In the past decade, the availability and use of data have shed light on the importance of addressing malnutrition to improve human health and well-being. At the same time, high profile advocacy events have pushed the nutrition profile even further. Hand-in-hand, data and advocacy have increased the attention, policies and resources directed towards improving nutrition. The year 2012 was…
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Updated guidance on measuring fortification coverage
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has released new guidance on measuring coverage of food fortification. The Fortification Assessment Coverage Toolkit (FACT) provides standardized tools to collect, analyze and synthesize data on quality, coverage, and consumption of fortified foods in different countries and contexts. FACT also provides guidance on survey design and use in evaluation contexts. GAIN Briefing Paper…
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The World Health Assembly Global Nutrition Monitoring Framework: Aspiring to track global progress in nutrition
Accelerating nutrition progress through target setting Source: World Health Organization. Global Targets 2025. https://www.who.int/nutrition/global-target-2025/en/ In the wake of the Millennium Development Goals, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) became a rallying point for the global nutrition community to accelerate actions towards reducing malnutrition. In 2012, the World Health Assembly (WHA) endorsed six Global Nutrition Targets for 2025. The nutrition targets are…
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Beyond Definition: Attaching meaning to indicators
An interview with Jef Leroy, IFPRI A worker with the partner organization of Save the Children measures a child in the slums of Govandi, Mumbai, India. © 2016 Mayank Soni (Save the Children), Courtesy of Photoshare Stunting, or children assessed as too short for their age, has become a north star indicator for the nutrition community. Many advocates, policy makers,…
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World Health Assembly: Monitoring Progress of the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition Progress through the Global database on the Implementation of Nutrition Action (GINA)
Progress on nutrition commitments: where are we now? Between May 20-28 of this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) will hold the 72nd annual World Health Assembly (WHA). The WHA is the decision-making body of the WHO at which Member States gather to review and decide on policies, budgets and organizational procedures. On the agenda for the WHA this year is…
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Inspiration from the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) community: Core Questions on WASH for Household Surveys
© 2014 Faisal Azim, Courtesy of Photoshare World Water Day 2019’s theme of “Leaving no one behind” focuses on vulnerable populations—including women, children, refugees, and indigenous peoples—that lack access to safe water. This theme is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets on universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water (6.1) and adequate and equitable sanitation and…
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Malnutrition: a key barrier to women and girls’ empowerment
© 2017 Dr. Mohd. Irfan Ahamad Seyyed, Courtesy of Photoshare March 8th marks International Women’s Day, an annual celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political contributions of women. Since 1911, International Women’s Day has been an official day to measure and celebrate progress towards gender parity. Many individuals and institutions have come to focus on women’s economic and social…
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Breastfeeding counseling: The need for actionable data
© 2016 Sanjeeta/CCP India, Courtesy of Photoshare In early 2019, the WHO released global guidance that recommends breastfeeding counseling for all women starting during pregnancy up until the child is two years or older. However, data on the coverage of breastfeeding counseling is limited. There is need for more actionable data on breastfeeding counseling coverage during critical time points.
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Digging in to the DHS and MICS nutrition data
The Demographic Health Survey (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) are primary sources of nationally-representative maternal, newborn, child health, and nutrition data for the global health community. In an online survey conducted by DataDENT earlier this year, nutrition professionals were asked how they access and use data on nutrition. Among the 191 survey respondents, the two most commonly reported…