Ongoing projects

RIDA through the funding of UNICEF assessed the WASH facilities and practices, and levels of nosocomial pathogens in hand-touch sites in selected health facilities in Oromia and SNNPR. The project aimed to i) conduct a baseline assessment of WASH conditions in selected health facilities from SNNPR and Oromia; ii) determine the magnitude of nosocomial pathogens in hand-touch sites; iii) assess hand-washing and infection prevention and control (IPC) practices; iv) conduct endline evaluation after hand-hygiene training and improvement of water systems

RIDA through the funding of UNICEF assessed the trends and socioeconomic inequalities in coverage of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) and its implication for child nutritional outcomes in Ethiopia. The health system is the primary vehicle for the delivery of nutrition-specific interventions that aim to reduce maternal and child malnutrition. The integration of nutrition interventions into existing health interventions is promising, but ensuring that no one is left behind requires that access to essential health services is equitably distributed.

We offer a variety of educational programmes for students, teachers, and community members. Our programmes include workshops, seminars, and field trips that provide hands-on learning experiences and promote environmental awareness.

 Anemia in women of reproductive age (WRA) can be effectively addressed if supported by a better understanding of the spatial variations, magnitude, severity, and distribution of anemia. The project funded by UNICEF Ethiopia aimed to map the subnational spatial distribution of anemia (any, moderate, and severe forms) among WRA in Ethiopia.

This project funded by UNICEF West and Central Africa office aimed at identifying geographical hotspots of anemia in women of reproductive age. Then, through data analyses focused on West Africa, understand the etiologic factors contributing to anemia to provide a roadmap for a more effective anemia prevention program. This study resulted in three reports, country-specific as well as regional policy brief, and two scientific papers have been drafted. 

Despite a large share of smallholder farmers in the southern nations producing avocado, they were not able to rip the nutritional and economic benefits. Women can be empowered economically as well as nutritionally by processing nutrient-dense foods like avocados. To support such a transition to inclusive development empowering local farmers and women in particular, we characterized the nutritional composition and techno-functional properties of avocado landraces, developed prototypes of dried avocado powder, and evaluated the nutrient retention with the aim of developing standard operating procedures that will support women groups to engage in avocado processing. 

Ensuring diet quality in the first two years of life is critical to prevent malnutrition and instilling healthy food preferences. Children’s diet quality has changed little over time and inequalities by socioeconomic status, rural-urban residence, but also by food group may exist. For agricultural policies to respond to this crisis, it is critical to identify which food groups are missing in the diet and how that relates to decisions made in the agriculture sector. We therefore assessed food group-level inequities, but also estimated the prevalence and inequalities in the minimum diet diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD). This is a national-level analysis of data from 2011, 2016, and 2019. This project was supported by UNICEF Ethiopia. 

 This is a project funded by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) through the French agricultural research and international cooperation organization working for the sustainable development of tropical and Mediterranean regions (CIRAD). The aim of this project is to identify the type of legumes produced and consumed in Ethiopia, their agroecosystem services, and their contribution to the diet. This project is ongoing. 

Through the support of UNICEF Ethiopia, a series of studies were conducted to understand what contributes to child malnutrition in Ethiopia. In collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), RIDA evaluated the dynamics and drivers of child growth faltering. In collaboration with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Word Food Program, and Unicef, we applied the fill-the-nutrient gap methodology to evaluate the impact of integrating egg powder into the food basket. RIDA also assessed the role of women empowerment in improving child diet and nutritional outcomes. These studies led to several publications published in scientific journals. 

 Adolescence is a critical period of physical, cognitive, and social development that need to be supported with adequate nutrition. The dietary behaviors of adolescents can be shaped by their nutrition literacy and their interaction with their school food environment. The project funded by UNICEF through the Canadian Government assessed factors that influence the dietary behaviors of adolescents in urban Ethiopia. Gender-disaggregated, focused group discussions (FGDs; n=70) were conducted in 36 private and government schools (n= 12/city) among adolescents (n= 432) 15-19 years of age in Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, and Dire Dawa. Key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted among school principals (n=36). Adolescents had relatively good knowledge and recognized the importance of diverse diets, but misperceptions also existed. The project findings served as input to the recent adolescent nutrition policy 

 Adolescence is a critical period of physical, cognitive, and social development that need to be supported with adequate nutrition. The dietary behaviors of adolescents can be shaped by their nutrition literacy and their interaction with their school food environment. The project funded by UNICEF through the Canadian Government assessed factors that influence the dietary behaviors of adolescents in urban Ethiopia. Gender-disaggregated, focused group discussions (FGDs; n=70) were conducted in 36 private and government schools (n= 12/city) among adolescents (n= 432) 15-19 years of age in Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, and Dire Dawa. Key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted among school principals (n=36). Adolescents had relatively good knowledge and recognized the importance of diverse diets, but misperceptions also existed. The project findings served as input to the recent adolescent nutrition policy 

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