On 13 November, NIPN Guatemala held the official closing event of NIPN Phase II implementation (2021–2025), led by CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre). The space provided an opportunity to highlight NIPN achievements in the country and reaffirm inter-institutional commitment to advancing food and nutrition security.

The  event, hosted in the municipality of Totonicapán, convened municipal, departmental and national authorities, as well as technical experts and development partners. Together, they emphasized the important coordinated efforts that have led to the strengthening of nutrition information systems and multisectoral governance for evidence-based decision-making on nutrition.

Eduardo Say, coordinator of NIPN Guatemala, recalled that: ‘With proper use of data, we can save time, optimise resources and contribute to reducing malnutrition indicators.’ Representing the European Union Delegation, Claudia Barrillas commended NIPN for its leadership in promoting the use of advanced tools to guide public investment and improve food and nutrition security. Finally, Laura Barrington, from C4N-NIPN Global Coordination, expressed her confidence that the achievements of NIPN Guatemala will be sustained and continue to grow in the future.

More information about the event is available on the CATIE website.

NIPN Global Coordination has released a new study capturing the diverse experiences of NIPN countries in developing and managing data visualisation tools (DVTs) to enhance the communication and use of nutrition data in policy-making.

NIPN aims to support countries to strengthen their information systems for nutrition and to improve the analysis of data to better inform the strategic decisions they are faced with to prevent malnutrition and its consequences. From the onset of the initiative in 2018, data visualisation tools (DVT) were identified as a powerful way to make complex data more accessible to policy makers. Each NIPN platform has developed its own DVT with distinct objectives, approaches and methodologies.

Following a recommendation from the 2023 NIPN Contribution Study conducted by N4D, NIPN Global Coordination carried out a comprehensive review in 2025 to document and compare these experiences. The report draws on existing documentation, 18 interviews with DVT designers from eight countries, and six interviews with DVT users from four countries, offering a comparative analysis of design, implementation and maintenance processes.

The findings provide valuable lessons that can inform future development of data visualisation tools, helping countries make nutrition data more actionable and impactful in policy decision-making.

Click here to read the study.

The 7th Global Gathering report summarises the key insights, lessons, and recommendations shared during the 2025 NIPN Global Gathering in Lusaka, Zambia, from 23 to 25 September. Under the theme Reflecting on progress to maintain nutrition impact, the event brought together over 60 participants from government institutions, NIPN country platforms, implementing partners, donors, and technical institutions.

Over three days, participants reflected on NIPN’s contribution to strengthening accountability and evidence-based decision-making in nutrition. A central theme of the discussions was the sustainability of NIPN platforms. Country teams exchanged on best practices and strategies for embedding NIPN processes, products, and activities into robust institutional frameworks that can evolve and adapt over time. The report also highlights partner reflections and concrete actions to advance NIPN’s work in supporting nutrition decision-making.

Click here to read the full report.

A team of researchers from the National Information Platform for Nutrition (NIPN) in Niger has co-authored the landmark study “Nutrient intakes from a 24-hour recall survey among children aged 2–5 years, adolescent girls aged 10–18 years, and women aged 19–49 years in five regions of Niger“, published in the Journal of Global Health. The study examines nutrient intake among vulnerable population groups across five regions of the country, highlighting new evidence on dietary gaps and guiding future policy efforts.

Conducting dietary intake surveys is essential for designing effective nutrition interventions and tracking progress in dietary patterns. They provide decision-makers with critical evidence on where to focus efforts to support food systems transformation and healthier diets.

The publication represents the first quantitative food consumption survey in Niger. The study was conducted in the regions of Dosso, Maradi, Tahoua, Tillabéri, and Zinder, and focuses on three demographic groups: children aged 2–5, adolescent girls aged 10–18, and women aged 19–49. Using 24-hour dietary recalls, with repeat recalls on a subset of participants, researchers estimated usual daily nutrient intakes.

Findings show that average energy intake was close to recommended levels. However, diets were found to be highly unbalanced, with more than two-thirds of total energy coming from carbohydrates, and low levels of protein and fat intake. The analysis also revealed severe deficiencies in calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin B12 across all groups.

To address this situation, the study reccommends scaling up the production and consumption of foods rich in essential micronutrients, and accelerating the implementation of Niger’s National Nutritional Security Policy (2017–2025) and the roadmap for transforming sustainable food systems. It also calls for complementary social and behavioural change initiatives to improve access to more diverse and culturally appropriate diets.

By providing decision-makers with robust evidence, the study highlights how NIPN contributes to more effective nutrition interventions and supports the broader goal of transforming food systems in Niger.

Read the full article here.

Find more about the NIPN team co-authors on the Niger NIPN website.

The Ethiopian Public Health Institute, with contributions from NIPN team members and other partners, has released A Guide to School Feeding Menus for Addis Ababa 2025, a practical tool to strengthen the city’s school feeding program.

The booklet translates Ethiopia’s evidence-based Food-Based Dietary Guidelines into healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate menus tailored to primary school children. Importantly, it includes dietary options for children with special needs, such as those with autism, diabetes, intellectual disabilities, or living with HIV/AIDS, ensuring inclusivity in school feeding.

The menus are designed to provide both macro- and micronutrients essential for children’s growth, learning, and well-being, while using locally sourced ingredients to support nutrition, promote sustainable agriculture, and stimulate the local economy. Moreover, it provides an estimated cost of students’ daily calorie needs, over 200 school days.

Beyond meals, the booklet serves as a resource for menu planners, teachers, school health personnel, and cafeteria staff, helping ensure that school meals meet national nutritional standards.

By linking nutrition, education, and community development, the new school feeding menus mark a significant step toward improving the health and learning outcomes of children in Addis Ababa, while also advancing Ethiopia’s broader goals for food security and sustainable development.

You can find the full publication here: School Feeding Menu Booklet for Addis Ababa – 2025 | NIPN