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Global trends indicate that overlapping burdens of undernutrition and overnutrition-the double burden of malnutrition (DBM)-are the new normal (IFPRI 2014); indeed, most East Asia and Pacific (EAP) countries now have a DBM problem. This report explores the nature of nutrition problems affecting EAP countries to understand the sectoral and system-wide actions necessary for a coordinated approach to improving nutrition. The report (i) synthesizes evidence related to the burden of malnutrition in EAP, (ii) identifies the rationale for a multisectoral approach to DBM practitioners working across sectors in EAP, and (iii) provides an overview of the types of actions and interventions needed to address the DBM in a coordinated fashion across the life course. Actions across health and nonhealth sectors-ranging from implementation of national-level policy measures and complemented by interventions at the community and individual levels to support behavior change-are needed to prevent escalation of overweight and obesity. Among sectoral priority actions, the health sector plays an important role in monitoring health and nutrition outcomes, preventing and treating infectious and noncommunicable diseases associated with malnutrition, and providing interventions that affect individuals' nutrient intakes. Similarly, nonhealth sectors have expertise and resources to deliver interventions related to the underlying causes of malnutrition. Further, systems-strengthening efforts are needed to support an environment that addresses the DBM across the life course, including increasing DBM-sensitivity of policy frameworks; leadership, coordination, and accountability; workforce capacity; and knowledge and evidence. Reducing the DBM is fundamental to sustainable development in EAP. EAP countries must shift from dichotomized policies addressing either undernutrition or overnutrition and develop coherent frameworks to address malnutrition in all forms for all life stages. Integrated preventive and curative interventions for undernutrition and overnutrition-implemented across the life course by multiple sectors-can forestall massive economic and human development consequences for future generations.

Food & Nutrition Policy --- Health, Nutrition and Population --- Malnutrition --- Nutrition --- Public Health Promotion --- Stunting

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This paper builds on global experience and the DRC's specific context to identify an effective nutrition approach along with costs and benefits of key nutrition interventions. It is intended to help guide the selection of the most cost-effective interventions as well as strategies for scaling these up. The paper considers both relevant 'nutrition-specific' interventions, largely delivered through the health sector, and multisectoral 'nutrition-sensitive' interventions, delivered through other sectors such as agriculture, education, and water and sanitation. The authors estimate that the costs and benefits of implementing 10 nutrition-specific interventions in all provinces of the DRC would require a yearly public investment of USD 371 million. The expected benefits are enormous: annually over 5.4 million DALYs and over 76,000 lives would be saved, while at least 1 million cases of stunting among children under five would be averted. Economic productivity could potentially increase by USD 591 million annually over the productive lives of the beneficiaries, with an impressive internal rate of return of 13.6 percent. However, because it is unlikely that the Government of the DRC or its partners will find the USD 371 million necessary to reach full coverage, authors also consider scale-up scenarios based on considerations of their potential for impact, burden of stunting, resource requirements, and implementation capacity. The most cost-effective scenario considered would provide a subset of key interventions in provinces with the highest rates of stunting and will cost between USD 97 and USD 185 million depending on how many provinces are covered. The authors then identify and cost six nutrition-sensitive interventions relevant to the DRC and for which there are both evidence of positive impact on nutrition outcomes and some cost information. These findings point to a powerful set of nutrition-specific interventions and a candidate list of nutrition-sensitive approaches that represent a highly cost-effective approach to reducing child malnutrition in the DRC.

Food & Nutrition Policy --- Health Economics & Finance --- Health Finance --- Health, Nutrition and Population --- Nutrition

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Malawi's monetary poverty is high and did not lessen in rural areas between 2004 and 2010. The over-representation of poverty in rural settings kept national poverty stagnant. Furthermore, the majority of the rural population, especially the bottom 40%, remained deprived of access to key durable assets and key public services including electricity and running water. In contrast, wealthier households and those located in urban areas tended to enjoy higher access to key assets, services, and opportunities. These gaps associated with socioeconomic status and location can impair a person's ability to perform well later in life and are likely to perpetuate poverty in rural Malawi. It is imperative that Malawi provide services and opportunities more inclusively.

Agricultural Productivity --- Food & Nutrition Policy --- Health, Nutrition and Population --- Household Income --- Inequality --- Nutrition --- Poverty --- Poverty Assessment --- Poverty Reduction

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The objective of the policy note is to develop options and policy recommendations for the Government of Vietnam on strengthening food safety capacity. The note lays out the available information, analyzes the institutional and policy framework for food safety, discusses possible recommendations and provides an outline for actions for the next steps. It is expected that after being reviewed by development partners, peer reviewers and experts, the policy note would be endorsed by the World Bank Group management as the basis for submitting to the Government of Vietnam. An important framework within which this analysis has been conducted is the toolkit that the WBG's Trade and Competitiveness Practice has published on Food Safety Reform in 2014. Through its eight Fundamental Pillars, the toolkit serves as a comprehensive checklist of where to get started and how to prioritize when undertaking Food safety reform process.

Food & Nutrition Policy --- Food Safety --- Health and Sanitation --- Health Policy and Management --- Health, Nutrition and Population --- Public Health --- Rural Development

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The SecureNutrition Series on Nutrition-Sensitive Social Protection is intended to augment the available guidance on improving nutrition through multisectoral approaches, and inform ongoing and future efforts to improve nutrition outcomes through investments in the social protection sector. Since publication of the World Bank's 'Improving Nutrition Through Multisectoral Approaches' in 2013, numerous development partners have explored the mutual synchronicities between social protection and nutrition and the levers (e.g. conditionality, targeting, payment beneficiary and frequency, et cetera) that can be manipulated in order to enhance impact on nutrition outcomes. The three Series' documents - an Evidence Review, a suite of Case Studies, and a Global Forum Report - build on this continued line of operational research. Collectively, the documents are an attempt to establish a snapshot of current nutrition-sensitive social protection approaches, explore in more detail how these programs are being implemented, and outline areas of future operational research. This series is an extension of the Global Forum on Nutrition-Sensitive Social Protection Programs held in Moscow in September 2015. Recordings from past learning seminars on the same topic are hosted by SecureNutrition: www.securenutrition.org.

Food & Nutrition Policy --- Food Security --- Health, Nutrition and Population --- Human Capital --- Malnutrition --- Nutrition --- Poverty Reduction --- Services & Transfers to Poor --- Social Protections and Labor