Melodie is a Researcher in Public Health Nutrition at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and affiliate researcher in the Welfare Research Program at the ISDC. Her research focuses on the determinants of maternal and child health, food insecurity, and nutrition in developing contexts, especially in emergency settings. She has worked as a Research Assistant […]
The Double Burden of Female Protracted Displacement: Survey Evidence on Gendered Livelihoods in El Fasher, Darfur
During protracted displacement, women and girls often face serious gender-specific challenges and vulnerabilities, including adverse norms and institutional barriers. Yet, quantitative evidence on gendered drivers and differentials during protracted displacement remains scarce. Using survey data from 18,533 displaced and non-displaced individuals in El Fasher, Sudan, this paper documents that livelihood outcomes are significantly shaped by […]
Drivers of food choice among children and caregivers in post-earthquake Nepal
Food systems in many countries are experiencing a shift from traditional foods towards processed foods high in sugar, fat and salt, but low in dietary fiber and micronutrients. There is an urgent need to better understand drivers of changing food behavior, particularly for lower- income countries. This study analyzes drivers of food choice among children […]
McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition in Kyrgyzstan: Study on Nutritional and Learning Variables, Phase II
The overall objective of this study is to generate a solid evidence base of Mercy Corps Kyrgyzstan’s McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition program’s impacts on nutrition and learning outcomes. The specific aims for this study are: Aim 1: To develop and implement a mixed-methods research design for the collection of informative survey data […]
McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition in Kyrgyzstan – Baseline Study on Nutritional Variables
In this “Baseline Study on Nutritional Variables”, we address three broad research questions around nutrition in the context of the national Food for Education and Child Nutrition (FFE) program in Kyrgyzstan. The three questions are: RQ1: What is the status of nutrition in Kyrgyz households with primary grade children? Here, we place particular and novel […]
7th Annual ‘Life in Kyrgyzstan’ Conference
The Institute of Public Policy and Administration of the University of Central Asia (UCA), the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), and ISDC – International Security and Development Center invite submission of proposals for sessions and individual research papers for the 7th Annual ‘Life in Kyrgyzstan’ Conference, to be held online during October 26-28, 2021. The conference […]
HG4RR Webinar Series: Impact of home gardens on household dietary diversity and micronutrient status in rural Tanzania
Join us for the third webinar in the HG4RR Webinar Series on April 20th, 14:00-15:00 CET. We will be joined by Drs. Hadijah Mbwana and Victoria Gowele, from the Department of Food Technology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Morogoro, Tanzania. Dr. Mbwana’s presentation, “Seasonal and agro-climatic variations in kitchen […]
17th Annual Workshop of the Households in Conflict Network: Conflict, Migration, and Displacement
The complex nexus of forced migration, development, and security is central to the analysis of household welfare. Any empirical analysis of the link between conflict and forced migration faces issues due to endogeneity, generalizability, or data quality. The workshop thus aims at discussing creative and innovative approaches that allow dealing with the above issues to […]
Gendered Dimensions of Protracted Forced Displacement in Sudan
The overall objective of this project is to study gendered dimensions of livelihoods in the context of protracted forced displacement. Specifically, we perform four sets of empirical analyses: We provide in-depth insights into the gendered differences in livelihood outcomes among long-term internally displaced persons (IDPs), including realized and aspired outcomes. We study the gendered constraints shaping […]
Gendered Dimensions of Forced Displacement in North-east Nigeria
The overall objective of this project is to study gendered dimensions of livelihoods in the context of forced displacement in a rural humanitarian emergency setting. Specifically, we perform four sets of empirical analyses: We provide in-depth insights into the gendered differences in livelihood outcomes among internally displaced persons (IDPs), including realized and aspired outcomes. We study the […]
Data Gap Analysis for SDG-16 In Uganda
The SDG 16 Data Gap Analysis is a systematic review of availability and suitability of data for SDG 16 indicators in Uganda. It entails a review of data sources, data producers, data processes, and data gaps. It maps the 23 indicators for SDG 16 versus the data sources and data producers in Uganda. It also analyses the existing data with the indicators metadata issued by the United Nations. The resulting report reflects current state of data for SDG 16, highlights achievements to date, identifies data and methodology gaps, and suggests practical and indicator and-institutional level recommendations on how to close the data gaps.
New Report: Life with Corona – Shared Global Sentiments and Stark Generational Divides
Six findings from six months of Life with Corona, a global research project to collect real-time data on the social and economic impacts of COVID-19. Key findings of the report include: Young adults actively perform many behaviours to counter the pandemic. Stress on families during the pandemic fall disproportionately on women who live with more […]
Trust in the Time of Corona
We focus on one pillar of society—trust—and explore how trust correlates with the individual experiences of the pandemic. We show that those who have had contact with sick people and those that are unemployed exhibit lower trust in people, institutions, and in general.
Anke Hoeffler
Anke Hoeffler is a Research Affiliate at ISDC. Her research is in the areas of development and security. She is one of the most widely cited social scientists and received an Alexander von Humboldt professorship, Germany’s highest award for international research. In February 2019 she left the University of Oxford and moved to the University […]
Child Development in the Context of a School Feeding Programme in Kyrgyzstan
A Mercy Corps-funded study into the effects of nutrition on health and education among Kyrgyz children, and the causal impacts of the McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program on these outcomes.
Long-term behavioural impact of an integrated home garden intervention: evidence from Bangladesh
Integrated home garden interventions combine training in gardening practices with education about nutrition knowledge. Such interventions have been shown to improve nutrition behaviour in low income countries. However, to date rigorous evidence is lacking for their long-term impact. We test the impact of an integrated home garden intervention on vegetable production and consumption three years […]
ADB Country Diagnostic Study: Kyrgyz Republic: Improving Growth Potential
This study presents an in-depth analysis of the sector reforms needed to enable the Kyrgyz Republic to achieve higher and more sustainable economic growth. Dr Damir Esenaliev of ISDC has co-authored the chapter titled on Human Resources for Inclusive Growth.
Call for Sessions and Papers: 5th Annual ‘Life in Kyrgyzstan’ Conference
Call for Papers and Sessions is open for the 5th Annual ‘Life in Kyrgyzstan’ Conference that will be held in Bishkek on 23-24 October 2019. The deadline is 16 June 2019.
Sowing and Harvesting Peace for Food Security
This project analyzes the relationship between food security and violent conflict. We review the literature on the linkages between food security and conflict, develop a novel analytic framework, and create new empirical cross-country and within-country case studies.
Maren M. Michaelsen
Dr. Maren M. Michaelsen is a Research Affiliate at ISDC. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion in the Faculty of Health at Witten/Herdecke University, where she works as a behavioural economist on a “Nudging for health” project in an interdisciplinary team. Her research interests are […]