Professor Laura Smith, PhD, in partnership with the Zimbabwean Government and the Zvitambo Institute, recently received a $3.2 million grant to examine the impacts of climate change on child malnutrition. The work is supported by the Wellcome Trust in the UK and aims to improve policies to mitigate the effects climate change has on child health. The first component of this work is to examine 12 years of survey data and compare it to climate change data and observed trends in malnutrition in Zimbabwe. This will inform the research team of any climate shocks that may coincide with changes in child health. For example, in 2018 cyclone Idai wiped out crops and resulted in significant displacement of families, events such as these indirectly impact children’s nutrition as food becomes scarce. 

Additionally, the team will work with community members to hear their stories of climate change and how it has impacted them and their communities via walking interviews. This participatory research approach is known as the “rivers of life” research method and will help inform new agricultural, nutrition, and climate change policy in Zimbabwe. Community-based participatory research practices such as this apply a bottom-up approach to evidence gathering and value local knowledge to improve policy.

Smith has built strong relationships with the Ministry of Health and the Food Nutrition Council and serves as the associate director at the Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research. This impactful, multi-sector work will help create significant change to child health outcomes in Zimbabwe.