Nutrition Operations Research

Nutrition Operations Research

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WFP Nutrition Operations Research

The World Food Programme’s new Nutrition Policy (2017-2021)

emphasizes the importance of evidence-based, cost-effective

interventions for nutrition to achieve Sustainable Development

Goal 2: Zero Hunger. As a technical partner to governments,

donors, civil society organizations and communities in a wide

variety of food and nutrition programmes, WFP uses and

contributes to evidence in various ways. We draw on existing data

and analytical tools to design well-tailored programmes and

support an improved policy environment for nutrition. We

undertake new research to identify appropriate and effective

context-specific approaches aligned with national policies and

strategies. Finally, we place a strong emphasis on robust

monitoring and evaluation, as well as sharing of findings with

governments and other partners, to improve the global nutrition

evidence base.

This document offers a few recent examples of success in WFP’s

nutrition operations research. For further information, please

contact [email protected].

Bangladesh: Scaling Up Rice Fortification

There is strong evidence that fortification can address micronutrient

deficiencies, thereby improving nutrition. This ongoing project in

Bangladesh aims to build on that evidence by providing fortified rice

through the government’s national social safety net system, and

establishing a commercial market for fortified rice. WFP and the

Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) are conducting

research on technical feasibility and effectiveness. The results of the 2013

consumer acceptability study showed that the majority of participants

accepted fortified rice and were willing to purchase it in markets.

Donor:

Royal DSM

Example Publication:

Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee. Acceptability of Fortified Rice

by Participants of Government Social Safety Net Programmes. 2014.

WFP/W

ahid

Adnan

Indonesia: Cost of the Diet

In 2011-2012, WFP and the Government of Indonesia conducted market

surveys and focus groups to understand food availability, price and

consumption in four provinces in order to estimate how much it costs a

household to buy a nutritious diet using locally available food. The study

found that although it is possible to purchase a nutritious diet in local

markets, most households could not afford to do so with the amount they

were currently spending on food. The results from additional recent

research in eight provinces, using 2016 food price data, are being used to

inform the design reform for the national social safety net program.

Donor:

WFP


Baldi et al. Cost of the Diet (CotD) tool: First results from Indonesia and

applications for policy discussion on food and nutrition security. Food Nutr

Bull 2013;34(2):S35-42.

WFP/E

di Seyto

Malawi: Stunting Prevention Pilot

WFP is currently working with the Malawi Ministry of Health and other

partners to improve the nutritional status of children under 2. Behavior

change communications, specialized nutritious food and nutrition-sensitive

activities are being used to increase access to diverse diets as well as

water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and health services. Evaluations

conducted by Johns Hopkins University have shown high community

engagement and improvements in diet, weight and growth in children.

Donor:

Children’s Investment Fund Foundation


The Scaling-Up Nutrition (SUN) movement stunting prevention program

‘Right Foods at the Right Time: Targeting Nutrition of Children under Two’

in Malawi. Special symposium at the ICN, Argentina, 2017. Abstract

available at http://www.icn2017.com.

WFP/M

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Cambodia: Local Complementary Foods

WFP worked with the University of Copenhagen, the Institut de Recherche

pour le Développement and various national institutes in Cambodia on

research for the prevention of undernutrition which compared two

complementary foods, made using local ingredients, to both Super Cereal

and Super Cereal plus. The results indicate that supplementary food

products work better when they are fortified and contain animal source

foods. Further, small fish have potential as an affordable ingredient,

alternative to milk powder, which can improve the nutritional quality of

locally processed foods.

Donor:

Government of Denmark


Skau et al. Effects of animal source food and micronutrient fortification

in complementary food products on body composition, iron status, and

linear growth: a randomized trial in Cambodia. Am J Clin Nutr 2015;101

(4):742-51.

WFP/D

avid

Longstr

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Niger: Prevention of Acute Malnutrition

Médecins Sans Frontières, Epicentre and WFP compared interventions for

preventing acute malnutrition using combinations of specialized nutritious

foods and cash. Incidences of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and

severe acute malnutrition (SAM) were considerably lower in the study arm

that combined food and cash compared to food or cash alone. These

results suggest that blanket distribution of nutritious foods to children

under 2, associated with targeted cash transfers to vulnerable households,

could be a cost-effective strategy for preventing malnutrition.

Donor:

Médecins Sans Frontières and WFP


Langendorf et al. Preventing Acute Malnutrition among Young Children in

Crises: A Prospective Intervention Study in Niger. PLOS Med 2014;11

(9):e1001714.

WFP/C

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Ilb

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Burkina Faso: Treatment of Acute Malnutrition

WFP worked with the national government, the Institute of Tropical

Medicine and Ghent University to conduct research comparing the

effectiveness of child-centered counselling and specialized nutritious foods

for treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). After three months,

recovery from MAM was significantly lower in the counselling group;

however, authors hypothesize that if caregiver attendance at health

facilities was higher, counselling could be an appropriate strategy for MAM

treatment.

Donor:

Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Nutrition Third World, and

WFP


Nikièma et al. Treating moderate acute malnutrition in first-line health

services: an effectiveness cluster-randomized trial in Burkina Faso. Am J of

Clin Nutr 2014;100(1):241-249.

WFP/R

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Skulleru

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Dominican Republic: Anemia Reduction

The Government of the Dominican Republic and WFP worked together to

assess the impact of adding micronutrient powders, nutrition education

and growth monitoring to the national social protection programme

(known as Progresando con Solidaridad). A programme evaluation found

that anemia was reduced by 50 percent in children. The successful

implementation of this nutrition-sensitive social protection programme

provides key lessons for multiple country contexts.

Donor:

WFP


Case Study: How the Government of the Dominican Republic Reduced

Anemia by 50% in Vulnerable Children, with support from WFP. 2015.

Available at http://www1.wfp.org.

WFP/A

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Leon

Somalia: Nutrition Causal Analysis

WFP and the Strengthening Nutrition Security (SNS) Consortium

conducted qualitative research to understand the probable, multiple causes

of acute malnutrition. The study confirmed that: prolonged insecurity has a

negative impact on livelihoods and nutrition; awareness of health and

nutrition is inadequate; and poor infant and young child feeding practices

and lack of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities predispose

children to disease and malnutrition.

Donor:

DFID and WFP


Strengthening Nutrition Security Consortium. Nutritional Causal Analysis

Study—South and Central Somalia. 2015. Available at http://reliefweb.int.

WFP/A

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For more information, contact:

[email protected]

Nutrition Operations Research

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