Expanding Monitoring for Healthy Diets

The Institute for Economic Development and Tufts University recently hosted a workshop in Rome, Italy, focused on monitoring the Cost and Affordability of a Healthy Diet (CoAHD), an indicator developed by the Food Prices for Nutrition project to monitor people’s access to healthy diets and inform policy interventions to achieve food and nutrition security. Held at the new World Bank Group premises, this three-day event brought together global and national stakeholders, and representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. 

The workshop created a collaborative platform for participants to discuss best practices and strategies for monitoring the cost and accessibility of healthy diets. Country representatives from Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Grenada, and Pakistan shared firsthand insights and practical experiences with the CoAHD indicator, sparking discussions on how to expand the framework to other countries.  

The event's agenda was dynamic, combining informative presentations with group discussions and hands-on technical assistance sessions. Results from these exchanges include a comprehensive report featuring practical recommendations, clear guidance for future monitoring initiatives for healthy diets, and new partnerships between national governments and international organizations to support these efforts. 

This workshop also marked a significant milestone for the Institute’s hub in Rome, as it was the first event held in the new World Bank Group Rome office. Participants enjoyed the state-of-the-art facilities as they exchanged insights and experiences strengthening food security and nutrition. 

"It's a wonderful conference and we learned a lot in three days. It has given me a lot of insights. For Pakistan, we'll surely consider the index and make it into our national statistical system." - Mr. Muhammad Sarwar Gondal, Member in Charge of Support Services, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.  

Learn more about the Institute for Economic Development upcoming events and partnership opportunities, visit the Food Prices for Nutrition website for more on the indicator, and contact us to express your interest in future similar workshops.