Fresh insights from new research shaping Africa’s food systems, resilience, and economic development
Key Insight of the Week
Improving child nutrition requires more than food production alone. In rural Burkina Faso, new evidence shows that combining agriculture-based interventions with nutrition, hygiene, and targeted supplementation can deliver stronger child nutrition outcomes.
A cluster-randomized trial found that adding water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) activities reduced child anemia, while adding small quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) improved hemoglobin, iron status, and vitamin A status. The strongest effects were observed among children who entered the program before six months of age and were exposed throughout the complementary feeding period.
As countries across Africa work to address child undernutrition, these findings highlight the value of integrated approaches that combine food systems, health, and nutrition interventions to support early child development.
Featured Report of the Week
”Adding small quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements to an enhanced homestead food production program improves child hemoglobin, iron and vitamin A status in rural Burkina Faso: A cluster randomized controlled trial”
This study by IFPRI evaluates the effects of combining enhanced homestead food production with WASH and small quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements in rural Burkina Faso. The findings show that while prior exposure to the original program had limited additional effects, adding WASH and targeted supplementation improved child anemia and micronutrient outcomes, especially among younger children.
Other Recent Publications
- A systematic scoping review of urban food environment research, interventions and measurement approaches in eight low- and middle-income countries: Read the report
- Climate-Induced Agricultural Productivity Shocks Undermine Child Nutritional Outcomes: Evidence from Nigeria: Read the report
- The impact of a continuum of care intervention from prevention to treatment on child wasting compared to usual community group activities: A cluster randomized controlled trial in Mali: Read the report
- Evidence-Led Solutions for Ethiopia’s Rural Transformation Challenges – Ethiopia Policy Innovation Hub – Launch and Policy Dialogue: Read the report
About Evidence for Africa
Evidence for Africa highlights every week recent IFPRI research and insights relevant to the continent’s food systems, economic development, and policy priorities.
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