Miscellaneous themes
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12348/719
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- In response to growing calls for just, equitable, and effective climate adaptation that reaches those who need it most, this brief examines the principles of locally led climate adaptation (LLCA) within aquatic food systems. Drawing on a discussion of LLCA’s principles and two illustrative cases, the brief provides insights for research for development (R4D) organizations. It shows that successfully applying the principles of LLCA requires organizations to facilitate grounded adaptation solutions through credible participatory methods and strong community partnerships. However, the brief also highlights challenges to the effective application of LLCA principles and flags questions about the power dynamics underlying definitions of “local” and “adaptation.”
- This report constitutes Part 1 of the project "Foundational Analysis of Capacity Development Activities in the CGIAR". It presents a comprehensive review of relevant literature on capacity development frameworks, indicators, and typologies within CGIAR and across comparable research-for-development organizations.
- Background: Kenya has shown progress in social, economic, and health indicators over the past 2 decades. Yet, malnutrition remains a critical public health issue. Effective Multisectoral Nutrition Governance (MNG) is an enabling determinant of nutrition ensures that nutrition policies are well-coordinated, adequately funded, and effectively implemented, leading to better nutrition outcomes. Objective: Our study assessed the status, evolution, and factors associated with MNG in Kenya using a cross-sectional design at 2 distinct time points (2012 and 2023). The 2 distinct time points provided valuable comparative perspectives allowing for the assessment of progress and trends in MNG allowing further analysis. Methods: The study targeted 96 government and nongovernmental staff from eligible ministries at the national level. It used a structured closed-ended questionnaire adapted from a validated Nutrition Governance Index. Results: Our findings reveal an improvement in MNG status, from 58.4% in 2012 to 71.1% in 2023 (P < .01). The 6 MNG domains demonstrated varying performance levels, with mean scores ranging from 3.1 to 4.0 (out of 5). Despite the performance variation, the domains contributed equally to the MNG status. A positive relationship was found between the MNG score and respondent affiliation with the Ministry of Health and the level of prioritization of nutrition in a ministry (P < .05). Conclusions: Further efforts are needed to strengthen specific MNG domains, particularly nutrition financing, transparency, accountability, and capacity, to ensure progress in tackling malnutrition in Kenya. These findings can inform efforts to enhance MNG strategies to improve nutrition outcomes sustainably in Kenya.
- Background: Malnutrition remains a significant public health issue in Kenya. Multisectoral Nutrition Governance (MNG) is increasingly being acknowledged as a catalyst for enhancing nutrition programming and outcomes. Effective MNG establishes policies, systems, and mechanisms that enable coordinated, adequately funded, and sustainable nutrition actions across sectors; however, its understanding and progress assessment remain inadequate. Objective: This study aimed to qualitatively assess the status of MNG and propose strategies to strengthen MNG mechanisms for improved nutrition actions and outcomes in Kenya. We hypothesized that effective performance across the MNG domains is associated with effective multisectoral nutrition actions and improved nutrition outcomes. Design: This study used a qualitative design to assess the MNG status over the past 10 years (2012–2023). Nineteen program managers and officers from government and non-governmental institutions implementing nutrition at the national level were included. Data collection was conducted between January and March 2024 through key informant interviews (KIIs). Thematic analysis, guided by both inductive and deductive coding, was carried out using MAXQDA (Maximizing Qualitative Data Analysis) software. Results: The findings indicate progress in strengthening MNG in the previous decade, though gaps persist. The progress was driven by improved political awareness and commitment, the adoption of nutrition policy and planning frameworks, and improved coordination. Constraints that impede MNG progress include inadequate financing and over-reliance on donor funding, limited translation of commitments to actions, lack of unified monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems and fragmented policies. Conclusions: Strengthening multisectoral M&E systems that allow timely collection and utilization of data, ensuring sustainable financing for nutrition, enhancing accountability mechanisms and improving coherence across sectors are important for further improvement of MNG.
- Data from mother-child dyads (n = 375) living in rural small-holder farming households in Malawi was utilized. Households with an average income of >$4.2 US dollars per member had60% lower odds (OR: 0.40, 95%CI: 0.19–0.82) of food insecurity. Household food insecurity was a predictor of Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) (OR: 0.43, 95%CI: 0.21–0.89). Children whose female caregivers met MDD-W had 37 times higher odds (OR: 37.6, 95%CI: 13.9–117) of meeting the recommended dietary diversity score. To address food and nutrition security in this population, an approach that encompasses women’s empowerment and income diversification is required.
- A Fish4Thought was held featuring Join Wanjiku Gichohi, Senior Scientist and Impact Area Lead for Nutrition and Public Health at WorldFish, as she shared reflections from the recent Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit—often described as the COP for Nutrition—and explored the rising momentum for aquatic foods in global nutrition financing.
- While pearl millet is rich in important nutrients with potential health and nutrition benefits, it contains antinutrients that limit the bioavailability of minerals and the digestibility of starches and proteins; however, fermentation is believed to reduce these antinutrient levels. The objective of this work was to determine the fermentation kinetics and its implications for changes in the levels of antinutrients in pearl millet and pearl millet-maize composite dough recipes used to prepare Injera, a traditional fermented flatbread consumed in Ethiopia. Three dough recipes identified through focus group discussion with women from the Dangeshita sub-district, Dangila District, Ethiopia, were investigated: pure pearl millet dough (P), a 1:1 mixture of pearl millet and maize (P1M1) and a 1:2 mixture of pearl millet and maize (P1M2) doughs. Significant decreases in pH were observed for all dough recipes at the later stages of fermentation. This drop in pH was accompanied by a rapid increase in titratable acidity. Counts of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and molds decreased (with molds reaching zero), while counts of yeasts and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) increased at the later stage of fermentation across all dough recipes. A two-step fermentation process characterized by both lactic acid and alcoholic fermentation was identified, yielding lactic acid and mannitol as primary end products. Phytate was degraded by 91.3% in pearl millet (P) dough, by 98.2% in P1M1 dough, and by 72.7% in P1M2 dough after 168 h (7 days) fermentation. All fermented dough recipes resulted in reduced levels of raffinose at the later stages of fermentation, with the highest degradation noted in pearl millet (P) dough (95%) followed by P1M1 dough (87.7%) and P1M2 (80.8%) dough. In conclusion, 7 days fermentation resulted in significant reductions of phytate and raffinose levels in all dough recipes.
- Pearl millet is a cereal rich in both macro- and micronutrients; however, it also contains high levels of antinutrients, such as phytate, tannin, and phenols, which can hinder nutrient absorption. This study examined the impact of fermentation on the nutrient composition, antinutritional content, mineral bio accessibility, and sensory quality of Injera prepared from pearl millet flour alone, as well as from a composite flour of pearl millet and maize (in 1:1 and 1:2 ratios). Fermentation significantly improved the nutrient profile and sensory attributes of Injera samples. Significant improvements (p< .05) were observed in all Injera samples, with reductions in phytate (81.5%–99.2%) and tannin (72.4%–96.1%) contents, and increased mineral bioaccessibility for iron (62.1%–73.5%), zinc (53.8%-83.3%),and calcium(19.6%-54.6%). These findings showed that traditional fermentation methods can effectively decrease antinutrients, enhance the nutrient profile and improve mineral bio accessibility in pearl millet-based Injeras.
- Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common form of anaemia and the leading cause of years lived with disabilities (YLD) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) among adolescents. Recently, various iron-rich snacks have been developed as interventions to improve iron status among adolescents. This review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of natural, non-commercially fortified iron-rich snacks in improving iron status among adolescent girls aged 10–19 years. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials and quasi-experiments was conducted, focusing on iron status indicators including hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), transferrin saturation (TSAT), and soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR). Searches were performed in PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, Research4Life, and Google Scholar. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane tools, and study quality was evaluated with GRADE. Ten studies (five RCTs and five quasi-experiments) involving 24 to 211 participants were included. Nine studies had moderate risk of bias, mainly due to performance, detection, and reporting issues; one had high selection bias. Iron content of snacks varied, with nine studies out of ten reported Hb increases ranging from 0.45 to 2.28 g/dL. Only one study reported improvements in serum iron (from 25.482 ± 0.036 g/dL to 41.511 ± 0.033 g/dL) and ferritin (from 10.827 ± 0.192 ng/mL to 14.016 ± 0.103 ng/mL). These results indicate the potential of locally developed snacks to improve iron and Hb levels in adolescents. This review synthesizes evidence on food-based interventions, focusing on natural, non-fortified iron-rich snacks for adolescent girls. The findings demonstrate promising potential for these snacks to improve iron status and haemoglobin concentrations, underscoring their value as culturally acceptable, cost-effective, and sustainable complement to existing nutrition strategies. Although results are promising, more rigorously designed trials with comprehensive iron biomarkers are needed to confirm efficacy and support integration into adolescent nutrition programs.
- In June 2025, WorldFish launched the Asia Digital Hub (ADHub) at its headquarters in Penang, Malaysia, establishing it as a flagship component of the CGIAR Digital Transformation Accelerator (DTA). Conceived as both a physical center and a virtual, networked hub, the ADHub serves as a regional engine for digital innovation, advanced data systems, and AI-enabled solutions to strengthen aquatic food systems innovations across Asia and provide an entry point for CGIAR innovations into Asia and aquatic food systems.
- The first part of this report presents a comprehensive assessment and troubleshooting of the solar tent driers and smoking kilns, to understand adoption and use challenges. The second part of the report addresses how the challenges were addressed through retrofitting of the hybrid solar tent dryer and redesign of the smoking kiln and subsequent performance testing.
- The Gender Norms Research Tools were developed to provide a systematic, participatory, and context-sensitive approach to identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing gender norms that shape livelihood pathways, agency, and aspirations, particularly among women and youth. Rather than treating gender as a set of individual characteristics, the tools focus on socially constructed rules, expectations, and sanctions—how norms are formed, transmitted, enforced, and contested within households, communities, and institutions.
- Background: Although aquatic foods, particularly fish, hold promise as a dietary intervention to address child undernutrition, evidence supporting their role in Indian context remains limited and mixed, thus inconclusive. Objectives: We assessed the association between fish consumption and undernutrition among children aged 6–23 mo using data from India's nationally representative, cross-sectional 2019–2021 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). This survey covered 707 districts across 36 states/union territories. Methods: Undernutrition indicators included stunting (sample: 59,560), wasting (sample: 59,145), underweight (sample: 61,450), any anthropometric failure (sample: 60,440), and anemia (sample: 58,850). Stunting, wasting, and underweight were defined as <–2 standard deviations from the median of z-scores for height-for-age, weight-for-height, and weight-for-age of the reference population, respectively. Children measured as being either stunted, wasted, or underweight were defined as having any anthropometric failure. Children were classified as having any anemia, based on hemoglobin levels of <10.5 g/dL. Children's 24-h dietary recall provided information on fish consumption. We used modified Poisson regression models with robust error variance to attain the study objective. Results: Nationally, a strikingly low prevalence of fish consumption among young children was recorded, with only 4.5% of them reporting intake in the preceding 24 h. Children in 111 of the 707 districts surveyed in NFHS-5 reported no fish consumption. Regression analysis revealed no association (P > 0.1) between fish consumption and anthropometric indicators (stunting, wasting, underweight, and any anthropometric failure) among children aged 6–23 mo. However, a protective association of fish consumption with anemia was observed (relative risk: 0.947; 95% confidence interval: 0.921, 0.973; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Encouraging fish consumption through public initiatives like the National Nutrition Mission could be a valuable strategy for mitigating the burden of anemia among young children. Further research utilizing detailed food consumption data, including fish intake, is warranted to investigate its impact on child health.
- While increasing seafood consumption may help address micronutrient deficiencies and metabolic disorders, evidence supporting this recommendation in the Indian context remains limited and inconclusive. Using the nationally representative cross-sectional 2019–2021 National Family Health Survey dataset, we investigated the association of fish consumption frequency with anaemia and metabolic disorders (overweight/obesity, hypertension and hyperglycaemia) among adult men (aged 15–54 years) and women (aged 15–49 years) in India. A control function (CF) method was employed to examine the association in individuals who consumed fish daily and those who reported consuming fish daily/weekly. The analysis was restricted to non-vegetarians (who reported ever consuming egg, fish or meat). Overall, 86·9 % of men and 74·7 % of women were non-vegetarians. CF analysis revealed that both daily and daily/weekly fish consumption were associated with a reduced risk of anaemia among both men and women. Daily fish consumers exhibited increased likelihood of overweight/obesity (men: β: 0·405, 95 % CI: 0·074, 0·735, P: 0·017; women: β: 0·248, 95 % CI 0·125, 0·370, P < 0·001). Conversely, daily/weekly fish intake was associated with a reduced risk of overweight/obesity in men (β: −0·041, 95 % CI: −0·069, −0·013; P: 0·004). Daily/weekly fish consumption was associated with a reduced risk of hypertension and increased odds of hyperglycaemia among men. Fish consumption demonstrated a potentially protective relationship against hypertension in women, regardless of how often they consumed fish, while also being associated with a higher prevalence of hyperglycaemia. Indian adults can improve their health by eating more fish, which can help fight anaemia and may also reduce overweight/obesity and high blood pressure.
- Fish farmers in Zambia are on the frontline of climate change. Droughts, heatwaves and floods are putting ponds and livelihoods at risk. Blue Resilience is a new platform developed by WorldFish and the Government of Zambia. It takes weather forecasts and turns them into simple text message advisories. The tool is now being tested with farmers to show how timely information could help them protect their fish and their income. This video shares stories from farmers and experts testing Blue Resilience and what it could mean for the future of fish farming in Zambia.
- Youth constitute a critical demographic for the future of aquatic and agri-food systems, yet their aspirations, constraints, and decision-making realities are often insufficiently understood or systematically documented. The Youth Job Opportunities and Aspirations Research Tools were developed to address this gap by providing a structured, gender-responsive, and context-sensitive approach to understanding how young women and men (aged 18–35) perceive, engage with, and aspire to livelihoods within fisheries, aquaculture, mariculture, agriculture, and livestock systems.
- Small fish powder is a solution to increase access to animal source foods year-round. It is safe, nutritious, tasty, and accessible. Small fish powder is easy to make in four steps: washing, draining excess water, roasting, and pounding. It is easy to add to existing recipes for whole family, including pregnant women and children staring at six months. Small fish powder is ideal for children 6-23 months of age to support healthy growth and development.
- This report synthesizes the outcomes of the Regional Workshop on Co-Creating a Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) Learning Agenda for Food, Land, and Water Systems (FLWS) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, convened under the CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion Accelerator. The workshop brought together researchers, policymakers, civil society actors, and development partners to assess existing evidence, identify persistent gaps, and co-design a regional learning agenda to inform gender-responsive research, policy, and practice. Discussions were framed by the MENA region’s intersecting challenges of climate change, water scarcity, land degradation, conflict, displacement, and widening inequality. Participants discussed a defining contradiction shaping gender outcomes in the region, specifically the MENA paradox, whereby women’s relatively strong achievements in education and health have not translated into commensurate economic participation, leadership, or decision-making power. Female labour force participation remains among the lowest globally, particularly within agriculture and rural livelihoods, despite women’s substantial and growing contributions.
- The brief provides six pathways to enhance gender equality and women’s empowerment in CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) Science Program. This brief offers Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) solutions which range from accommodative to transformative through norm changes. While accommodative gender solutions try to provide solutions within existing norms and cultures, in the long term, it is the transformative solutions which change societies for more equitable and inclusive gender outcomes. The brief goes beyond business as usual or gender mainstreaming approaches by setting an ambitious gender research agenda for the SAAF and related science programs.
- Climate risk management has become a national priority for many countries in Asia and Africa, such as Bangladesh, Zambia, and Malawi, with high vulnerability to climate impacts. Bangladesh is vulnerable to heatwaves, erratic and intense rains, and extremes such as cyclones and floods, while Zambia and Malawi are vulnerable to increasing frequency and intensity of floods and droughts together with rising temperatures. Climate information and advisory services have supported operational and strategic risk management across various food systems, but they remain underinvested in aquaculture and largely unexplored in fisheries. As such, enhancing these services for aquaculture at scale and exploring such systems for fisheries are critically needed to de-risk value chains and build the resilience of the aquatic food systems sector. The capacity to deliver and access these services is highly uneven and inadequate across the aquatic food sector economy in the Global South.