The second Hunger and Nutrition Commitment Index (HANCI) has just been launched, providing detailed evidence on efforts to reduce hunger (ten indicators) and under nutrition (12 indicators) in 45 developing countries. [1]

The data show that the richer among these countries often do better — more resources should, after all, mean better outcomes. They also show that some poorer countries have been improving their performance despite difficult circumstances. Brazil, Guatemala, Madagascar, Malawi, Nepal, Peru and Tanzania came out as highly committed to taking action, with Burundi and Liberia making progress on reducing chronic hunger and under nutrition. [2]

According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, 842 million people were suffering from chronic hunger between 2011 and 2013 — about 12 per cent of the global population. Under nutrition contributed to 45 per cent of the deaths of children under the age of five. And, in the first 1,000 days of life, it has long-term and irreversible effects, including on cognitive skills that can reduce an individual’s potential for learning and earning.

To address such a comprehensive problem, effective, joined-up healthcare systems and hunger and nutrition interventions are necessary. These need a proper scientific basis — so evidence-based policies are crucial. But so is the delivery of interventions, and political commitment to improve delivery.

Another new study, which looked at effective leaders in nutrition, emphasized “the importance of locally collected and commissioned research, knowledge and data”, as well as nationally relevant research. [3]

The second Hunger and Nutrition Commitment Index (HANCI) has just been launched, providing detailed evidence on efforts to reduce hunger (ten indicators) and under nutrition (12 indicators) in 45 developing countries. [1]

The data show that the richer among these countries often do better — more resources should, after all, mean better outcomes. They also show that some poorer countries have been improving their performance despite difficult circumstances. Brazil, Guatemala, Madagascar, Malawi, Nepal, Peru and Tanzania came out as highly committed to taking action, with Burundi and Liberia making progress on reducing chronic hunger and under nutrition. [2]

According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, 842 million people were suffering from chronic hunger between 2011 and 2013 — about 12 per cent of the global population. Under nutrition contributed to 45 per cent of the deaths of children under the age of five. And, in the first 1,000 days of life, it has long-term and irreversible effects, including on cognitive skills that can reduce an individual’s potential for learning and earning.

To address such a comprehensive problem, effective, joined-up healthcare systems and hunger and nutrition interventions are necessary. These need a proper scientific basis — so evidence-based policies are crucial. But so is the delivery of interventions, and political commitment to improve delivery.

Another new study, which looked at effective leaders in nutrition, emphasized “the importance of locally collected and commissioned research, knowledge and data”, as well as nationally relevant research. [3]