It has been well recognized in the development community that knowledge gaps and weak evidence on the linkages between agriculture, nutrition, and health outcomes constrain action and limit progress. In order to address the knowledge gaps surrounding the nexus of agriculture, nutrition, and health, the CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH), led by IFPRI, along with the Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture and Health (LCIRAH), have founded a new initiative called the Agriculture, Nutrition and Health (ANH) Academy. Launched June 3 at the 5th LCIRAH Research Conference, the ANH Academy is a global collaborative research network that will facilitate the coordination of research across the disciplines and sectors, and serve as a platform for learning and sharing. The ANH Academy aims to accelerate the development of a robust and coherent scientific evidence base that supports effective policy and investments in agriculture for improved nutrition. Academy activities will include an annual research conference (to be held next summer); technical and policy working groups; trainings, seminars, and workshops; and a collaborative online platform for resource and knowledge sharing.
Although the ANH Academy is initially coordinated by LCIRAH and A4NH, new partners are encouraged to join to support specific activities. As an example, activities in the ANH Academy are part of the three workstreams of the Innovative Methods and Metrics for Agriculture and Nutrition Actions (IMMANA) program, coordinated by LCIRAH and funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). The Academy helps facilitate the sharing and adapting of methods and metrics developed through IMMANA’s grants and fellowships.
The intention of the ANH Academy is to foster the next generation of researchers working at the intersection of agriculture, nutrition, and health, particularly researchers from developing countries. Researchers are invited to become members of the ANH Academy and can register online here. For more information on the ANH Academy please contact Amanda Wyatt (a.wyatt@cgiar.org).