Advancing Nutrition in the International Food Assistance Agenda: Progress and Future Directions Identified at the 2018 Food Assistance for Nutrition Evidence Summit

Abstract

Background: Global food insecurity persists despite continued international attention, necessitating evidence-based food assistance interventions that adequately address nutritional concerns. In June 2018, the US Agency for International Development’s Office of Food for Peace through the Food Aid Quality Review (FAQR) project sponsored a “Food Assistance for Nutrition Evidence Summit” to share evidence relevant to policy and programmatic decision-making and to identify critical evidence gaps. Objective: This article presents 4 priority areas to advance nutrition in the international food assistance agenda generated through presentations and discussions with the food assistance community at the Evidence Summit. Methods: Priority areas were identified after the Evidence Summit using a combination of FAQR team discussions, review of presentations and official notes, and supporting literature. Results: Key priority areas to advance nutrition in the international food assistance agenda are as follows: (1) increase research funding for food assistance in all contexts, paying particular attention to emergency settings; (2) research and adopt innovative ingredients, technology, and delivery strategies in food assistance products and programs that encourage long-term well-being; (3) redefine and expand indicators of nutritional status to capture contextual information about the outcomes of food assistance interventions; and (4) augment communication and collaboration across the food assistance ecosystem. Conclusions: These priorities are critical in a time of increased humanitarian need and will be key to fostering long-term resilience among vulnerable groups.

Incorporating cash-based interventions into food assistance programs in humanitarian settings

“…Cash programs, in conjunction with traditional food assistance, may strengthen humanitarian response efforts, bring dignity and empowerment to refugees, and spill over into host communities (11). Some critics express concern that cash-based programs may not consistently demonstrate expected impacts on nutrition and other public health outcomes.…”

“…Development organizations first utilized cash assistance as a social protection investment to reduce vulnerability as well as increase access to resources (10). Seventy percent of food assistance provided by the World Food Program (WFP) globally went to protracted and complex emergencies with 95% of assistance delivered in direct cash in addition to food assistance (11,12). The Fill the Nutrient Gap (FNG) analysis, conducted by the World Food Program, has placed cash programs as a focus in their research on nutrition in refugee settings as an identified intervention that can decrease food insecurity and improve nutritional status of refugees (9).…”

“…Cash-based interventions have the potential to influence a range of public health outcomes, but evidence on their impacts is mixed in low-income and middle-income settings where aid is given (13-15). Evaluations of the World Food Program's delivery of cash assistance in conjunction with food parcels in refugee camps have revealed that offering refugees the choice to receive cash in lieu of food parcels yield dietary improvements, higher diet diversity, increased financial stability and food security, and greater feelings of self-sufficiency (11,12,16,17). Multiple evaluations of cash-based programs have also demonstrated improvements in height, HAZ scores, and newborn birth weight in addition to positive pregnancy outcomes across age groups and geographical contexts (18,19).…”

Análisis de la distribución de macronutrientes en canastas alimentarias entregadas por las municipalidades durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en Perú

“…Por otra parte, en la última cumbre para la asistencia alimentaria se hizo hincapié en la necesidad de innovar en el desarrollo de alimentos que mejoren aspectos críticos en la asistencia alimentaria como la baja ingesta de proteínas y el riesgo de enfermedades crónicas producto del consumo de alimentos altos en calorías (30) . En el contexto nacional, se sugiere promover la innovación de productos alimenticios que ayuden a mejorar el perfil nutricional de las canastas.…”

Humanitarian Food Assistance and Nutrition Outcomes among Refugees: A Historical Perspective

“…Food assistance activities including in-kind food transfers, local/regional food assistance procurement, cash, and food vouchers have the potential to successfully address nutrition needs among vulnerable individuals [61].…”