FAO pub. Case studies of the integration of nutrition in rural development and agricultural projects in Haiti, Kenya, Peru, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Zambia - covers conceptual, methodologycal and practical issues; describes the agricultural area, social structure and economic conditions in each development project surveyed; discusses implications of the nutrition study on project design. Maps and statistical tables.

Abstract: A manual for nutritionists, food economists, and food policy makers is designed to aid planners in integrating food consumption and nutritional considerations into agricultural and rural development projects. The manual: (1) provides guidelines, suggested methods, detailed descriptions, and checklists of steps to be taken; (2) describes the stages and processes in a development project cycle to help nutrition planners coordinate their work with other planners; and (3) stresses the importance of communication among planners, administrators, and recipients involved in development projects to reduce malnutrition and promote nutritional status. The various sections of the manual cover: background information for and relevance of incorporating nutrition planning into agricultural and rural development projects; the stages of project development; initial review and assessments; in-depth project preparation; and project implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Additional reference information and guidelines are appended.

Originally published in 1991. Commissioned by the Task Force on African Famine of the American Anthropological Association, this the second part of a project examining the causes of food system failure in Africa and the effects of attempts to remedy the situation. It evaluates the often-retrogressive results of foreign aid to African nations and offers an anthropological perspective on how to reverse this trend. The contributors emphasize integrating all development programs with the regional customs and traditions already in place that have thus far allowed its people to cope with food and water shortages. In the past, various strategies have failed due to misunderstandings and incorrect assumptions concerning gender roles, food consumption habits, social relations, kinship networks, land use and government function. New understanding of the culture must be complemented with multifaceted programs incorporating education, a concern for grass-roots opinion and control, attention to production and consumption patterns, and various forms of broad-spectrum integrated development. The uniqueness research is recommended for all who are concerned about worldwide malnutrition and those who understand the need to recognize local traditions as resources that must be included in any successful development program.

A growing number of governments, donor agencies, and development organizations are committed to supporting nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) to achieve their development goals. Although consensus exists on pathways through which agriculture may influence nutrition-related outcomes, empirical evidence on agriculture’s contribution to nutrition and how it can be enhanced is still weak. This paper reviews recent empirical evidence (since 2014), including findings from impact evaluations of a variety of NSA programs using experimental designs as well as observational studies that document linkages between agriculture, women’s empowerment, and nutrition. It summarizes existing knowledge regarding not only impacts but also pathways, mechanisms, and contextual factors that affect where and how agriculture may improve nutrition outcomes. The paper concludes with reflections on implications for agricultural programs, policies, and investments, and highlights future research priorities.

First Published in 1991. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Drawing on studies from Africa, Asia and South America, this book provides empirical evidence and conceptual explorations of the gendered dimensions of food security. It investigates how food security and gender inequity are conceptualized within interventions, assesses the impacts and outcomes of gender-responsive programs on food security and gender equity and addresses diverse approaches to gender research and practice that range from descriptive and analytical to strategic and transformative. The chapters draw on diverse theoretical perspectives, including transformative learning, feminist theory, deliberative democracy and technology adoption. As a result, they add important conceptual and empirical material to a growing literature on the challenges of gender equity in agricultural production. A unique feature of this book is the integration of both analytic and transformative approaches to understanding gender and food security. The analytic material shows how food security interventions enable women and men to meet the long-term nutritional needs of their households, and to enhance their economic position. The transformative chapters also document efforts to build durable and equitable relationships between men and women, addressing underlying social, cultural and economic causes of gender inequality. Taken together, these combined approaches enable women and men to reflect on gendered divisions of labor and resources related to food, and to reshape these divisions in ways which benefit families and communities. Co-published with the International Development Research Centre.