SLIDE 1 Overview and research directions
Dhushyanth Raju Office of the Chief Economist, South Asia Region World Bank June 25, 2018
Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized
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Reducing undernutrition is a global development priority
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Child undernutrition is worryingly high in the region
Stunting rates Stunting burden
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Subnational child undernutrition status varies considerably
Stunting rates Wasting rates
SLIDE 5 World Bank Group’s strategic directions Resilience Human capital Sustained & inclusive growth
Eliminate extreme poverty & boost shared prosperity Eliminate extreme poverty & boost shared prosperity
Nutrition is viewed as critical for and impacted by these strategic directions
SLIDE 6 Strategic pillars of WBG’s South Asia Region
Greater social and financial inclusion with emphasis on addressing gender gaps and imbalances Strengthened governance and security, addressing fragility Enhanced support for private sector development, including climate resilient investments
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SAFANSI
Aim To improve food and nutrition security (FNS) in South Asia through strengthened commitment and increased capacity for more effective and integrated FNS actions Partners Eligible countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka Regional activities covering two or more countries
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Strategic pillars
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Products
SLIDE 10 Selected recent research
Sri Lanka: World Bank Group. Multisectoral Nutrition Assessment in Sri Lanka’s Estate
- Sector. World Bank, Washington DC, 2017
Bangladesh: Gautam and Faruqee. Dynamics
- f Rural Growth in Bangladesh: Sustaining
Poverty Reduction. Directions in Development, World Bank, Washington DC, 2016. India: Majumdar, Rao, and Sanyal. Scaling-Up
- n the Frontlines: A Qualitative Analysis of
Implementation Challenges in a CDD Project in Rural India. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 8039, March 2017
SLIDE 11 Undernutrition problem in the region
Regional child and maternal nutrition status is (relatively) insensitive to three phenomena
- Levels of national economic development
- Gains in national economic development
- Presence of public food, health, and nutrition programs
Three potential sources of failures
- Household (behavioral failures)
- Government (service delivery failures)
- Private market
SLIDE 12 Regional report: Ending Undernutrition in South Asia
Aims
- Present the determinants
- f undernutrition in the
region
- Draw insights for potential
development action by governments and actors
guidance for decisions on future Bank analytical, policy, and operational work Approach
- Synthesize existing relevant,
multidisciplinary literature for the region
- Supplement with key insights
from relevant literature from
- ther developing regions
- Supplement with limited primary
data analysis Audience
- Government
- Research community
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Report areas
Subgroup and spatial patterns, changes Food Water, sanitation, and hygiene Child feeding and care practices Urban undernutrition Diet-related diseases
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Looking forward: Potential research themes
Gender Private sector Climate change Urban undernutrition Wasting
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Wasting is particularly high in the region, and progress has been limited
Current levels Recent trends
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Climate change is predicted to reduce food output and increase food prices
Source: Nelson et al. (2009)
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Climate change is predicted to reduce calorie availability and increase malnourishment
Source: Nelson et al. (2009)
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Urban populations and shares have grown substantially in South Asia …and are predicted to continue growing at a fast pace
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Stunting rates Inequality in height-for-age
Undernutrition rates are lower in urban than rural areas But rates remain high in urban areas, and inequality in undernutrition tends to be higher in urban areas
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Thank you
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Undernutrition rates for boys are generally similar or higher than for girls
Stunting rates Inequality in height-for-age
The aggregate picture may mask inequities in nutrition status in subgroups and inequities in nutrition inputs
SLIDE 22 Areas where maternal disadvantages can undermine nutrition status
Knowledge and beliefs Health and nutrition status Mental health/stress Autonomy and control over resources Workload and time availability Social support
