Is reliable water access the solution to undernutrition? A review of the potential of irrigation to solve nutrition and gender gaps in Africa South of the Sahara

cg.authorship.typesCGIAR single centreen
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Food Policy Research Instituteen
cg.contributor.crpWater, Land and Ecosystems
cg.contributor.donorUnited States Agency for International Developmenten
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionSub-saharan Africa
cg.identifier.projectIFPRI - Environment and Production Technology Divisionen
cg.identifier.projectIFPRI - Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Divisionen
cg.identifier.publicationRankNot rankeden
cg.placeWashington, DCen
cg.reviewStatusInternal Reviewen
cg.subject.cpwfIRRIGATIONen
cg.subject.ilriIRRIGATIONen
cg.subject.wleIRRIGATIONen
dc.contributor.authorDomènech, Laiaen
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-01T02:49:48Zen
dc.date.available2024-08-01T02:49:48Zen
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/149709
dc.titleIs reliable water access the solution to undernutrition? A review of the potential of irrigation to solve nutrition and gender gaps in Africa South of the Saharaen
dcterms.abstractInterventions aimed at increasing water availability for livelihood and domestic activities have great potential to improve various determinants of undernutrition, such as the quantity and diversity of foods consumed within the household, income generation, and women’s empowerment. However, current evidence on the topic is diluted across many different publications. This paper aims to connect the dots and review the literature available on the linkages between irrigation and food security, improved nutrition, and health. We conclude that the evidence remains insufficient to draw broad conclusions due to the low number of rigorous studies that can be used to assess the linkages. Based on the limited evidence, six factors that should be taken into account in irrigation development to address nutrition and gender gaps with a focus on Africa south of the Sahara are identified: (1) food security and nutrition gains should be stated goals of irrigation programs; (2) training programs and awareness campaigns should accompany irrigation interventions to promote nutrient-dense food production and consumption as well as minimization of health risks; (3) multiple uses of irrigation water should be recognized in order to improve access to water supply and sanitation and livestock and aquatic production; (4) women’s empowerment and women’s participation in irrigation programs should be promoted; (5) homestead food production should be encouraged; and (6) policy synergies between different sectors (agriculture, nutrition, health, water supply and sanitation, education) should be sought.en
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dcterms.bibliographicCitationDomènech, Laia. 2015. Is reliable water access the solution to undernutrition? A review of the potential of irrigation to solve nutrition and gender gaps in Africa South of the Sahara. IFPRI Discussion Paper 1428. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/149709en
dcterms.extent36 pagesen
dcterms.isPartOfIFPRI Discussion Paperen
dcterms.issued2015-03-20en
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.publisherInternational Food Policy Research Instituteen
dcterms.relationhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/153476en
dcterms.relationhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/67768en
dcterms.relationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2015.09.001en
dcterms.replaceshttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/69132en
dcterms.replaceshttps://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/id/129090en
dcterms.subjectgenderen
dcterms.subjectwomen's empowermenten
dcterms.subjecthealthen
dcterms.subjectwater supplyen
dcterms.subjectnutritionen
dcterms.subjectirrigationen
dcterms.subjecthygieneen
dcterms.subjectfood securityen
dcterms.subjectwater useen
dcterms.subjectwomenen
dcterms.typeWorking Paper

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