The effects of food systems interventions on food security and nutrition outcomes in low- and middle-income countries

Abstract

About 3ieThe International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) promotes evidence-informed equitable, inclusive and sustainable development. We support the generation and effective use of high-quality evidence to inform decision-making and improve the lives of people living in poverty in low-and middle-income countries. We provide guidance and support to produce, synthesise and quality assure evidence of what works, for whom, how, why and at what cost.3ie evidence gap map reports 3ie evidence gap maps are thematic collections of information about impact evaluations or systematic reviews that measure the effects of international development policies and programmes. The maps provide a visual display of completed and ongoing systematic reviews and impact evaluations in a sector or sub-sector, structured around a framework of interventions and outcomes.The evidence gap map reports provide all supporting documentation for the maps, including thematic background information, the methods and results, protocols, and analysis of the results. About this evidence gap map reportThis report presents the findings of a systematic search to identify and map the evidence base of impact evaluations and systematic reviews of interventions that aim to promote energy efficiency and energy conservation.

How do food safety concerns affect consumer behaviors and diets in low- and middle-income countries? A systematic review

“…Despite evidence that LMICs carry the majority of the foodborne disease burden (Havelaar et al, 2015), most research on food safety has been conducted in high-income countries (Redmond and Griffith, 2003;Yeung and Morris, 2001;Young and Waddell, 2016). A recent evidence gap analysis of 1838 impact evaluations and 178 systematic reviews on the effects of food systems interventions on food security and nutrition outcomes in LMICs found only one study on food safety regulations (Moore et al, 2021). Food safety concerns in urban LMIC settings may differ from high-income settings, thus meriting further exploration.…”

Simple solutions for complex problems? What is missing in agriculture for nutrition interventions

“…We used a two-step procedure to identify relevant publications. First, we used the Food Systems and Nutrition Evidence Gap Map (Moore et al, 2021), which is hosted by the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) and collects impact evaluations and systematic reviews of food system interventions across various outcome indicators. We decided to use this evidence gap map as it is based on a systematic search of all the impact evaluations and systematic reviews of food system interventions.…”

Gender and food systems

“…In developed countries, women are overrepresented in the food services industry. In these sectors, women usually have lower-paid and lower-skilled jobs than men (Mojtehedzadeh and Vendeville, 2016 [47]) (Chang and Travaglione, 2011[48]) (UK National Statistics, 2020 [49]) (Rewards Network, 2017 [50]). The 2021 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (UK Office for National Statistics, 2022 [51]) in the United Kingdom provides estimates for the gender wage gap across all activities, including food systems activities for employees.…”

“…prioritises farms under shared ownership and women farm holders in certain autonomous communities. 47 In the new Spanish Strategic Plan under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), gender equality is formulated as a specific objective (N°8) and will likely receive additional funding.…”