The impact of a nutrition-sensitive graduation model program on child nutrition: Experimental evidence from Ethiopia

Multifaceted graduation models are a promising strategy to sustainably reduce poverty, yet evidence on their effects on child undernutrition remains limited. This randomized controlled trial evaluated a nutrition-sensitive graduation model combining village economic and savings associations, peer-le...

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Autores principales: Hirvonen, Kalle, Leight, Jessica, Gilligan, Daniel O., Mesfin, Hiwot Mekonnen, Mulford, Michael, Tesfaye, Haleluya
Formato: Artículo preliminar
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179205
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author Hirvonen, Kalle
Leight, Jessica
Gilligan, Daniel O.
Mesfin, Hiwot Mekonnen
Mulford, Michael
Tesfaye, Haleluya
author_browse Gilligan, Daniel O.
Hirvonen, Kalle
Leight, Jessica
Mesfin, Hiwot Mekonnen
Mulford, Michael
Tesfaye, Haleluya
author_facet Hirvonen, Kalle
Leight, Jessica
Gilligan, Daniel O.
Mesfin, Hiwot Mekonnen
Mulford, Michael
Tesfaye, Haleluya
author_sort Hirvonen, Kalle
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Multifaceted graduation models are a promising strategy to sustainably reduce poverty, yet evidence on their effects on child undernutrition remains limited. This randomized controlled trial evaluated a nutrition-sensitive graduation model combining village economic and savings associations, peer-led behavior change communication, and maternal cash transfers (and for a subset, lump-sum livelihoods transfers) implemented among ultra-poor households in rural Ethiopia. The model without maternal cash transfers improved maternal nutrition knowledge and financial inclusion but did not generate meaningful changes in children’s diets or growth. Supplementing the pro-gram with maternal cash transfers produced at least moderate improvements in child diet quality, early childhood development, household consumption, and assets. The largest improvements in child growth occurred among households receiving both the livelihoods grant and maternal cash transfers. Overall, the results suggest that coupling behavior change communication and livelihoods support with sufficient financial support is critical for achieving meaningful progress in both economic well-being and child nutrition.
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spelling CGSpace1792052026-01-07T02:17:37Z The impact of a nutrition-sensitive graduation model program on child nutrition: Experimental evidence from Ethiopia Hirvonen, Kalle Leight, Jessica Gilligan, Daniel O. Mesfin, Hiwot Mekonnen Mulford, Michael Tesfaye, Haleluya models nutrition children livelihoods poverty child nutrition Multifaceted graduation models are a promising strategy to sustainably reduce poverty, yet evidence on their effects on child undernutrition remains limited. This randomized controlled trial evaluated a nutrition-sensitive graduation model combining village economic and savings associations, peer-led behavior change communication, and maternal cash transfers (and for a subset, lump-sum livelihoods transfers) implemented among ultra-poor households in rural Ethiopia. The model without maternal cash transfers improved maternal nutrition knowledge and financial inclusion but did not generate meaningful changes in children’s diets or growth. Supplementing the pro-gram with maternal cash transfers produced at least moderate improvements in child diet quality, early childhood development, household consumption, and assets. The largest improvements in child growth occurred among households receiving both the livelihoods grant and maternal cash transfers. Overall, the results suggest that coupling behavior change communication and livelihoods support with sufficient financial support is critical for achieving meaningful progress in both economic well-being and child nutrition. 2025-12-22 2025-12-22T21:47:40Z 2025-12-22T21:47:40Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179205 en https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.137009 https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.137000 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/140194 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176897 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Hirvonen, Kalle; Leight, Jessica; Gilligan, Daniel O.; Mesfin, Hiwot Mekonnen; Mulford, Michael; and Tesfaye, Haleluya. 2025. The impact of a nutrition-sensitive graduation model program on child nutrition: Experimental evidence from Ethiopia. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2391. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179205
spellingShingle models
nutrition
children
livelihoods
poverty
child nutrition
Hirvonen, Kalle
Leight, Jessica
Gilligan, Daniel O.
Mesfin, Hiwot Mekonnen
Mulford, Michael
Tesfaye, Haleluya
The impact of a nutrition-sensitive graduation model program on child nutrition: Experimental evidence from Ethiopia
title The impact of a nutrition-sensitive graduation model program on child nutrition: Experimental evidence from Ethiopia
title_full The impact of a nutrition-sensitive graduation model program on child nutrition: Experimental evidence from Ethiopia
title_fullStr The impact of a nutrition-sensitive graduation model program on child nutrition: Experimental evidence from Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed The impact of a nutrition-sensitive graduation model program on child nutrition: Experimental evidence from Ethiopia
title_short The impact of a nutrition-sensitive graduation model program on child nutrition: Experimental evidence from Ethiopia
title_sort impact of a nutrition sensitive graduation model program on child nutrition experimental evidence from ethiopia
topic models
nutrition
children
livelihoods
poverty
child nutrition
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179205
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