MERIAM | Action Against Hunger
MERIAM Action Against Hunger
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Research: Action Against Hunger’s Approach to Improving Malnutrition Forecasts
Modeling Early Risk Indicators to Anticipate Malnutrition (MERIAM) is Action Against Hunger’s flagship project to improve early warning and anticipatory action for hunger crises, with a focus on malnutrition among children under five.
Identifying malnutrition risks before a crisis escalates can save lives. To date, nearly half (45%) of deaths among children under age five are triggered by malnutrition. One in three children in low- and middle-income countries suffer from chronic malnutrition.
Despite ongoing efforts to treat malnutrition before it’s too late, around 75% of malnourished children around the world lack access to life-saving treatment, and two million die from the condition every year.
Why is early warning and anticipatory action important?
It’s simple: act now before disaster strikes. Using proactive measures to prevent humanitarian crises can reduce the cost of response by as much as 30%. The earlier we respond, the earlier we can limit negative impacts and address emerging needs. This could mean anything from increasing humanitarian aid, providing cash assistance for vulnerable populations, rehabilitating water supplies, and distributing food: all before malnutrition manifests.
MERIAM Part 1: (2017-2021)
In essence, the first phase of MERIAM was a proof of concept. It demonstrated the value statistical modeling holds to improve early warning capacity.
The project was funded by the UK government and our partners included the Graduate Institute of Geneva, John Hopkins University, University of Maryland, and University of Minnesota.
MERIAM Part 2: (2022-2025)
MERIAM is in its current second phase of implementation. The main objective is operational testing and broadening scope: to adjust models to specific countries and then conduct pilots in these countries — currently Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan. Action Against Hunger teams will then assess the utility and added value of each model in different use cases. This will be the basis for further scaling beyond the current project.
The current phase is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and our partners include the University of Maryland and University of Minnesota.
To learn more about MERIAM, check out these following resources:
- For more information, please contact: meriam2.0@actionagainsthunger.org.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
The article addresses the issues of malnutrition among children under five, which is connected to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 2.2: By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under five years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women, and older persons.
- SDG 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births.
The article highlights the importance of addressing malnutrition among children under five, which aligns with the targets of SDG 2.2 and SDG 3.2.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for SDG 2.2: Prevalence of stunting (height for age <-2 standard deviation from the median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age.
- Indicator for SDG 3.2: Under-5 mortality rate (probability of dying between birth and exactly 5 years of age, expressed per 1,000 live births).
The article mentions the prevalence of malnutrition among children under five, which can be measured using the indicator of stunting. It also highlights the deaths of children under five due to malnutrition, which can be measured using the indicator of under-5 mortality rate.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | 2.2: By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under five years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women, and older persons. | Prevalence of stunting (height for age <-2 standard deviation from the median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age. |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births. | Under-5 mortality rate (probability of dying between birth and exactly 5 years of age, expressed per 1,000 live births). |
Source: actionagainsthunger.org
