Malnutrition is an important issue in developing countries like India. India’s focus on malnutrition has been since its first five-year plan but the challenge persists. Several studies have identified causes behind the malnutrition, but efforts are made to address those causes, but results are inadequate. This review focuses on understanding the malnutrition from the systems perspective. The paper critically examines the literature to identify the various stakeholders that influence the malnutrition scenario of an area. The focus is on understanding the relevance of having systems thinking approach in dealing with the malnutrition issue. The paper concludes that significant understanding has been built around individual causes and stakeholders’ role in malnutrition. However, the need exists to translate this understanding into strategies that are relevant for the implementers on the ground who have to address the malnutrition issue in context-specific multi-stakeholder interests and demands.

Farmer collective (FC) history in developing countries is a mixed one. Different models of FC are adopted, but many farmers have not been part of collectives, and the established collectives have been facing various challenges such as marginalization of weak, external interference and poor competitiveness. This review focuses on the understanding the role of various factors influencing the FC performance and success. The article critically examines the evidence provided regarding the socio-economic-environmental characteristics of the local area, collective characteristics, performance characteristics and externalities in determining FC success. The main focus is on relevance of a local system in determining FC success. The article concludes that while FC success is mixed, incorporation of local system characteristics during the FC establishment and functioning could ensure FC success. However, it is important that external agents need to co-align their interests with the local context such that FC becomes successful both for local system intrinsic goals and national development goals.

Child malnutrition is an important low-and middle-income country (LMIC) issue influenced by biological and socio-economic factors. The solution is dependent on the stakeholders and interactions between them. The multidimensionality and context-dependency of causative factors make system thinking-based approach, namely network analysis, an effective tool to map the decision-making on countering child malnutrition. The study used Palghar district, India, as a case study to perform the stakeholder network analysis for identifying the various stakeholders who were targeted by actions and initiatives of district administration. The network analysis was performed for three temporal phases, namely Phase I (pre-2014), Phase II (years 2014–2017) and Phase III (2017 onwards). The study found that both network density of the system and child nutrition status have increased temporally. The study found an increase in network density due to an increase in the number of stakeholder groups targeted, implementation of new actions/initiatives and expansion of existing actions/initiatives to other stakeholders. A significant increase in focus towards the stakeholders influencing the socio-economic environment of the child is found in Phase III as compared to Phase II. Further, the study found that family and elite group have started featuring as prominent stakeholder targets for various actions. The study concludes that a greater incorporation of system-thinking approach in decision-making could help in effectively addressing child malnutrition and similar healthcare issues.