Decision Analysis to Support Agriculture for Nutrition

Research supporting development decisions related to agriculture for nutrition often fails to consider the range of ecological, socioeconomic, cultural and political factors that influence agriculture. This often limits decision makers’ ability to rationally decide on the best course of action in developing and implementing agriculture for nutrition interventions. The basic steps in the Decision Analysis process aim to address both why and how decisions are formulated and decision-relevant factors are measured. This approach follows the basic premise that if something has an effect, this effect must be observable and if it is observable, it must be measurable. Through the stochastic and iterative modelling process Decision Analysis can supply decision makers with information about probable impact pathways of agricultural interventions and thereby help them prioritize for the best nutrition outcomes.