Data visualization is widely used in nutrition to summarize and communicate nutrition data. There are several aspects of data visualization that make it a viable strategy to neatly collate information and (hopefully) provoke action: (1) humans more rapidly process visual information compared to text; (2) design principles can be applied to attune with humans’ short-term memory; and (3) research has…
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Creating Effective Accountability DVTs: Four Lessons from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Nutrition Scorecard
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) is a non-partisan policy-hub dedicated to promoting good governance and development at the sub-national level. The forum has a strong track record of using data to inform decision-making and improve advocacy among Nigeria’s Governors. For example, the NGF designed and implemented several state-level scorecards to engage Governors around key policy issues including polio eradication, state-supported…
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2020 DataDENT Highlights
2020 will be remembered as a year the world radically changed, but it was also a year that reminded us of the importance of fundamental structures and systems. Now, as much as ever, strengthening the nutrition data value chain (DVC) is needed to address the challenges COVID-19 crisis poses to food, nutrition, and health globally. During 2020, DataDENT partners—the Johns…
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Strengthening nutrition data visualization at the Nutrition Society of Nigeria annual conference
In November 2020, the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) held is 50th Annual General Meeting and Scientific conference titled “Improving Nutrition Intervention Outcomes in Nigeria through Evidence-Based Nutrition, Data Generation and Dissemination” in Kaduna State. DataDENT members remotely led two pre-conference sessions focused on improving data visualization practices in nutrition for over 300 participants. During the first session, “Data visualization…
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Champions of Change: How NITI Aayog is improving a data visualization tool for data-driven policy and decision making
The Champions of Change (COC) Dashboard was developed by NITI Aayog to monitor district progress and aid in decision making. In our conversation with Rama Kamaraju, Data Scientist at NITI Aayog, we discussed the use of data under the Aspirational Districts Program (ADP) and how the COC Dashboard supports data-driven policy making in India. In 2019-2020, DataDENT implemented by the…
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Through the Eyes of the User: Tips for Producers of Global Nutrition Data Visualization Tools
Given the recent upheaval due to the COVID-19 pandemic and adjustments needed in planning, targeting, and implementation of programs, data is more important than ever before. In nutrition, we have seen a proliferation of global data visualization tools (DVTs). Data visualization aids audiences in interpreting data and focusing on key priorities (Evergreen, 2016). For example, nutrition advocates frequently include visualizations…
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Together for Nutrition: West African Data Forum Call to Action
In February 2020, DataDENT in collaboration Transform Nutrition West Africa (led by International Food Policy Research Institute), UNICEF, Countdown to 2030, CDC, WHO, WAHO, and NIPN co-convened Together for Nutrition: West African Data Forum. The convening had the following objectives: 1. Share national and regional achievements and challenges in operationalizing the data value chain for nutrition 2. Strengthen connectivity, coordination,…
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Tracking India’s Progress on Addressing Malnutrition: What Will it Take?
In collaboration with Partnerships and Opportunities to Strengthen and Harmonize Actions for Nutrition in India (POSHAN), DataDENT co-funded an activity identifying an indicator list and respective data availability for evidence-based interventions, determinants, and outcomes aligned with the POSHAN Abhiyaan framework. A blog post on this work is available here. A policy note summarizing findings can be viewed here.
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Webinar Round Up: Measuring food security and nutrition during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on food security and nutrition. Organizations and initiatives have shared webinars, blogs, and additional resources to help governments, donors, program implementors, and other stakeholders on how to monitor and assess how COVID-19 threatens food systems and nutritional status of populations. Below is a list of webinars on measuring food security and nutrition…
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How are nutrition data visualization tools (DVTs) in India supporting decision-makers?
As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, the increasing demand and supply of data has spawned a breadth of data visualization tools (DVTs). Not surprisingly, we are witnessing an outpour of COVID-19 DVTs in India, including the Coronavirus India Dashboard and India COVID-19 tracker, among others. In both nutrition and the COVID-19 response, it is critical that DVTs are designed for their…