penta, Samantha; and Clay, Lauren. The influence of environmental cues on behavioral response: An assessment of the Protective Action Decision Model in the context of COVID-19. Risk, Hazards, and Crisis in Public Policy. Article in Press. First online on May 6, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1002/rhc3.12305

Country/Region

United States

Keywords

Americas; Northern America; Covid-19; Behavioural Responses; Public Health

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Designing and implementing experiments within local bureaucratic systems: A cautionary tale from an educator incentive program

2025Asad, Saher; Habib, Masooma; Karachiwalla, Naureen; Kosec, Katrina; Leaver, Clare; ur Rehman, Attique
Details

Designing and implementing experiments within local bureaucratic systems: A cautionary tale from an educator incentive program

Collaborating with governments to co-develop pilot programs and integrate them into local administrative systems is increasingly regarded as a key strategy for achieving scalability and sustainability. This study examines a pilot initiative designed in partnership with the Elementary and Secondary Education (E&SE) Department in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, offering important lessons for such collaborations. While the intent to operate within existing bureaucratic frameworks was commendable, it also limited the design and execution of a randomized controlled trial (RCT). This paper explores institutional factors that hindered the RCT’s implementation, resulting in missed opportunities to evaluate critical design elements. The pilot centered on promotion-based incentives for educators and had null effects on a variety of educator and student outcomes. However, using unique video-based evidence, it objectively identifies the implementation challenges and describes the insights gained for more effective co-design and integration of future pilot programs within governmental systems.

Year published

2025

Authors

Asad, Saher; Habib, Masooma; Karachiwalla, Naureen; Kosec, Katrina; Leaver, Clare; ur Rehman, Attique

Citation

Asad, Saher; Habib, Masooma; Karachiwalla, Naureen; Kosec, Katrina; Leaver, Clare; and ur Rehman, Attique. Designing and implementing experiments within local bureaucratic systems: A cautionary tale from an educator incentive program. Education Finance and Policy. Article in press. First published online June 21, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1162/edfp_a_00435

Country/Region

Pakistan

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Economics; Implementation; Incentives; Teachers

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

Fragility, Conflict, and Migration

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Neonatal mortality risk of vulnerable newborns by fine stratum of gestational age and birthweight for 230 679 live births in nine low- and middle-income countries, 2000-2017.

2025
Hazel, Elizabeth A; Erchick, Daniel J; Katz, Joanne; Lee, Anne C C; Diaz, Michael; Wu, Lee S F; West, Keith P; Shamim, Abu Ahmed; Christian, Parul; Ali, Hasmot
…more Baqui, Abdullah H; Saha, Samir K; Ahmed, Salahuddin; Roy, Arunangshu Dutta; Silveira, Mariângela F; Buffarini, Romina; Shapiro, Roger; Zash, Rebecca; Kolsteren, Patrick; Lachat, Carl; Huybregts, Lieven; Roberfroid, Dominique; Zhu, Zhonghai; Zeng, Lingxia; Gebreyesus, Seifu H; Tesfamariam, Kokeb; Adu-Afarwuah, Seth; Dewey, Kathryn G; Gyaase, Stephaney; Poku-Asante, Kwaku; Boamah Kaali, Ellen; Jack, Darby; Ravilla, Thulasiraj; Tielsch, James; Taneja, Sunita; Chowdhury, Ranadip; Ashorn, Per; Maleta, Kenneth; Ashorn, Ulla; Mangani, Charles; Mullany, Luke C; Khatry, Subarna K; Ramokolo, Vundli; Zembe-Mkabile, Wanga; Fawzi, Wafaie W; Wang, Dongqing; Schmiegelow, Christentze; Minja, Daniel; Msemo, Omari Abdul; Lusingu, John P A; Smith, Emily R; Masanja, Honorati; Mongkolchati, Aroonsri; Keentupthai, Paniya; Kakuru, Abel; Kajubi, Richard; Semrau, Katherine; Hamer, Davidson H; Manasyan, Albert; Pry, Jake M; Chasekwa, Bernard; Humphrey, Jean; Black, Robert E
Details

Neonatal mortality risk of vulnerable newborns by fine stratum of gestational age and birthweight for 230 679 live births in nine low- and middle-income countries, 2000-2017.

Objective We aimed to understand the mortality risks of vulnerable newborns (defined as preterm and/or born weighing smaller or larger compared to a standard population), in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Design Descriptive multi-country, secondary analysis of individual-level study data of babies born since 2000. Setting Sixteen subnational, population-based studies from nine LMICs in sub-Saharan Africa, Southern and Eastern Asia, and Latin America. Population Live birth neonates. Methods We categorically defined five vulnerable newborn types based on size (large- or appropriate- or small-for-gestational age [LGA, AGA, SGA]), and term (T) and preterm (PT): T + LGA, T + SGA, PT + LGA, PT + AGA, and PT + SGA, with T + AGA (reference). A 10-type definition included low birthweight (LBW) and non-LBW, and a four-type definition collapsed AGA/LGA into one category. We performed imputation for missing birthweights in 13 of the studies. Main Outcome Measures Median and interquartile ranges by study for the prevalence, mortality rates and relative mortality risks for the four, six and ten type classification. Results There were 238 143 live births with known neonatal status. Four of the six types had higher mortality risk: T + SGA (median relative risk [RR] 2.8, interquartile range [IQR] 2.0–3.2), PT + LGA (median RR 7.3, IQR 2.3–10.4), PT + AGA (median RR 6.0, IQR 4.4–13.2) and PT + SGA (median RR 10.4, IQR 8.6–13.9). T + SGA, PT + LGA and PT + AGA babies who were LBW, had higher risk compared with non-LBW babies. Conclusions Small and/or preterm babies in LIMCs have a considerably increased mortality risk compared with babies born at term and larger. This classification system may advance the understanding of the social determinants and biomedical risk factors along with improved treatment that is critical for newborn health.

Year published

2025

Authors

Hazel, Elizabeth A; Erchick, Daniel J; Katz, Joanne; Lee, Anne C C; Diaz, Michael; Wu, Lee S F; West, Keith P; Shamim, Abu Ahmed; Christian, Parul; Ali, Hasmot; Baqui, Abdullah H; Saha, Samir K; Ahmed, Salahuddin; Roy, Arunangshu Dutta; Silveira, Mariângela F; Buffarini, Romina; Shapiro, Roger; Zash, Rebecca; Kolsteren, Patrick; Lachat, Carl; Huybregts, Lieven; Roberfroid, Dominique; Zhu, Zhonghai; Zeng, Lingxia; Gebreyesus, Seifu H; Tesfamariam, Kokeb; Adu-Afarwuah, Seth; Dewey, Kathryn G; Gyaase, Stephaney; Poku-Asante, Kwaku; Boamah Kaali, Ellen; Jack, Darby; Ravilla, Thulasiraj; Tielsch, James; Taneja, Sunita; Chowdhury, Ranadip; Ashorn, Per; Maleta, Kenneth; Ashorn, Ulla; Mangani, Charles; Mullany, Luke C; Khatry, Subarna K; Ramokolo, Vundli; Zembe-Mkabile, Wanga; Fawzi, Wafaie W; Wang, Dongqing; Schmiegelow, Christentze; Minja, Daniel; Msemo, Omari Abdul; Lusingu, John P A; Smith, Emily R; Masanja, Honorati; Mongkolchati, Aroonsri; Keentupthai, Paniya; Kakuru, Abel; Kajubi, Richard; Semrau, Katherine; Hamer, Davidson H; Manasyan, Albert; Pry, Jake M; Chasekwa, Bernard; Humphrey, Jean; Black, Robert E

Citation

Hazel, Elizabeth A.; Erchick, Daniel J.; Katz, Joanne; Lee, Anne C. C.; Huybregts, Lieven; et al. Neonatal mortality risk of vulnerable newborns: A descriptive analysis of subnational, population-based birth cohorts for 238 143 live births in low- and middle-income settings from 2000 to 2017. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Article in press. First published online January 16, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17743

Keywords

Southern Africa; Eastern Africa; Latin America; Low Birthweight; Newborn; Preterm Birth; Vulnerability; Obstetrics; Mortality; Low Income Groups

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Trends and inequities in adequacy of micronutrient intakes in rural Bangladesh

2025Nguyen, Phuong; Ali, Masum; Ghostlaw, Julie; Tran, Lan Mai; Parvin, Aklima; Bakhtiar, M. Mehrab; Ahmed, Akhter U.
Details

Trends and inequities in adequacy of micronutrient intakes in rural Bangladesh

Background Micronutrient deficiencies pose a significant public health challenge, yet limited evidence exists on micronutrient intakes over time in Bangladesh. Objective We assessed trends and adequacies in micronutrient intakes and examined the changes in inequities by age group, sex, and expenditure quintile. Methods We used panel data from the 2011 and 2018 Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (n =21,475 and 21,589 household members aged ≥2y, respectively). Food consumption data were collected using a household dietary recall. Changes in micronutrient intakes were assessed using non-parametric Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon rank sum test. Inequities in outcomes were examined using the Slope Index of Inequality and Concentration Index. Results Micronutrient intakes remained suboptimal across 2011 and 2018, with low adequacy (<0.50) for all nutrients except niacin. While vitamin A intake increased across various demographics, trends for other micronutrient intakes differed by age. Intakes improved for 10 micronutrients among children aged 2-<5y, but increased for only half of examined micronutrients among children aged 5-9y. For adolescents and adults, most micronutrient intakes slightly declined, with greater inadequacies observed among females versus males. Pregnant women experienced sharper declines in adequacy of micronutrient intakes than lactating women. The mean probability of adequacy (MPA) was low (around one-third) for all age groups with lower MPA among poorer compared to richer households across age, sex and survey years. Inequity gaps in MPA mostly declined, except for females ≥50y and pregnant women. Conclusions Micronutrient intakes and adequacies remain suboptimal and have decreased marginally over time for many nutrients and MPA across most age groups. Inequities in micronutrient intakes persist by age, sex, and income levels, disproportionately affecting the poor, adults, and women. Our study calls for evidence-based policies and programs that incorporate a range of proven approaches and tailored solutions to effectively tackle persisting inequities and ensure access to healthy diets for all.

Year published

2025

Authors

Nguyen, Phuong; Ali, Masum; Ghostlaw, Julie; Tran, Lan Mai; Parvin, Aklima; Bakhtiar, M. Mehrab; Ahmed, Akhter U.

Citation

Nguyen, Phuong Hong; Ali, Masum; Ghostlaw, Julie; Tran, Lan Mai; Parvin, Aklima; Bakhtiar, M. Mehrab; and Ahmed, Akhter U. Trends and inequities in adequacy of micronutrient intakes in rural Bangladesh. Journal of Nutrition. Article in press. First published online November 28, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.11.018

Country/Region

Bangladesh

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Dietary Diversity; Micronutrient Deficiencies; Rural Areas; Trace Elements

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Impacts of city life on nutrition: Evidence From resettlement lotteries in China

2025Leng, Ganxiao; Qiu, Huanguang; Filipski, Mateusz
Details

Impacts of city life on nutrition: Evidence From resettlement lotteries in China

Urban environments are thought to improve food security, by offering enhanced access to markets and income opportunities. Yet this idea is hard to test empirically due to an abundance of confounding factors and selection issues. This study leverages a resettlement program in China to provide the first quasi-experimental estimate of city life on food consumption and nutrition among low-income households. Lottery-determined timing of resettlement enables causal inference. We base our empirics on a 3-year panel and a range of difference-in-differences and matching methodologies. We find that those who were resettled to towns significantly increased both food consumption and diet variety, with increased intake of several macro- and micro-nutrients. Diet quality mostly improved, but we also found signs of over-consumption, notably of carbohydrates. Our evidence further suggests that our impacts are primarily due to improved market access. This stands in contrast to recent literature that finds little or no effect of living environments on food consumption. Instead, we reveal a significant impact of urban environments in shaping diets, bolstering the notion that supply-side channels do matter in some contexts. JEL Classification: I15, O18, R23

Year published

2025

Authors

Leng, Ganxiao; Qiu, Huanguang; Filipski, Mateusz

Citation

Leng, Ganxiao; Qiu, Huanguang; and Filipski, Mateusz. Impacts of city life on nutrition: Evidence From resettlement lotteries in China. Health Economics. Article in press. First published online January 5, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4925

Country/Region

China

Keywords

Asia; South-eastern Asia; Food Security; Households; Nutrition; Resettlement; Towns; Urban Environment

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Food transfers, cash transfers, behavior change communication and child nutrition: Evidence from Bangladesh

2025Ahmed, Akhter; Hoddinott, John F.; Roy, Shalini
Details

Food transfers, cash transfers, behavior change communication and child nutrition: Evidence from Bangladesh

This paper reports the results of two 2-year randomized control trials in two poor rural areas of Bangladesh. Treatment arms included monthly cash transfers, monthly food rations of equivalent value to the cash transfers, and mixed monthly cash and food transfers, and treatment arms—one with food and one with cash—that combined transfers with nutrition-behavior communication change (BCC). This design enables a comparison of transfer modalities within the same experiment. Intent-to-treat estimators show that cash transfers and nutrition BCC had a large impact on nutritional status, a 0.25 standard deviation increase in height-for-age z-scores and a 7.8 percentage point decrease in stunting prevalence. No other treatment arm affected anthropometric outcomes. Mechanisms underlying these impacts are explored. Improved diets—particularly increased intake of animal source foods in the cash plus BCC arm—are consistent with the improvements observed in this paper.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ahmed, Akhter; Hoddinott, John F.; Roy, Shalini

Citation

Ahmed, Akhter; Hoddinott, John; and Roy, Shalini. Food transfers, cash transfers, behavior change communication and child nutrition: Evidence from Bangladesh. World Bank Economic Review. Article in press. First published online on May 23, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lhae023

Country/Region

Bangladesh

Keywords

Southern Asia; Cash Transfers; Human Behaviour; Child Nutrition; Social Protection; Rural Areas; Stunting; Food Assistance

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Diets, fruit and vegetables consumption, and nutritional status in Benin: A scoping review

2025Bliznashka, Lilia; Pather, Kamara; Mitchodigni, Irene M.; Hess, Sonja Y.; Olney, Deanna K.
Details

Diets, fruit and vegetables consumption, and nutritional status in Benin: A scoping review

Unhealthy diets, including low fruit and vegetables (F&V) intake, contribute to morbidity and mortality related to non-communicable diseases. Designing culturally appropriate interventions to improve diets and F&V intake requires an in-depth understanding of individual-level dietary patterns, household consumption patterns, and nutritional status resulting from inadequate F&V intake. In this scoping review, we summarised the literature on diets, F&V intake, and nutritional status in Benin. We searched PubMed from 2012 to August 2024 to identify articles on diets and nutritional status, and from 2002 to August 2024 to identify articles on F&V intake. We included 36 articles on diets, 27 on F&V intake, and 16 on nutritional status. Existing literature demonstrated that Beninese diets are cereal-based and monotonous, characterised by low diversity and low F&V intake across all population groups. Available evidence indicated a high burden of undernutrition in children <5 years of age, a rising prevalence of overnutrition in women of reproductive age, and a high prevalence of overnutrition in adults. Evidence on how diets and F&V intake vary by urban/rural location, season, and socioeconomic characteristics was limited and inconsistent. Two evaluations of garden irrigation programmes assessed impacts on women's dietary diversity and F&V consumption. Additional research is needed to improve our understanding of diets, F&V intake, and diet-related nutritional challenges and how they evolve over time and across different population groups. Understanding these gaps can help identify entry points and targets for interventions to improve diet quality and F&V intake in Benin.

Year published

2025

Authors

Bliznashka, Lilia; Pather, Kamara; Mitchodigni, Irene M.; Hess, Sonja Y.; Olney, Deanna K.

Citation

Bliznashka, Lilia; Pather, Kamara; Mitchodigni, Irene M.; Hess, Sonja Y.; and Olney, Deanna K. Diets, fruit and vegetables consumption, and nutritional status in Benin: A scoping review. Maternal and Child Nutrition. Article in Press. First published online on December 10, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13747

Country/Region

Benin

Keywords

Sub-saharan Africa; Western Africa; Africa; Diet; Fruits; Vegetables; Non-communicable Diseases; Household Consumption; Nutrition; Research; Children; Women

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Using a list experiment to measure intimate partner violence: Cautionary evidence from Ethiopia

2025Gilligan, Daniel O.; Hidrobo, Melissa; Leight, Jessica; Tambet, Heleene
Details

Using a list experiment to measure intimate partner violence: Cautionary evidence from Ethiopia

While indirect response methods are increasingly used in surveys to measure sensitive behaviours such as intimate partner violence, important questions persist around how respondents understand and react to these methods. This article presents evidence from a list experiment measuring multiple forms of intimate partner violence in rural Ethiopia. We find that the list experiment does not generate estimates of intimate partner violence that are higher than direct response questions; rather, prevalence estimates using the list experiment are lower vis-à-vis prevalence estimates using the direct reports, and are sometimes even negative. We provide suggestive evidence that this pattern may reflect ‘fleeing’ behaviour by respondents who do not wish to be associated with statements indicating their exposure to intimate partner violence.

Year published

2025

Authors

Gilligan, Daniel O.; Hidrobo, Melissa; Leight, Jessica; Tambet, Heleene

Citation

Gilligan, Daniel O.; Hidrobo, Melissa; Leight, Jessica; and Tambet, Heleene. Using a list experiment to measure intimate partner violence: Cautionary evidence from Ethiopia. Applied Economics Letters. Article in press. First published online January 31, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2024.2308579

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Domestic Violence; Behaviour; Measurement; Questionnaires

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Prospects of crop insurance for sustenance of farmers’ livelihood during GM cotton crop failure in Indian Punjab

2025Kaur, Sandeep; Singh, Harpreet; Roy, Devesh; Singh, Hardeep
Details

Prospects of crop insurance for sustenance of farmers’ livelihood during GM cotton crop failure in Indian Punjab

Despite the susceptibility of cotton crops to pest attacks in the Malwa Region of Indian Punjab, no crop insurance policy has been implemented there– not even the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), which is a central scheme. Therefore, this paper attempts to gauge the likely impact of the PMFBY on Punjab cotton farmers and assess the changes needed for greater uptake and effectiveness of PMFBY.The authors have conducted a primary survey to conduct this study. Initially, the authors compared the costs of cotton production with the returns in two scenarios (with and without insurance). Additionally, the authors have applied a logistic regression framework to examine the determinants of the willingness of farmers to participate in the crop insurance market.The study finds that net returns of cotton crops are conventionally small and insufficient to cope with damages from crop failure. Yet, PMFBY will require some modifications in the premium rate and the level of indemnity for its greater uptake among Punjab cotton farmers. Additionally, using the logistic regression framework, the authors find that an increase in awareness about crop insurance and farmers’ perceptions about their crop failure in the near future reduces the willingness of the farmers to participate in the crop insurance markets.The present study looks for the viability of PMFBY in Indian Punjab for the cotton crop, which can also be extended to other crops.Punjab could also use crop insurance to encourage diversification in agriculture. There is a need for special packages for diversified crops under any crop insurance policy. Crops susceptible to volatility due to climate-related factors should be identified and provided with a special insurance package.There exist very scant studies that have discussed the viability of a central crop insurance scheme in the agricultural-rich state of India, i.e. Punjab. Moreover, they do not also focus on crop losses accruing due to pest and insect attacks.

Year published

2025

Authors

Kaur, Sandeep; Singh, Harpreet; Roy, Devesh; Singh, Hardeep

Citation

Kaur, Sandeep; Singh, Harpreet; Roy, Devesh; and Singh, Hardeep. Prospects of crop insurance for sustenance of farmers’ livelihood during GM cotton crop failure in Indian Punjab. Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies. Article in press. First published online February 1, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-06-2023-0142

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Insurance; Cotton

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Conflicts, crop choice, and agricultural investments: Empirical evidence from Nigeria

2025Amare, Mulubrhan; Abay, Kibrom A.; Berhane, Guush; Andam, Kwaw S.; Adeyanju, Dolapo
Details

Conflicts, crop choice, and agricultural investments: Empirical evidence from Nigeria

Conflict remains a major driver of poverty in Africa. Conflicts and political instability in the region have been increasing recently and are drawing more attention in public discourse. While it is widely acknowledged that conflicts disrupt agricultural production and food systems, the full extent of the damage inflicted on the lives and livelihoods of farming households and the mechanisms to redress this harm remain poorly understood. In particular, the link between violent conflicts and households’ land allocation and related agricultural investment decisions remains understudied. In this study, we use geocoded longitudinal data along with detailed agricultural panel household surveys in Nigeria to assess the impact of violent conflicts on crop choice decisions and related agricultural investments. Specifically, we explore how farmers’ land allocation and agricultural investment decisions relate or respond to the outbreak and intensity of violent conflicts. We find that violent conflicts are associated with a reduction in the share of both land area cultivated and area harvested. We also find suggestive evidence that violent conflicts may shape farmers’ crop choices and related investments, as violent conflicts are associated with reduction in the share of land allocated to long-term crops (e.g., perennial crops, trees, roots and tubers). Overall, our findings suggest that violent conflicts can negatively influence farmers’ agricultural investments directly by affecting both land utilization patterns and portfolio allocation across activities with varying returns to investments.

Year published

2025

Authors

Amare, Mulubrhan; Abay, Kibrom A.; Berhane, Guush; Andam, Kwaw S.; Adeyanju, Dolapo

Citation

Amare, Mulubrhan; Abay, Kibrom A.; Berhane, Guush; Andam, Kwaw S.; and Adeyanju, Dolapo. 2025. Conflicts, crop choice, and agricultural investments: Empirical evidence from Nigeria. Land Use Policy 148(January 2025): 107391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2024.107391

Country/Region

Nigeria

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Western Africa; Conflicts; Investment; Smallholders; Decision Making; Gender

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Fragility, Conflict, and Migration

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

The role of industrial clustering: From layoff to self-employment after the Chinese state-owned enterprise reform

2025Zhang, Yunfei; Chen, Kevin Z.
Details

The role of industrial clustering: From layoff to self-employment after the Chinese state-owned enterprise reform

Year published

2025

Authors

Zhang, Yunfei; Chen, Kevin Z.

Citation

Zhang, Yunfei; and Chen, Kevin Z. The role of industrial clustering: from layoff to self-employment after the Chinese state-owned enterprise reform. Applied Economics Letters. Article in press. First published online March 22, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2024.2332538

Country/Region

China

Keywords

Asia; Eastern Asia; Employment; Labour Market; Unemployment; Working Population; Public Ownership; Reforms; Entrepreneurship

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

National Policies and Strategies

Record type

Journal Article

Opinion Piece

Relapse after recovery from acute malnutrition

2025Bliznashka, Lilia
Details

Relapse after recovery from acute malnutrition

Globally, severe acute malnutrition affects 13·6 million children.1 The WHO-endorsed community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) model is effective in achieving high recovery. However, there is increasing recognition that relapse after recovery is a problem, with a growing number of studies aiming to understand and quantify relapse burden and risk factors.2,3 Knowledge gaps remain in our understanding of the problem and its drivers due to methodological issues, lack of control groups, and inconsistent reporting.

Year published

2025

Authors

Bliznashka, Lilia

Citation

Bliznashka Lilia. 2025. Relapse after recovery from acute malnutrition. Lancet Global Health 13(1): E6-E7. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00465-0

Keywords

Malnutrition; Children; Health; Food Security

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Opinion Piece

Journal Article

Does aid induce foreign direct investment: Updated evidence from a quasi-experiment

2025Tian, Junyan
Details

Does aid induce foreign direct investment: Updated evidence from a quasi-experiment

While the catalytic effect of aid on foreign direct investment (FDI) has long been an implicit consensus among many policymakers and practitioners, assessments of this causal relationship remain limited and are not always reliable. To mitigate this evidence gap, this study applies an instrumental variable approach that leverages the graduation of the International Development Association (IDA) income threshold as a quasi-experiment to identify the causal linkage between foreign aid and FDI. The analysis reveals that a 1 percent drop in the ratio of aid to gross national income leads to a decline in FDI relative to gross domestic product by 0.9 percent in 42 developing countries from 1987 to 2019. In face of the aid shock induced by IDA graduation, governments in recipient countries restrict their financial policy openness, through which aid could significantly impact subsequent foreign private investment. Results emphasize the necessity of concerted policy interventions to mitigate this negative aid shock.

Year published

2025

Authors

Tian, Junyan

Citation

Tian, Junyan. Does aid induce foreign direct investment: Updated evidence from a quasi-experiment. World Bank Economic Review. Article in press. First published online on July 25, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lhae030

Keywords

Foreign Investment; Aid Programmes; Policies; Development

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Caste, religion and the labor force participation of women: Evidence from India

2025Alvi, Muzna
Details

Caste, religion and the labor force participation of women: Evidence from India

Year published

2025

Authors

Alvi, Muzna

Citation

Alvi, Muzna Fatima. Caste, religion and the labor force participation of women: Evidence from India. Review of Social Economy. Article in press. First published online June 30, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1080/00346764.2023.2223167

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Caste Systems; Employment; Labour; Livelihoods; Religion; Research Methods; Gender; Women

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Technology intensification and farmers’ welfare: A case study from Karnataka, a semi-arid state of India

2025Kapoor, Shreya; Pal, Barun Deb; Singhal, Aditi; Anantha, K.H.
Details

Technology intensification and farmers’ welfare: A case study from Karnataka, a semi-arid state of India

JEL Codes: Q16, Q54, Q55, C13

Year published

2025

Authors

Kapoor, Shreya; Pal, Barun Deb; Singhal, Aditi; Anantha, K.H.

Citation

Kapoor, Shreya; Pal, Barun Deb; Singhal, Aditi; and Anantha, K. H. Technology intensification and farmers’ welfare: A case study from Karnataka,
a semi-arid state of India. Indian Economic Journal. Article in press. First published online July 10, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1177/00194662241253871

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Agricultural Productivity; Intensification; Smallholders; Technology Adoption; Welfare

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

Climate Resilience

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

The minimum dietary diversity for women indicator can be extended to children and adolescents aged 4-15 years as a proxy population indicator for good micronutrient adequacy of diets in low- and middle-income countries

2025
Diop, Loty; Gelli, Aulo; Huybregts, Lieven; Arsenault, Joanne E.; Bliznashka, Lilia; Boy, Erick; Deitchler, Megan; Lachat, Carl; Moursi, Mourad; Ochoa-Avilés, Angelica M.
…more Olney, Deanna K.; Becquey, Elodie
Details

The minimum dietary diversity for women indicator can be extended to children and adolescents aged 4-15 years as a proxy population indicator for good micronutrient adequacy of diets in low- and middle-income countries

Background The response to the global call for more data on children’s and adolescents’ diets and nutrition is limited by the lack of straightforward practical indicators to track their diet quality. On the basis of a food group score compiled from 10 food groups (FGS-10), the minimum dietary diversity for women, calculated as FGS-10 ≥ 5, is a validated proxy population indicator for better micronutrient intake adequacy for adult women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Objectives This study aims to validate FGS-10 and its related cutoffs against micronutrient intake adequacy in 4–15-y-old children/adolescents in LMICs. Methods We conducted a secondary data analysis of 9 datasets of repeated 24-h recalls or weighed records including 11,524 children/adolescents aged 4–15 y, collected in 7 countries (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ecuador, India, Malawi, Uganda, and Zambia) between 2007 and 2022. For each dataset and the pooled sample (meta-analysis), we assessed the association between FGS-10 and the mean probability of adequacy (MPA) of intake over 8 micronutrients (MPA-8), and the performance of several FGS-10 cutoffs in predicting acceptable (≥0.60) and good (≥0.80) levels of MPA-8. Robustness analyses used the 7 datasets with data on 11 micronutrients (MPA-11). Results FGS-10 ranged from 3.0 to 4.8 across datasets, and the proportion of children/adolescents with acceptable MPA-8 ranged from 8.4% to 74%. Positive and significant associations between FGS-10 and MPA-8 were found in all datasets and the pooled sample. The optimal cutoff varied across datasets from FGS-10 ≥ 4 to FGS-10 ≥ 6. In the pooled sample, FGS-10 ≥ 5 had the highest performances in predicting acceptable and good levels of MPA-8. FGS-10 ≥ 5 was also the best proxy indicator for MPA-11 ≥ 0.80. Conclusions The continuous FGS-10 and dichotomous FGS-10 ≥ 5 may be extended to 4–15-y-old children/adolescents in LMICs. In this population, FGS-10 ≥ 5 can be used as a proxy population indicator for good micronutrient adequacy of diets.

Year published

2025

Authors

Diop, Loty; Gelli, Aulo; Huybregts, Lieven; Arsenault, Joanne E.; Bliznashka, Lilia; Boy, Erick; Deitchler, Megan; Lachat, Carl; Moursi, Mourad; Ochoa-Avilés, Angelica M.; Olney, Deanna K.; Becquey, Elodie

Citation

Diop, Loty; Gelli, Aulo; Huybregts, Lieven; Arsenault, Joanne E.; Bliznashka, Lilia; Boy, Erick; et al. 2025. The minimum dietary diversity for women indicator can be extended to children and adolescents aged 4-15 years as a proxy population indicator for good micronutrient adequacy of diets in low- and middle-income countries. Current Developments in Nutrition 9(January 2025): 104508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.104508

Keywords

Adolescents; Children; Dietary Diversity; Trace Elements

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Sustainable poverty reduction through social assistance: Modality, context, and complementary programming in Bangladesh

2025Ahmed, Akhter; Hidrobo, Melissa; Hoddinott, John; Kolt, Bastien; Roy, Shalini; Tauseef, Salauddin
Details

Sustainable poverty reduction through social assistance: Modality, context, and complementary programming in Bangladesh

Social assistance programs can increase consumption and reduce poverty, but less is known about whether these impacts are sustained after programs end, or how design and context influence sustainability. Using data collected in two regions of Bangladesh four years after a randomized intervention ended, we find that combining cash transfers with complementary programming led to sustained increases in consumption and reductions in poverty. Combining food transfers with complementary programming showed similar patterns, to a lesser extent. Cash alone had context-specific sustained effects; food alone had no sustained impacts. Results suggest that context, modality, and complementary programming matter for sustained impacts.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ahmed, Akhter; Hidrobo, Melissa; Hoddinott, John; Kolt, Bastien; Roy, Shalini; Tauseef, Salauddin

Citation

Ahmed, Akhter; Hidrobo, Melissa; Hoddinott, John; Kolt, Bastien; Roy, Shalini; and Tauseef, Salauddin. Sustainable poverty reduction through social assistance: Modality, context, and complementary programming in Bangladesh. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics. Article in Press. First online on December 5, 2024. https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/app.20230108

Country/Region

Bangladesh

Keywords

Southern Asia; Aid Programmes; Poverty; Sustainability; Cash Transfers; Food; Social Protection

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

Gender Equality

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Resilience in technical efficiency and enabling factors: Insights from panel farm enterprise surveys in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

2025Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Djanibekov, Nodir; Abduvalieva, Nilufar; Mirkasimov, Bakhrom; Akramov, Kamiljon T.
Details

Resilience in technical efficiency and enabling factors: Insights from panel farm enterprise surveys in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Year published

2025

Authors

Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Djanibekov, Nodir; Abduvalieva, Nilufar; Mirkasimov, Bakhrom; Akramov, Kamiljon T.

Citation

Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Djanibekov, Nodir; Abduvalieva, Nilufar; Mirkasimov, Bakhrom; and Akramov, Kamiljon T. Resilience in technical efficiency and enabling factors: Insights from panel farm enterprise surveys in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Applied Economics. Article in press. First published online September 26, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2024.2405203

Country/Region

Uzbekistan; Kazakhstan

Keywords

Asia; Central Asia; Economic Shock; Probability Analysis; Resilience; Surveys; Farms

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

Fragility to Resilience in Central and West Asia and North Africa

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Governance and resilience as entry points for transforming food systems in the countdown to 2030

2025
Schneider, Kate R.; Remans, Roseline; Bekele, Tesfaye Hailu; Aytekin, Destan; Conforti, Piero; Dasgupta, Shouro; DeClerck, Fabrice; Dewi, Deviana; Fabi, Carola; Gephart, Jessica A.
…more Masuda, Yuta J.; McLaren, Rebecca; Saisana, Michaela; Aburto, Nancy; Ambikapathi, Ramya; Rodriguez, Mariana Arellano; Barquera, Simon; Battersby, Jane; Beal, Ty; Béné, Christophe; Cafiero, Carlo; Campeau, Christine; Caron, Patrick; Cattaneo, Cattaneo; Candel, Jeroen; Covic, Namukolo; del Pino Alvarez, Inmaculada; Barreto, Ana Paula Dominguez; Elouafi, Ismahane; Frazier, Tyler J.; Fremier, Alexander; Foley, Pat; Golden, Christopher D.; Fischer, Carlos Gonzalez; Guarin, Alejandro; Hendriks, Sheryl; Herforth, Anna; Honorati, Maddalena; Huang, Jikun; Getaneh, Yonas; Kennedy, Gina; Laar, Amos; Lal, Rattan; Lidder, Preetmoninder; Feye, Getachew Legese; Loken, Brent; Malapit, Hazel J.; Marshall, Quinn; Mulatu, Kalkidan A.; Munguia, Ana; Nordhagen, Stella; Resnick, Danielle; Suhardiman, Diana; Sumaila, U. Rashid; Sun, Bangyao; Mengesha, Belay Terefe; Cullen, Maximo Torero; Tubiello, Francesco N.; Dooren, Corné van; Morales, Isabel Valero; Vivero-Pol, Jose-Luis; Webb, Patrick; Wiebe, Keith D.; Haddad, Lawrence; Herrero, Mario; Moncayo, Jose Rosero; Fanzo, Jessica
Details

Governance and resilience as entry points for transforming food systems in the countdown to 2030

Due to complex interactions, changes in any one area of food systems are likely to impact—and possibly depend on—changes in other areas. Here we present the first annual monitoring update of the indicator framework proposed by the Food Systems Countdown Initiative, with new qualitative analysis elucidating interactions across indicators. Since 2000, we find that 20 of 42 indicators with time series have been trending in a desirable direction, indicating modest positive change. Qualitative expert elicitation assessed governance and resilience indicators to be most connected to other indicators across themes, highlighting entry points for action—particularly governance action. Literature review and country case studies add context to the assessed interactions across diets, environment, livelihoods, governance and resilience indicators, helping different actors understand and navigate food systems towards desirable change.Due to complex interactions, changes in any one area of food systems are likely to impact—and possibly depend on—changes in other areas. Here we present the first annual monitoring update of the indicator framework proposed by the Food Systems Countdown Initiative, with new qualitative analysis elucidating interactions across indicators. Since 2000, we find that 20 of 42 indicators with time series have been trending in a desirable direction, indicating modest positive change. Qualitative expert elicitation assessed governance and resilience indicators to be most connected to other indicators across themes, highlighting entry points for action—particularly governance action. Literature review and country case studies add context to the assessed interactions across diets, environment, livelihoods, governance and resilience indicators, helping different actors understand and navigate food systems towards desirable change.

Year published

2025

Authors

Schneider, Kate R.; Remans, Roseline; Bekele, Tesfaye Hailu; Aytekin, Destan; Conforti, Piero; Dasgupta, Shouro; DeClerck, Fabrice; Dewi, Deviana; Fabi, Carola; Gephart, Jessica A.; Masuda, Yuta J.; McLaren, Rebecca; Saisana, Michaela; Aburto, Nancy; Ambikapathi, Ramya; Rodriguez, Mariana Arellano; Barquera, Simon; Battersby, Jane; Beal, Ty; Béné, Christophe; Cafiero, Carlo; Campeau, Christine; Caron, Patrick; Cattaneo, Cattaneo; Candel, Jeroen; Covic, Namukolo; del Pino Alvarez, Inmaculada; Barreto, Ana Paula Dominguez; Elouafi, Ismahane; Frazier, Tyler J.; Fremier, Alexander; Foley, Pat; Golden, Christopher D.; Fischer, Carlos Gonzalez; Guarin, Alejandro; Hendriks, Sheryl; Herforth, Anna; Honorati, Maddalena; Huang, Jikun; Getaneh, Yonas; Kennedy, Gina; Laar, Amos; Lal, Rattan; Lidder, Preetmoninder; Feye, Getachew Legese; Loken, Brent; Malapit, Hazel J.; Marshall, Quinn; Mulatu, Kalkidan A.; Munguia, Ana; Nordhagen, Stella; Resnick, Danielle; Suhardiman, Diana; Sumaila, U. Rashid; Sun, Bangyao; Mengesha, Belay Terefe; Cullen, Maximo Torero; Tubiello, Francesco N.; Dooren, Corné van; Morales, Isabel Valero; Vivero-Pol, Jose-Luis; Webb, Patrick; Wiebe, Keith D.; Haddad, Lawrence; Herrero, Mario; Moncayo, Jose Rosero; Fanzo, Jessica

Citation

Schneider, Kate R.; Remans, Roseline; Bekele, Tesfaye Hailu; Aytekin, Destan; Conforti, Piero; Dasgupta, Shouro; et al. 2025. Governance and resilience as entry points for transforming food systems in the countdown to 2030. Nature Food 6: 105-116. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-024-01109-4

Keywords

Food Systems; Governance; Resilience; Transformation

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Disruptions and adaptations of an urban nutrition intervention delivering essential services for women and children during a major health system crisis in Dhaka, Bangladesh

2025
Escobar-DeMarco, Jessica; Nguyen, Phuong; Kundu, Gourob; Kabir, Rowshan; Ali, Mohsin; Ireen, Santhia; Ash, Deborah; Mahmud, Zeba; Sununtnasuk, Celeste; Menon, Purnima
…more Frongillo, Edward A.
Details

Disruptions and adaptations of an urban nutrition intervention delivering essential services for women and children during a major health system crisis in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Systematic crises may disrupt well-designed nutrition interventions. Continuing services requires understanding the intervention paths that have been disrupted and adapting as crises permit. Alive & Thrive developed an intervention to integrate nutrition services into urban antenatal care services in Dhaka, which started at the onset of COVID-19 and encountered extraordinary disruption of services. We investigated the disruptions and adaptations that occurred to continue the delivery of services for women and children and elucidated how the intervention team made those adaptations. We examined the intervention components planned and those implemented annotating the disruptions and adaptations. Subsequently, we detailed the intervention paths (capacity building, supportive supervision, demand generation, counselling services, and reporting, data management and performance review). We sorted out processes at the system, organizational, service delivery and individual levels on how the intervention team made the adaptations. Disruptions included decreased client load and demand for services, attrition of providers and intervention staff, key intervention activities becoming unfeasible and clients and providers facing challenges affecting utilization and provision of services. Adaptations included incorporating new guidance for the continuity of services, managing workforce turnover and incorporating remote modalities for all intervention components. The intervention adapted to continue by incorporating hybrid modalities including both original activities that were feasible and adapted activities. Amidst health system crises, the adapted intervention was successfully delivered. This knowledge of how to identify disruptions and adapt interventions during major crises is critical as Bangladesh and other countries face new threats (conflict, climate, economic downturns, inequities and epidemics).

Year published

2025

Authors

Escobar-DeMarco, Jessica; Nguyen, Phuong; Kundu, Gourob; Kabir, Rowshan; Ali, Mohsin; Ireen, Santhia; Ash, Deborah; Mahmud, Zeba; Sununtnasuk, Celeste; Menon, Purnima; Frongillo, Edward A.

Citation

Escobar-DeMarco, Jessica; Nguyen, Phuong; Kundu, Gourob; Kabir, Rowshan; Ali, Mohsin; Ireen, Santhia; et al. 2025. Disruptions and adaptations of an urban nutrition intervention delivering essential services for women and children during a major health system crisis in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Maternal and Child Nutrition 21(1): e13750. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13750

Country/Region

Bangladesh

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Children; Nutrition; Pregnancy; Women

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Shocks and stability of risk and time preferences among poor rural households in Ethiopia

2025Meles, Tensay Hadush; Abay, Mehari Hiluf; Berhane, Guush; Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum
Details

Shocks and stability of risk and time preferences among poor rural households in Ethiopia

This paper examines the effects of shocks on temporal stability of risk and time preferences of rural households within a developing country context characterized by frequent droughts, chronic food insecurity, and low levels of education. Leveraging a three-wave large and diverse household panel data that elicits preferences every two years for more than 6,500 individuals from over 5,600 sample rural households in Ethiopia, we analyze the effects of droughts (self-reported) and rainfall shortfalls on household risk and time preferences. Our findings show that households become more risk-averse and impatient after experiencing drought and rainfall shocks; the change in risk preferences is more notable among households that experience recurrent droughts and multiple covariate shocks during the same period.

Year published

2025

Authors

Meles, Tensay Hadush; Abay, Mehari Hiluf; Berhane, Guush; Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum

Citation

Meles, Tensay Hadush; Abay, Mehari Hiluf; Berhane, Guush; and Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum. Shocks and stability of risk and time preferences among poor rural households in Ethiopia. Journal of African Economies. Article in press. First published online May 6, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/jae/ejae005

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Food Insecurity; Households; Poverty; Rural Areas; Shock

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

Climate Resilience

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Assessing global price shocks and mitigation policies on welfare and food security in Nigeria

2025Mamboundou, Pierre; Escalante, Luis Enrique; Omoju, Oluwasola Emmanuel
Details

Assessing global price shocks and mitigation policies on welfare and food security in Nigeria

Variations in agricultural and energy prices have direct and cascading effects on economic and agri-food systems. In this study, we developed a dynamic general equilibrium model to simulate the impact of the global price shocks induced by the Russia-Ukraine war on welfare and food security in Nigeria. In addition, we analysed the effectiveness of different policy options, specifically a reduction in indirect taxes and an increase in cash transfers to affected households, in the short and long term. The results showed that the shocks create opportunities for Nigeria, particularly in the trade, livestock, and agricultural sectors. This leads to an increase in GDP, employment, and incomes. However, these effects fade over time due to the rise in food prices that negatively affects food consumption and some food security indicators. Moreover, the comparative analysis of mitigation scenarios revealed that targeted public cash transfers to households are more effective than reduction in consumption taxes on food in mitigating the negative effects on households.

Year published

2025

Authors

Mamboundou, Pierre; Escalante, Luis Enrique; Omoju, Oluwasola Emmanuel

Citation

Mamboundou, Pierre; Escalante, Luis Enrique; and Omoju, Oluwasola Emmanuel. Assessing global price shocks and mitigation policies on welfare and food security in Nigeria. Food Security. Article in press. First published online October 29, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-024-01497-2

Country/Region

Nigeria

Keywords

Africa; Western Africa; Food Security; Policies; Shock; Welfare

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Diets, fruit and vegetable intake and nutritional status among children, adolescents and adults in the Philippines: A scoping review

2025Smith, Taryn J.; Angeles-Agdeppa, Imelda; Goyena, Eva; Gelli, Aulo; Olney, Deanna K.
Details

Diets, fruit and vegetable intake and nutritional status among children, adolescents and adults in the Philippines: A scoping review

Suboptimal diets contribute to the risk of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases across the life course. Globally, intakes of fruit and vegetables (F&V) fall below recommendations, including in the Philippines. To promote F&V intakes, understanding the extent of inadequate intakes across population groups and key drivers of dietary patterns is needed. This narrative scoping review was conducted to map the diet, F&V intakes and nutritional status in the Philippines. PubMed was searched using keywords specific to diet, F&V intake, and nutritional status, with 50, 24 and 22 articles meeting the inclusion criteria for diet, F&V intake, and nutritional status, respectively. Available evidence indicates that across all population and sociodemographic groups, diets lacked diversity, with high intakes of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, such as refined rice and sugar-based foods and beverages, contributing to inadequate micronutrient intakes. Intakes of F&V were especially low across all population groups. Stunting/short height, wasting and underweight were prevalent among children and adolescents, and micronutrient deficiencies (iron, zinc, vitamin A) were common among children < 5 years of age. More than one-quarter of adults were overweight or obese and demonstrated poor cardiometabolic health. A lack of published evidence identified through this search reported on pregnant and lactating women and women of reproductive age. Published evaluations assessing the impact of interventions or programmes to improve diets or F&V intake were limited. Additional research to fill these gaps will help design interventions and target entry points to improve diet diversity and F&V intakes across all population groups.

Year published

2025

Authors

Smith, Taryn J.; Angeles-Agdeppa, Imelda; Goyena, Eva; Gelli, Aulo; Olney, Deanna K.

Citation

Smith, Taryn J.; Angeles-Agdeppa, Imelda; Goyena, Eva; Gelli, Aulo; and Olney, Deanna K. Diets, fruit and vegetable intake and nutritional status among children, adolescents and adults in the Philippines: A scoping review. Maternal and Child Nutrition. Supplement Article in press. First published online December 13, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13786

Country/Region

Philippines

Keywords

Asia; South-eastern Asia; Oceania; Adolescents; Adults; Dietary Diversity; Diet Quality; Fruits; Nutrition; Trace Elements; Vegetables

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Households with special dietary needs experienced higher food access challenges and worries during COVID-19

2025Koyratty, Nadia; Clay, Lauren A.; Rogus, Stephanie
Details

Households with special dietary needs experienced higher food access challenges and worries during COVID-19

Year published

2025

Authors

Koyratty, Nadia; Clay, Lauren A.; Rogus, Stephanie

Citation

Koyratty, Nadia; Clay, Lauren A.; and Rogus, Stephanie. Households with special dietary needs experienced higher food access challenges and worries during COVID-19. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition. Article in Press. First published online on June 6, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/19320248.2024.2355927

Country/Region

United States

Keywords

Americas; Northern America; Diet; Food Security; Covid-19; Prices

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

In good times and in bad, in sickness and in health: The continuous rise in adoption of labour-saving agricultural technologies in Myanmar

2025Minten, Bart; Goeb, Joseph; van Asselt, Joanna; Aung, Zin Wai
Details

In good times and in bad, in sickness and in health: The continuous rise in adoption of labour-saving agricultural technologies in Myanmar

Year published

2025

Authors

Minten, Bart; Goeb, Joseph; van Asselt, Joanna; Aung, Zin Wai

Citation

Minten, Bart; Goeb, Joseph; van Asselt, Joanna; and Aung, Zin Wai. 2025. In good times and in bad, in sickness and in health: The continuous rise in adoption of labour-saving agricultural technologies in Myanmar. Journal of Development Studies 61(1): 81-101. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2024.2401407

Country/Region

Myanmar

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; South-eastern Asia; Agricultural Productivity; Agricultural Technology; Farm Surveys; Labour; Conflicts

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

Fragility, Conflict, and Migration

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

The power of the anticorruption campaign: Evidence from cigarette and alcohol consumption in China

2025Wang, Xiaobing; Liu, Xinyu; Ren, Yanjun; Yamauchi, Futoshi; Huang, Jikun
Details

The power of the anticorruption campaign: Evidence from cigarette and alcohol consumption in China

Year published

2025

Authors

Wang, Xiaobing; Liu, Xinyu; Ren, Yanjun; Yamauchi, Futoshi; Huang, Jikun

Citation

Wang, Xiaobing; Liu, Xinyu; Ren, Yanjun; Yamauchi, Futoshi; and Huang, Jikun. The power of the anticorruption campaign: Evidence from cigarette and alcohol consumption in China. Economic Development and Cultural Change. Article in press. First published on December 12, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1086/729621

Country/Region

China

Keywords

Asia; Eastern Asia; Corruption; Cigarettes; Alcoholic Beverages; Consumption

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Wholesalers and the transformation of Myanmar’s maize value chains

2025Belton, Ben; Cho, Ame; Hall, Michael; Minten, Bart; Reardon, Thomas
Details

Wholesalers and the transformation of Myanmar’s maize value chains

Wholesalers of agricultural crops have historically received limited attention in the literature on agricultural development, which has a strongly productivist focus. When wholesalers are considered, they are often framed as exploitative, taking advantage of information asymmetries, market failures, and unequal power relations to extract heavy surpluses from farmers. However, there is a growing appreciation that wholesalers may play important roles in facilitating agricultural development and rural transformation. This paper evaluates wholesaler conduct and performance using a survey of 218 maize wholesalers in 12 of the major maize-growing and trading townships of South Shan State, Myanmar and the cities of Lashio and Muse in North Shan. Hybrid maize emerged very rapidly in Myanmar over the past two decades to become a major cash crop, supplying domestic animal feed mills and becoming one of Myanmar’s most important exports to China and Thailand. Wholesalers have been central to the development of this supply chain and the sector. Contrary to recent literature from Myanmar that has cast maize wholesalers as exploitative, the survey finds that the rapidly growing wholesaler segment of the maize value chain is highly competitive, rapidly changing with respect to technology, and functions efficiently. Farmers obtaining maize inputs from wholesalers in the form of tied output credit sell their maize at prevailing market rates. The emergence of clusters of maize wholesalers and allied actors such as third-party logistics services occurred spontaneously and symbiotically with the expansion of hybrid maize cultivation, and with each set of actors essential to the emergence of the others.

Year published

2025

Authors

Belton, Ben; Cho, Ame; Hall, Michael; Minten, Bart; Reardon, Thomas

Citation

Belton, Ben; Cho, Ame; Hall, Michael; Minten, Bart; and Reardon, Thomas. Wholesalers and the transformation of Myanmar’s maize value chains. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. Article in press. First published online November 27, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13489

Country/Region

Myanmar

Keywords

Asia; South-eastern Asia; Agricultural Development; Maize; Wholesale Markets; Value Chains; Small and Medium Enterprises

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-4.0

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

The costs of a multisectoral nutrition program implemented through a poultry value chain platform in Burkina Faso

2025Margolies, Amy; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Twalibu, Aisha; Nwabuikwu, Odiche; Wun, Jolene; Kemp, Chris; Gelli, Aulo; Levin, Carol
Details

The costs of a multisectoral nutrition program implemented through a poultry value chain platform in Burkina Faso

Undernutrition in women and young children in Burkina Faso is a critical problem. Egg consumption is low despite many households raising poultry. The Soutenir l’Exploitation Familiale pour Lancer l’Élevage des Volailles et Valoriser l’Économie Rurale (SELEVER) project, an integrated agriculture-nutrition intervention, promoted egg consumption and sales to investigate the impact of poultry production on child nutrition. Multisectoral nutrition-sensitive agriculture programs address nutrition deficits but lack comparable cost information. This study estimates the costs of the SELEVER program, an integrated poultry and nutrition intervention. The study estimates the program’s economic costs using a standardized methodology from the Strengthening Economic Evaluation for Multisectoral Strategies for Nutrition (SEEMS-Nutrition) consortium, which aligns financial and economic costs along program impact pathways, allocating costs by activities and inputs. We conducted qualitative interviews and focus groups on time allocation and beneficiary out-of-pocket costs. Incremental economic costs were calculated by combining expenditures and economic costs. The total incremental program cost was USD$18,084,727.68 over 5 years, with annual incremental costs of USD$209.20 per direct beneficiary and $796.26 per household. Major cost drivers included overhead (18%), poultry extension (17%), training (16%), household counseling (7%), technical assistance (7%) and microcredit (6%). Total input costs were dominated by personnel (51%), supplies (13%), agricultural inputs (10%) and overhead (9%). We present the total incremental costs of a multisectoral nutrition intervention to generate revenue with poultry. The costs per beneficiary were higher than similar interventions, underscoring the need for cost-effectiveness evaluations of multisectoral nutrition programs. A standardized cost methodology facilitates comparisons with multisectoral nutrition interventions and builds the evidence base.

Year published

2025

Authors

Margolies, Amy; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Twalibu, Aisha; Nwabuikwu, Odiche; Wun, Jolene; Kemp, Chris; Gelli, Aulo; Levin, Carol

Citation

Margolies, Amy; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Twalibu, Aisha; Nwabuikwu, Odiche; Wun, Jolene; Kemp, Chris; Gelli, Aulo; and Levin, Carol. The costs of a multisectoral nutrition program implemented through a poultry value chain platform in Burkina Faso. Maternal and Child Nutrition. Article in press. First available online on January 3, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13791

Country/Region

Burkina Faso

Keywords

Africa; Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Nutrition; Poultry; Value Chains; Children; Costs; Gender; Sustainability; Impact Assessment

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Agriculture for Nutrition and Health

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Rural underemployment and urbanisation: Insights from a 9-year panel from Malawi

2025Van Cappellen, Hanne; De Weerdt, Joachim
Details

Rural underemployment and urbanisation: Insights from a 9-year panel from Malawi

Rural labour markets in Africa are frequently characterised by underemployment, with farmers unable to fully deploy throughout the year one of their most important assets—their labour. Using a nine-year panel data set on 1,407 working-age adults from rural Malawi, we document changes in rural underemployment over this period and how they are associated with urbanisation. Nearby urban growth is linked to increased hours worked in casual labour (ganyu) and in non-agricultural sectors, at the expense of work on the household farm. Improved urban access is also associated with a small increase in wage labour and, at the intensive margin, with hours supplied in household enterprises. We draw lessons from these results for policies, investments and interventions to leverage urban growth for rural development.

Year published

2025

Authors

Van Cappellen, Hanne; De Weerdt, Joachim

Citation

Van Cappellen, Hanne; and De Weerdt, Joachim. Rural underemployment and urbanisation: Insights from a 9-year panel from Malawi. Journal of African Economies. Article in press. First published online on April 26, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/jae/ejae004

Country/Region

Malawi

Keywords

Eastern Africa; Underemployment; Rural Employment; Farmers; Labour; Urbanization

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Project

National Policies and Strategies

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Methods for estimating beneficiary populations targeted by health and nutrition interventions for women, pregnant women, infants, and young children

2025Gune, Soyra; Nguyen, Phuong; Chakrabarti, Suman
Details

Methods for estimating beneficiary populations targeted by health and nutrition interventions for women, pregnant women, infants, and young children

Utilization of maternal and child interventions is typically tracked in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) using coverage estimates from population representative surveys. These estimates cannot be directly applied to assess resource gaps in intervention delivery for which data on the population eligible is required. Moreover, coverage improvements may not necessarily reflect an expansion in utilization because of a decline in the population eligible. We develop a method to estimate the populations eligible for interventions across the continuum of care. The method uses data from the World Population Prospects and the Demographic Health Survey, data sources which are available for most LMICs. Additionally, we develop a method to estimate the eligible population covered by each intervention. Using the illustration of India, we estimate populations eligible for, and covered by interventions during preconception, pregnancy, delivery, lactation, and childhood. We find that between 2015 and 2020, the eligible population declined for all beneficiary groups. Additionally, coverage expansion was not entirely driven by an increase in the population accessing an intervention, but rather also by a decline in the eligible population. Our illustration highlights the importance of including population estimates alongside coverage for interventions, particularly in LMIC contexts due to changing fertility dynamics.

Year published

2025

Authors

Gune, Soyra; Nguyen, Phuong; Chakrabarti, Suman

Citation

Gune, Soyra; Nguyen, Phuong; and Chakrabarti, Suman. Methods for estimating beneficiary populations targeted by health and nutrition interventions for women, pregnant women, infants, and young children. American Journal of Epidemiology. Article in press. First published online December 27, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwae469

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Capacity Development; Maternal and Child Health; Methods; Nutrition; Population

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Foresight

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Men can cook: Effectiveness of a men’s engagement intervention to change attitudes and behaviors in rural Ethiopia

2025Alderman, Harold; Gilligan, Daniel O.; Hidrobo, Melissa; Leight, Jessica; Mulford, Michael; Tambet, Heleene
Details

Men can cook: Effectiveness of a men’s engagement intervention to change attitudes and behaviors in rural Ethiopia

Graduation model interventions seek to address multiple barriers constraining households’ exit from poverty, however, few explicitly target restrictive gender norms. Using a randomized controlled trial design, combined with three rounds of data, we investigate the impacts on gender equitable attitudes and behaviors of a graduation program that seeks to address multiple constraints for those in poverty and improve restrictive gender norms in Ethiopia. We find that at 1-year follow-up all treatment arms lead to improvements in men’s gender equitable attitudes and their engagement in household domestic tasks as reported by both men and women; but at 3-year follow-up, impacts are only sustained in the treatment arms that introduced men’s engagement groups after the 1-year follow-up survey to further promote improvements in equitable gender norms.

Year published

2025

Authors

Alderman, Harold; Gilligan, Daniel O.; Hidrobo, Melissa; Leight, Jessica; Mulford, Michael; Tambet, Heleene

Citation

Alderman, Harold; Gilligan, Daniel O.; Hidrobo, Melissa; Leight, Jessica; Mulford, Michael; and Tambet, Heleene. 2024. Men can cook: Effectiveness of a men’s engagement intervention to change attitudes and behaviors in rural Ethiopia. World Development 185(January 2025): 106781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106781

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Behaviour; Cooking; Men; Rural Areas

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Gender Equality

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Diet quality and micronutrient intakes in nutritional value chains: A synthesis and suggestions for further research

2025Meenakshi, J.V.; Quisumbing, Agnes R.
Details

Diet quality and micronutrient intakes in nutritional value chains: A synthesis and suggestions for further research

This paper provides an overview of a virtual collection of papers analyzing drivers of diet quality and micronutrient intakes, and what has been learnt from various interventions to address micronutrient malnutrition, the contexts in which they succeed, and factors that affect their impact. We frame this using a micronutrient value chain, to highlight the important linkages from farm to plate. Our focus is on representative studies along this value chain in low and middle income countries where micronutrient malnutrition is most prevalent. The papers reviewed suggest that (a) both production diversity and market access work hand-in-hand to improve dietary quality. (b) However, the evidence on whether commercialization improves or reduces diet quality is context-specific and depends on whether markets exist for goods to be sold and micronutrient-rich foods purchased. (c) Not surprisingly, incomes and prices emerge as key factors affecting consumption decisions, with the cost of a healthy diet remaining unaffordable for many. Furthermore, the poor are most sensitive to changes in the relative prices of micronutrient-rich foods. (d) Also important is how food is consumed within the household: the review suggests that social context matters greatly in assessing relationships between women’s empowerment and diet quality. We then review several supply and demand side interventions, and note that while many are successful, not all are easily transferable, and thus may need adaptation to local contexts. We conclude with a set of ten areas that remain open for further research.

Year published

2025

Authors

Meenakshi, J.V.; Quisumbing, Agnes R.

Citation

Meenakshi, J.V.; and Quisumbing, Agnes R. 2025. Diet quality and micronutrient intakes in nutritional value chains: A synthesis and suggestions for further research. Food Policy 130(January 2025): 102789. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2024.102789

Keywords

Diet Quality; Nutrition; Trace Elements; Value Chains

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Using best-worst scaling to inform agroecological interventions in Western Kenya

2025Zander, Kerstin K.; Drucker, Adam G.; Aluso, Lillian; Mengistu, Dejene K.; Fadda, Carlo; Termote, Céline; Davis, Kristin E.
Details

Using best-worst scaling to inform agroecological interventions in Western Kenya

Both the demand for food and the environmental impacts of food production are estimated to significantly increase by 2050. Agroecological interventions have proven effective in facilitating the transition from current food production systems to more sustainable ones. These interventions can not only ensure more equitable food and nutritional security but also address poverty and reduce environmental impacts. As such, agroecological interventions can generate both private and public ecosystem services. Farmers play a key role in how food is produced, as the practices they use are linked with their preferences and expertise, as well as the constraints they face. Understanding farmers’ preferences for the adoption of different agroecological practices and their perceptions of the associated costs and benefits is critical to informing policies that can effectively support farmers in transitioning to more sustainable practices, including those that contribute to the generation of ecosystem services highly valued by broader society. To assess such preferences, we conducted a survey among farmers in Western Kenya which included a best-worst scaling experiment augmented by qualitative questions about the reasons for farmers’ views about the importance of the benefits arising from agroecological practices. Results show that farmers have strong preferences for adopting agroecological practices that generate private goods and are directly related to increasing productivity and food security, including improving health of household members. These may also include practices that have some public good elements as well, such as increasing agrobiodiversity. However, practices that generate broader public good benefits, including improved forest quality/coverage, reduced off-farm environmental impacts, greater community-level resilience to shocks, and improved landscape and wildlife management, were less important to farmers. Such findings can be used to inform policies that support farmer adoption of agroecological interventions best suited to different farming communities, as well as indicating the need for additional types of market-based incentives, such as through Payments for Ecosystem Service mechanisms.

Year published

2025

Authors

Zander, Kerstin K.; Drucker, Adam G.; Aluso, Lillian; Mengistu, Dejene K.; Fadda, Carlo; Termote, Céline; Davis, Kristin E.

Citation

Zander, Kerstin K.; Drucker, Adam G.; Drucker, Adam G.; Aluso, Lillian; Mengistu, Dejene K.; Fadda, Carlo; Termote, Céline; and Davis, Kristin. Using best-worst scaling to inform agroecological interventions in Western Kenya. Environment, Development and Sustainability. Article in press. First published online on June 28, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-05173-5

Country/Region

Kenya

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Agroecology; Sustainability; Farmers; Poverty; Farmers’ Attitudes; Ecosystem Services

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Nature-Positive Solutions

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Economic impacts of large dams on downstream brickmaking in developing countries

2025Basheer, Mohammed; Elnour, Zuhal; Siddig, Khalid; Grethe, Harald
Details

Economic impacts of large dams on downstream brickmaking in developing countries

Large dams have positive and negative impacts, including disrupting brickmaking on the floodplains downstream due to flow regulation and sediment reduction, affecting the supply of essential construction material, notably in developing countries. In this study, we introduce an analytical framework to assess the economywide effects of large dams on downstream brickmaking, focusing on Traditional Fired Clay Brick (TFCB). The framework includes three steps: characterizing the impacts on river flow and sediment load using river system modeling and secondary data, understanding the role of TFCB production in the economy based on survey and economic data, and quantifying the economywide impacts of changes in TFCB production using dynamic computable general equilibrium modeling. We demonstrate the functionality of the approach by conducting a case study of the impacts of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Sudanese economy due to changes in TFCB production by comparing two scenarios: “with GERD” and “no GERD.” Results show that Sudan’s accumulated (2023–2050) discounted (at 0.5% annually) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at factor cost would decline by US$ 6 billion (−0.38%) due to a reduction in TFCB production. Consumer flexibility regarding brick types and the ability of alternative brick sources to fill the demand gap are key determinants of the impacts.

Year published

2025

Authors

Basheer, Mohammed; Elnour, Zuhal; Siddig, Khalid; Grethe, Harald

Citation

Basheer, Mohammed; Elnour, Zuhal; Siddig, Khalid; and Grethe, Harald. Economic impacts of large dams on downstream brickmaking in developing countries. Construction Management and Economics. Article in press. First published online October 14, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2024.2411409

Keywords

Floodplains; Modelling; Sediment; Stream Flow

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

The political economy of agroecological transitions: Key analytical dimensions

2025McKay, Ben M.; Nehring, Ryan; Catacora-Vargas, Georgina
Details

The political economy of agroecological transitions: Key analytical dimensions

There is a growing global interest in agroecology, yet agroecological transitions remain fraught with challenges. These include the need to reconfigure the productive and reproductive agrarian relations of unsustainable food systems and to rethink how we work with ecosystems. Using a political economy approach, we propose five key interrelated dimensions for analyzing agroecological transitions: (i) social metabolism; (ii) labor dynamics; (iii) markets and resources; (iv) social organization; and (iv) policies and politics. While these dimensions are often analyzed separately and to varying degrees, we argue that together they contribute to a comprehensive analysis of the political economy of agroecological transitions.

Year published

2025

Authors

McKay, Ben M.; Nehring, Ryan; Catacora-Vargas, Georgina

Citation

McKay, Ben M.; Nehring, Ryan; and Catacora-Vargas, Georgina. The political economy of agroecological transitions: Key analytical dimensions. Journal of Peasant Studies. Article in press. First published online October 8, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2024.2399138

Keywords

Agroecology; Food Systems; Markets; Politics

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Agroecology

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Evaluating the gendered credit constraints and uptake of an insurance-linked credit product among smallholder farmers in Kenya

2025Timu, Anne G.; Shee, Apurba; Ward, Patrick S.; You, Liangzhi
Details

Evaluating the gendered credit constraints and uptake of an insurance-linked credit product among smallholder farmers in Kenya

Year published

2025

Authors

Timu, Anne G.; Shee, Apurba; Ward, Patrick S.; You, Liangzhi

Citation

Timu, Anne G.; Shee, Apurba; Ward, Patrick S.; and You, Liangzhi. Evaluating the gendered credit constraints and uptake of an insurance-linked credit product among smallholder farmers in Kenya. Journal of Development Studies. Article in press. First published online September 23, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2024.2404573

Country/Region

Kenya

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Agricultural Credit; Financial Inclusion; Gender; Smallholders; Men; Women

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

Climate Resilience

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Perspective: Can growth monitoring and promotion accurately diagnose or screen for inadequate growth of individual children? A critical review of the epidemiological foundations

2025Leroy, Jef L.; Brander, Rebecca L.; Frongillo, Edward A.; Larson, Leila M.; Ruel, Marie T.; Avula, Rasmi
Details

Perspective: Can growth monitoring and promotion accurately diagnose or screen for inadequate growth of individual children? A critical review of the epidemiological foundations

Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP), the process of periodic anthropometric measurements to assess the adequacy of individual child growth, is implemented across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The epidemiological foundations of GMP (i.e., that GMP can accurately diagnose or screen for inadequate growth) have never been critically reviewed. We first assessed growth patterns of individual healthy children. Using longitudinal data from low-, middle-, and high-income countries, we evaluated whether commonly used GMP criteria can be used for diagnosis and screening; i.e., if they accurately identify current, or predict subsequent, inadequate growth in individual children. The growth of individual healthy children does not track along a specific growth curve which challenges the notion that growth measurements alone can be used to distinguish between healthy and inadequate growth. We demonstrate that GMP criteria do not provide meaningful diagnostic information and that GMP is not a meaningful screening activity: commonly used GMP criteria are inaccurate predictors of (inadequate) growth later in childhood; and collecting individual children’s weight and height does not help to identify who needs support or who will benefit. Our results do not undermine the importance of dedicated programs to diagnose wasting in individual children nor do they challenge the need for well-child care to support parents and to ensure children’s optimal nutrition, health, and development. Our findings, however, highlight the need to carefully reconsider the current design of GMP in LMICs.

Year published

2025

Authors

Leroy, Jef L.; Brander, Rebecca L.; Frongillo, Edward A.; Larson, Leila M.; Ruel, Marie T.; Avula, Rasmi

Citation

Leroy, Jef L.; Brander, Rebecca L.; Frongillo, Edward A.; Larson, Leila M.; Ruel, Marie T.; and Avula, Rasmi. Perspective: Can growth monitoring and promotion accurately diagnose or screen for inadequate growth of individual children? A critical review of the epidemiological foundations. Advances in Nutrition. Article in press. First published online January 11, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advnut.2025.100367

Keywords

Child Growth; Diagnosis; Epidemiology; Screening; Stunting; Undernutrition; Wasting

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

To defer or to differ: Experimental evidence on the role of cash transfers in Nigerian couples’ decision–making

2025Bakhtiar, M. Mehrab; Fafchamps, Marcel; Goldstein, Markus; Leonard, Kenneth L.; Papineni, Sreelakshmi
Details

To defer or to differ: Experimental evidence on the role of cash transfers in Nigerian couples’ decision–making

Year published

2025

Authors

Bakhtiar, M. Mehrab; Fafchamps, Marcel; Goldstein, Markus; Leonard, Kenneth L.; Papineni, Sreelakshmi

Citation

Bakhtiar, M. Mehrab; Fafchamps, Marcel; Goldstein, Markus; Leonard, Kenneth L.; and Papineni, Sreelakshmi. To defer or to differ: Experimental evidence on the role of cash transfers in Nigerian couples’ decision–making. The Economic Journal. Article in press. First available online on December 20, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/ej/ueae117

Country/Region

Nigeria

Keywords

Africa; Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Cash Transfers; Decision Making; Marriage; Gender; Households; Resource Allocation

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Rethinking responses to the world’s water crises

2025
Grafton, R. Quentin; Fanaian, Safa; Nguyen, Nhat-Mai; Wyrwoll, Paul Robert; Coombes, Peter; Manero, Ana; Williams, John; Horne, James; Katic, Pamela; Ringler, Claudia
…more Robin, Libby; Talbot-Jones, Julia; Wheeler, Sarah Ann; Avarado, Fabiola; Hope, Robert; Biswas, Asit K.; Borgomeo, Edoardo; Brouwer, Roy; Costanza, Robert; Kubiszewski, Ida; Kompas, Tom; McDonnell, Rachael; Martins, Rita; Nikolakis, William; Rollason, Russell; Samnakay, Nadeem; Scanlon, Bridget R.; Svensson, Jesper; Thiam, Djiby; Tortajada, Cecilia; Wang, Yahua
Details

Rethinking responses to the world’s water crises

Year published

2025

Authors

Grafton, R. Quentin; Fanaian, Safa; Nguyen, Nhat-Mai; Wyrwoll, Paul Robert; Coombes, Peter; Manero, Ana; Williams, John; Horne, James; Katic, Pamela; Ringler, Claudia; Robin, Libby; Talbot-Jones, Julia; Wheeler, Sarah Ann; Avarado, Fabiola; Hope, Robert; Biswas, Asit K.; Borgomeo, Edoardo; Brouwer, Roy; Costanza, Robert; Kubiszewski, Ida; Kompas, Tom; McDonnell, Rachael; Martins, Rita; Nikolakis, William; Rollason, Russell; Samnakay, Nadeem; Scanlon, Bridget R.; Svensson, Jesper; Thiam, Djiby; Tortajada, Cecilia; Wang, Yahua

Citation

Grafton, R. Quentin; Fanaian, Safa; Nguyen, Nhat-Mai; Wyrwoll, Paul Robert; Coombes, Peter; Ringler, Claudia; et al. Rethinking responses to the world’s water crises. Nature Sustainability 9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-024-01470-z

Keywords

Water; Natural Resources; Flooding; Ecosystems; Environmental Degradation; Policies

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Project

NEXUS Gains

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

What do urban consumers want? Findings from a discrete choice experiment on the preference for locally produced staple food in Central Africa: Evidence from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

2025Thontwa, Sarah K.; De Weerdt, Joachim; Van Passel, Steven
Details

What do urban consumers want? Findings from a discrete choice experiment on the preference for locally produced staple food in Central Africa: Evidence from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Year published

2025

Authors

Thontwa, Sarah K.; De Weerdt, Joachim; Van Passel, Steven

Citation

Thontwa, Sarah K.; De Weerdt, Joachim; and Van Passel, Steven. 2024. What do urban consumers want? Findings from a discrete choice experiment on the preference for locally produced staple food in Central Africa: Evidence from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Agrekon 63(4): 223-239. https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2024.2392582

Keywords

Congo, Democratic Republic of; Africa; West and Central Africa; Consumers; Imports; Value Chains; Urban Areas; Farmers; Rural Areas; Livelihoods

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Record type

Journal Article

Brief

Enhancing agricultural resilience in Uzbekistan through farmers’ decisionmaking autonomy

2025Djanibekov, Nodir; Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Mirkasimov, Bakhrom; Akramov, Kamiljon T.
Details

Enhancing agricultural resilience in Uzbekistan through farmers’ decisionmaking autonomy

KEY MESSAGE • Greater farmer’s decision-making autonomy enhances resilience in technical efficiency during economic shocks. • Technical efficiency improves with autonomy, as farmers can adjust resource use, sustain productivity, and make adaptive choices regarding crop selection and input management. • Eliminating top-down land allocations, granting secure land use rights, expanding financial and market access, and decentralizing training programs can improve the capacity of farmers to become more productive and adaptable in the face of current and future challenges.

Year published

2025

Authors

Djanibekov, Nodir; Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Mirkasimov, Bakhrom; Akramov, Kamiljon T.

Citation

Djanibekov, Nodir; Takeshima, Hiroyuki; Mirkasimov, Bakhrom; and Akramov, Kamiljon T. 2025. Enhancing agricultural resilience in Uzbekistan through farmers’ decisionmaking autonomy. CPRO Policy Brief 2025-01/2. Tashkent: Center For Policy Research and Outreach. https://doi.org/10.70735/DUTV1060

Country/Region

Uzbekistan

Keywords

Asia; Central Asia; Agriculture; Decision Making; Farmers; Resilience

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Project

Fragility, Conflict, and Migration

Record type

Brief

Journal Article

Prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in South Asian countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2025Ali, Masum; Alam, Md Mahbub; Rifat, M. A.; Simi, Sonjida Mesket; Sarwar, Sneha; Amin, Md Ruhul; Saha, Sanjib
Details

Prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in South Asian countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction South Asia is observing an epidemiological transition from communicable to non-communicable diseases where diabetes is an important marker. In this study, we estimate the overall prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in South Asian countries. Method A systematic literature review and meta-analysis is performed to estimate the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Afghanistan using studies based on only the nationally representative surveys and published from 2012 until June 2024. The quality of the included articles was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Both random-effect (Der Simonian-Laird inverse variance) and fixed-effect models were used to perform meta-analyses followed by meta-regression. Results We identified 64 studies for diabetes and 14 studies for prediabetes, covering a total of 4,613,487 and 156,407 participants, respectively. Overall, the pooled prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes was 8.56% (95% CI 5.73–11.91; I2 = 99.99%) and 18.99% (95% CI 12.74–26.6; I2 = 99.87%), respectively, with high heterogeneity observed among the studies based on random-effect models. We also found that the prevalence of diabetes identified by clinical methods was higher than the self-reported measures. Conclusion The analyses revealed that the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in South Asia throughout the study period is significantly elevated. This necessitates the establishment of comprehensive guidelines for South Asians to mitigate the escalating prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ali, Masum; Alam, Md Mahbub; Rifat, M. A.; Simi, Sonjida Mesket; Sarwar, Sneha; Amin, Md Ruhul; Saha, Sanjib

Citation

Ali, Masum; Alam, Md Mahbub; Rifat, M. A.; Simi, Sonjida Mesket; Sarwar, Sneha; Amin, Md Ruhul; and Saha, Sanjib. 2025. Prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in South Asian countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Discover Public Health 22: 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00426-8

Country/Region

Bangladesh; India; Nepal; Pakistan; Sri Lanka; Bhutan; Maldives; Afghanistan

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Diabetes; Epidemiology; Guidelines

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

The effect of prenatal balanced energy and protein supplementation on gestational weight gain: An individual participant data meta-analysis in low- and middle-income countries

2025
Wang, Dongqing; Partap, Uttara; Liu, Enju; Costa, Janaína Calu; Cliffer, Ilana R.; Wang, Molin; Nookala, Sudeer Kumar; Subramoney, Vishak; Briggs, Brittany; Ahmed, Imran
…more Argaw, Alemayehu; Ariff, Shabina; Bhandari, Nita; Chowdhury, Ranadip; Erchick, Daniel; García-Guerra, Armando; Ghaffarpour, Masoumah; Hanley-Cook, Giles; Huybregts, Lieven; Jehan, Fyezah; Kaseb, Fatemeh; Krebs, Nancy F.; Lachat, Carl; Lama, Tsering Pema; Manandhar, Dharma S.; McClure, Elizabeth M.; Moore, Sophie E.; Muhammad, Ameer; Neufeld, Lynnette M.; Prentice, Andrew M.; Quezada-Sánchez, Amado D.; Roberfroid, Dominique; Saville, Naomi M.; Shafiq, Yasir; Shrestha, Bhim P.; Sonko, Bakary; Soofi, Sajid; Taneja, Sunita; Tielsch, James M.; Toe, Laéticia Céline; Valaei, Naser; Fawzi, Wafaie W.
Details

The effect of prenatal balanced energy and protein supplementation on gestational weight gain: An individual participant data meta-analysis in low- and middle-income countries

Background Understanding the effects of balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplements on gestational weight gain (GWG) and how the effects differ depending on maternal characteristics and the nutritional composition of the supplements will inform the implementation of prenatal BEP interventions. Methods and findings Individual participant data from 11 randomized controlled trials of prenatal BEP supplements (N = 12,549, with 5,693 in the BEP arm and 6,856 in the comparison arm) in low- and middle-income countries were used. The primary outcomes included GWG adequacy (%) and the estimated total GWG at delivery as continuous outcomes, and severely inadequate (<70% adequacy), inadequate GWG (<90% adequacy), and excessive GWG (>125% adequacy) as binary outcomes; all variables were calculated based on the Institute of Medicine recommendations. Linear and log-binomial models were used to estimate study-specific mean differences or risk ratios (RRs), respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the effects of prenatal BEP on the GWG outcomes. The study-specific estimates were pooled using meta-analyses. Subgroup analyses were conducted by individual characteristics. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were conducted for study-level characteristics. Compared to the comparison group, prenatal BEP led to a 6% greater GWG percent adequacy (95% CI: 2.18, 9.56; p = 0.002), a 0.59 kg greater estimated total GWG at delivery (95% CI, 0.12, 1.05; p = 0.014), a 10% lower risk of severely inadequate GWG (RR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.83, 0.99; p = 0.025), and a 7% lower risk of inadequate GWG (RR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.89, 0.97; p = 0.001). The effects of prenatal BEP on GWG outcomes were stronger in studies with a targeted approach, where BEP supplements were provided to participants in the intervention arm under specific criteria such as low body mass index or low GWG, compared to studies with an untargeted approach, where BEP supplements were provided to all participants allocated to the intervention arm. Conclusions Prenatal BEP supplements are effective in increasing GWG and reducing the risk of inadequate weight gain during pregnancy. BEP supplementation targeted toward pregnant women with undernutrition may be a promising approach to delivering the supplements.

Year published

2025

Authors

Wang, Dongqing; Partap, Uttara; Liu, Enju; Costa, Janaína Calu; Cliffer, Ilana R.; Wang, Molin; Nookala, Sudeer Kumar; Subramoney, Vishak; Briggs, Brittany; Ahmed, Imran; Argaw, Alemayehu; Ariff, Shabina; Bhandari, Nita; Chowdhury, Ranadip; Erchick, Daniel; García-Guerra, Armando; Ghaffarpour, Masoumah; Hanley-Cook, Giles; Huybregts, Lieven; Jehan, Fyezah; Kaseb, Fatemeh; Krebs, Nancy F.; Lachat, Carl; Lama, Tsering Pema; Manandhar, Dharma S.; McClure, Elizabeth M.; Moore, Sophie E.; Muhammad, Ameer; Neufeld, Lynnette M.; Prentice, Andrew M.; Quezada-Sánchez, Amado D.; Roberfroid, Dominique; Saville, Naomi M.; Shafiq, Yasir; Shrestha, Bhim P.; Sonko, Bakary; Soofi, Sajid; Taneja, Sunita; Tielsch, James M.; Toe, Laéticia Céline; Valaei, Naser; Fawzi, Wafaie W.

Citation

Wang, Dongqing; Partap, Uttara; Liu, Enju; Costa, Janaína Calu; Cliffer, Ilana R.; Wang, Molin; et al. 2025. The effect of prenatal balanced energy and protein supplementation on gestational weight gain: An individual participant data meta-analysis in low- and middle-income countries. PLOS Medicine 22(2): e1004523. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004523

Keywords

Body Mass Index; Data; Energy Balance; Perinatal Period; Pregnancy; Weight Gain

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Identification, characterization, and determinants of dietary patterns of low-income urban adults in Vietnam and Nigeria

2025
Pastori, Giulia; Maasen, Kim; Talsma, Elise F.; Verhoef, Hans; Samuel, Folake O.; Shittu, Oluyemisi F.; Huong, Le Thi; Hernandez, Ricardo; Wertheim-Heck, Sigrid; Le, Xuan Thi Thanh
…more Mai, Truong Tuyet; Lundy, Mark; Bakk, Zsuzsa; Brouwer, Inge D.
Details

Identification, characterization, and determinants of dietary patterns of low-income urban adults in Vietnam and Nigeria

Understanding dietary patterns and their determinants can steer efforts to food systems transformations required to provide sustainable healthy diets. Based on 24-h recall data and using latent class analysis, we characterized dietary patterns of adults from low-income neighborhoods in Hanoi, Vietnam and Ibadan, Nigeria (n = 385 and 344, age 18–49 years). We examined sociodemographic determinants and diet quality (diversity, non-communicable disease risk, and micronutrient adequacy) of these patterns. Three dietary patterns were identified in each country. Vietnamese patterns differed in sociodemographic characteristics and diet quality. Nigerian patterns differed in diet quality but not in sociodemographics. Understanding different consumer groups and the drivers of consumption helps to identify tailored interventions to diversify diets and improve diet quality.

Year published

2025

Authors

Pastori, Giulia; Maasen, Kim; Talsma, Elise F.; Verhoef, Hans; Samuel, Folake O.; Shittu, Oluyemisi F.; Huong, Le Thi; Hernandez, Ricardo; Wertheim-Heck, Sigrid; Le, Xuan Thi Thanh; Mai, Truong Tuyet; Lundy, Mark; Bakk, Zsuzsa; Brouwer, Inge D.

Citation

Pastori, Giulia; Maasen, Kim; Talsma, Elise F.; Verhoef, Hans; Samuel, Folake O.; Shittu, Oluyemisi F.; et al. Identification, characterization, and determinants of dietary patterns of low-income urban adults in Vietnam and Nigeria. Global Food Security. Article in press. First published online September 14, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2024.100797

Country/Region

Nigeria; Vietnam

Keywords

Africa; Western Africa; Asia; South-eastern Asia; Adults; Diet Quality; Food Systems; Transformation; Urban Areas

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Dietary intake and micronutrient adequacy among adults in rural Sri Lanka: Findings from a cross-sectional baseline survey

2025
Joyce, Caroline A.; Caswell, Bess L.; Gelli, Aulo; Hess, Sonja Y.; Sitisekara, Hasara; Stewart, Christine P.; Tan, Xiuping; Xiuping, Renuka; Peiris, Kalana; Silva, Renuka
…more Olney, Deanna K.
Details

Dietary intake and micronutrient adequacy among adults in rural Sri Lanka: Findings from a cross-sectional baseline survey

Objective To characterize food group consumption, assess the contribution of food groups to energy and micronutrient intake, and estimate usual nutrient intake among adults in rural Sri Lanka. Design A baseline survey (Dec 2020–Feb 2021) was conducted as part of an agriculture-based, nutrition-sensitive resilience program evaluation. Dietary intake was assessed using telephone-based 24-hour recalls (n=1283), with repeat recalls from 769 participants. Mean daily intake of food groups and their contribution to energy and nutrient intakes were calculated. The National Cancer Institute method was used to estimate usual intakes and the prevalence of adequate micronutrient intake (PAI). Differences by sex, district, and wealth were assessed using t-tests and ANOVA. Setting Forty-five rural villages throughout Sri Lanka. Participants Men and women from households in the program evaluation study area. Results On average, grains and coconut milk provided 56% and 12% of energy, respectively. Rice, fish, dairy, and pulses were the primary sources of micronutrients. Participants consumed 118±117g vegetables and 71±243g fruit per day. PAI was <25% for calcium; zinc; niacin; folate; and vitamins B6, B12, and C, reflecting low consumption of animal-source foods (ASF; 80 g/day), whole grains, fruits, and vegetables (F&V). Significant differences in food group consumption by sociodemographic subgroup were observed among districts and wealth quintiles. Conclusions We observed high consumption of rice and coconut milk and low prevalence of micronutrient adequacy. We recommend increasing ASF, whole grain, and F&V consumption to close nutrient gaps, as well as research to identify effective solutions to increase micronutrient intake.

Year published

2025

Authors

Joyce, Caroline A.; Caswell, Bess L.; Gelli, Aulo; Hess, Sonja Y.; Sitisekara, Hasara; Stewart, Christine P.; Tan, Xiuping; Xiuping, Renuka; Peiris, Kalana; Silva, Renuka; Olney, Deanna K.

Citation

Joyce, Caroline A.; Caswell, Bess L.; Gelli, Aulo; Hess, Sonja Y.; Sitisekara, Hasara; Stewart, Christine P.; et al. Dietary intake and micronutrient adequacy among adults in rural Sri Lanka: Findings from a cross-sectional baseline survey. Public Health Nutrition. Article in press. First published online January 30, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980025000072

Country/Region

Sri Lanka

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Diet; Fruits; Trace Elements; Vegetables

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Project

Agriculture for Nutrition and Health

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Vulnerability of Nigerian maize traders to a confluence of climate, violence, disease and cost shocks

2025Vargas, Carolina M.; Liverpool-Tasie, Lenis Saweda O.; Reardon, Thomas
Details

Vulnerability of Nigerian maize traders to a confluence of climate, violence, disease and cost shocks

Purpose We study five exogenous shocks: climate, violence, price hikes, spoilage and the COVID-19 lockdown. We analyze the association between these shocks and trader characteristics, reflecting trader vulnerability. Design/methodology/approach Using primary survey data on 1,100 Nigerian maize traders for 2021 (controlling for shocks in 2017), we use probit models to estimate the probabilities of experiencing climate, violence, disease and cost shocks associated with trader characteristics (gender, size and region) and to estimate the probability of vulnerability (experiencing severe impacts). Findings Traders are prone to experiencing more than one shock, which increases the intensity of the shocks. Price shocks are often accompanied by violence, climate and COVID-19 shocks. The poorer northern region is disproportionately affected by shocks. Northern traders experience more price shocks while Southern traders are more affected by violence shocks given their dependence on long supply chains from the north for their maize. Female traders are more likely to experience violent events than men who tend to be more exposed to climate shocks. Research limitations/implications The data only permit analysis of the general degree of impact of a shock rather than quantifying lost income. Originality/value This paper is the first to analyze the incidence of multiple shocks on grain traders and the unequal distribution of negative impacts. It is the first such in Africa based on a large sample of grain traders from a primary survey.

Year published

2025

Authors

Vargas, Carolina M.; Liverpool-Tasie, Lenis Saweda O.; Reardon, Thomas

Citation

Vargas, Carolina M.; Liverpool-Tasie, Lenis Saweda O.; and Reardon, Thomas. Vulnerability of Nigerian maize traders to a confluence of climate, violence, disease and cost shocks. Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies. Article in press. First published online April 22, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-08-2023-0214

Country/Region

Nigeria

Keywords

Africa; Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Climate; Covid-19; Maize; Violence; Vulnerability

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Record type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Information framing effects on diet choices among Chinese urban residents

2025Chen, Kevin Z.; Yu, Luyun; Lin, Wen; Ortega, David L.
Details

Information framing effects on diet choices among Chinese urban residents

Year published

2025

Authors

Chen, Kevin Z.; Yu, Luyun; Lin, Wen; Ortega, David L.

Citation

Chen, Kevin Z.; Yu, Luyun; Lin, Wen; and Ortega, David L. Information framing effects on diet choices among Chinese urban residents. Agribusiness. Article in Press. First published on November 29, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21998

Keywords

Diet; Feeding Preferences; Urban Population; Health; Information; Consumers

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Record type

Journal Article

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