Compact2025 News in Brief: April 17, 2019

To accelerate progress to end hunger and undernutrition around the world, the News in Brief informs partners on emerging research and innovation, developments in global, regional, and national policies and programs, and timely news and events. Please feel free to share any feedback at IFPRI-Compact2025@cgiar.org. Find the latest developments in Compact2025 here.

Sustainable nutrition for all

The final technical paper from Phase 1 of the Achieving Sustainable Nutrition for All project shares nutrition policy and program recommendations based on evidence and learnings from the project in Uganda and Zambia including: (1) incorporate behavior change communication in nutrition-sensitive agriculture programs, (2) engage vulnerable communities in every stage of the process, and (3) use Nutrition Coordination Committees to improve vertical and lateral governance.

Blended finance for SDGs needs a better approach

The estimated SDG financing gap is $2.5 trillion a year in developing countries. According to a report from the Overseas Development Institute, it is unrealistic to expect blended finance—using public-sector development finance to spur additional private investment—to bridge this financing gap.

Using sustainability standards to enhance women’s empowerment in agriculture

The International Institute for Sustainable Development explains in its guide for development organizations how voluntary sustainability standards for producers—such as Fairtrade and Organic—can be used as a tool to meet the SDGs and boost gender equality and women’s empowerment in agriculture.

New plant breeding technologies can contribute to food security and sustainability

A Science perspective article argues that with careful deployment and scientifically informed regulation, new plant breeding technologies—such as genome editing, which can improve traits in crops without transferring transgenes and may allay fears about GMOs—can contribute significantly to food security and sustainable development.

Balancing food and water security in a changing climate

Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and Johns Hopkins University Alliance for a Healthier World will host an event on “Food and Water Security: A Balancing Act in the Era of Climate Change” on April 17 in Washington, D.C.

Discussing the 2019 Global Report on Food Crises

IFPRI, FAO North America, and the Food Security Information Network will host a technical discussion on the 2019 Global Report on Food Crises on April 26 in Washington, D.C. Panelists will discuss country experiences and global responses following the report’s call for strengthened cooperation that links prevention, preparedness, and response to address urgent humanitarian needs.

2019 World Bank Spring Meetings

The World Bank’s Spring Meetings from April 8–14 in Washington, D.C. covered a range of nutrition- and development-related topics including “On the Menu: Can Food Be the Planet’s Medicine?” and “SDGs in Action: Integrating the SDGs into National Budgets.”

Getting the greatest impact: The Biofortification Priority Index

A new interactive tool from HarvestPlus helps identify where and for which staple crops biofortification can make the greatest impact on micronutrient deficiencies.

Cyclone Idai: Fight immediate crisis and simultaneously strengthen long-term resilience

The Conversation carried a blog in which IFPRI researchers assess the impacts of Cyclone Idai and show why long-term disaster resilience is so crucial. They call for the government and humanitarian organizations in Mozambique to (1) address the immediate crisis of the cyclone and (2) minimize the long-term adverse effects on livelihoods and development prospects of those directly affected and those impacted indirectly.

2019 Inspire Challenge is open

The application for the 2019 Inspire Challenge—hosted by the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture—is open from April 10 to June 17. It encourages applicants to use CGIAR data to create innovative pilot projects that will scale to help people—especially smallholder farmers and producers—to lead happier and healthier lives.

Highlights from this and past Compact2025 News in Briefs, along with other key resources, can be found at the Compact2025 Knowledge & Innovation Hub resources page.

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