SciDev.Net: Focus on Poverty: More nutrition science or political will?
Roger Williamson, independent consultant and visiting fellow at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex

“The second Hunger and Nutrition Commitment Index (HANCI) has just been launched, providing detailed evidence on efforts to reduce hunger (10 indicators) and undernutrition (12 indicators) in 45 developing countries. The data show that the richer among these countries often do better — more resources should, after all, mean better outcomes. They also show that some poorer countries have been improving their performance despite difficult circumstances. … [J]oined-up health care systems and hunger and nutrition interventions are necessary. These need a proper scientific basis — so evidence-based policies are crucial. But so is the delivery of interventions, and political commitment to improve delivery…” (7/14).