Research Series Issue 24 - Influence of nutrition-sensitive interventions on dietary profiles of smallholder farming households in East and Southern Africa

This paper aims to explore the influence of nutrition-sensitive interventions on dietary profiles of the beneficiaries of IFAD-funded projects.

Drawing on a desk review of 37 IFAD funded projects in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region, the study used a cross sectional survey data from a purposive sample from selected countries where data collection was done (Kenya, Zambia, and Mozambique).

The findings indicate that the development interventions have diverse nutritional impacts resulting from production related activities, ranging from training to the provision of inputs and services, including labour and energy- saving technologies.

Moreover, results confirm that agricultural and rural development investments on food production and household income growth present many opportunities to positively influence dietary profiles of households.

On the basis of these findings, the paper recommends the integration of existing and planned nutrition sensitive interventions targeting behavioural changes in consumption patterns of the nutritionally at-risk population.