Dietary diversity, food security, and development projects in low- and middle-income contexts: Findings from 24 countries
Publication Type
Journal Article
Journal Name
Food Security
Publication Date
1-1-2026
Abstract
Ending hunger in all its forms remains a significant global challenge. This study examines dietary diversity and food security and evaluates the impact of development projects in low and middle-income contexts. We use primary data collected from development projects implemented in 24 countries. To control for heterogeneous impacts of each project-related investment, we estimate binary treatment random coefficient models among treatment (participants) relative to comparison (non-participants) households. Treatment households have statistically significant increase in dietary diversity, albeit small in terms of magnitude (0.04 additional food groups). They experience a significantly larger reduction in food insecurity (a decrease of 8.1%). Results show substantial variation in the effectiveness of development projects in improving household dietary diversity and food security, with differences in the direction and magnitude of effects across countries, regions, and types of interventions. Projects implemented in lower-income and non-fragile contexts are effective in enhancing dietary diversity and food security. Gender and age are important factors in influencing dietary diversity and food security outcomes. Female-headed and older-headed households tend to exhibit lower dietary diversity and higher food insecurity, reflecting underlying structural disadvantages rather than differential project effectiveness. Findings suggest that interventions enhancing income generation, market access, and agricultural extension services are particularly effective in improving dietary diversity and food security. In contrast, resilience-building projects in fragile contexts did not yield statistically significant improvements, underscoring the importance of context specificity in determining project effectiveness. Tailoring project design to gender and age dynamics is essential to ensure equitable outcomes.
Keywords
Development projects, Dietary diversity, Food security, Impact evaluations, Low and middle-income contexts
Recommended Citation
Sibhatu, K., Songsermsawas, T., & Puri, J. (2026). Dietary diversity, food security, and development projects in low- and middle-income contexts: Findings from 24 countries. Food Security https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-026-01674-5