Ensuring equity and inclusion in nutrition is crucial for promoting the health and well-being of all individuals, irrespective of socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, caste, age, migrant status, education, beliefs, and other characteristics. Despite its importance, inequities in nutrition persist in South Asia.
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), together with CGIAR and a range of co-hosts from across the region and globe, is pleased to announce the next edition of our flagship nutrition conference, ‘Delivering for Nutrition in South Asia: Equity and Inclusion.’ This year’s conference will cover a wide range of systems, including health systems, safety nets, food systems, and others, all of which play a crucial role in delivering equitable nutrition outcomes.
Date: Wednesday-Thursday, 1-2 November 2023
Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm CAT (Central African Time)
Location: Radisson Hotel, Kathmandu, Nepal
Representation from WorldFish: Ben Wismen, Hazrat Ali and Liz Ignowski
Click here to learn more about the event
Context:
While equality refers to the principle of providing the same resources or opportunities to every individual or group, equity acknowledges that each person has unique circumstances and ensures that the precise resources and opportunities required to achieve an equal outcome are allocated accordingly. Inclusion refers to enhancing opportunities and improving participation in society, particularly for disadvantaged individuals. In the context of nutrition, inclusion involves addressing barriers that may prevent certain groups from achieving adequate nutrition.
Ensuring equity and inclusion in nutrition is crucial for promoting the health and well-being of all individuals, irrespective of socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, caste, age, migrant status, education, beliefs, and other characteristics. Despite its importance, inequities in nutrition persist in South Asia.
Various dimensions of equity have significant implications for nutrition. Socioeconomically disadvantaged households are more likely to be undernourished due to resource constraints, lack of information, and limited access to services. Rural and urban households also face different challenges in accessing essential services. Gender inequities contribute to ongoing disparities in the health and nutrition outcomes of women and girls. These inequities manifest in gaps in income and assets between men and women, societal norms that favor the nutritional well-being within their households.
Event Objectives:
This conference will bring together researchers, program implementers, and policymakers working in and focusing on South Asia to deliberate innovative ways to improve nutrition outcomes for all. The purpose is to bring together relevant evidence and stimulate dialogue on improving equity and inclusion among various delivery platforms that affect nutrition, including health and nutrition programs, gender- and social safety net programs and policies, and more.
The discussions and deliberations from this conference are expected to convey research-based insights to nutrition and public health stakeholders and policymakers to bolster actions for more equitable and inclusive reach of solutions to tackle nutrition challenges in South Asia. This conference will provide the foundation for direct engagement on context-specific program and policy priorities that can be taken forward by national stakeholders in their respective countries.
Key Messages:
Equity and inclusion cut across multiple topical areas related to nutrition; thus, we are inviting abstracts across five topical areas for this year’s conference:
- Agriculture
- Food environments
- Health systems
- Diets
- Social protection
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We look forward to your active participation.
