DELIVERING FOR NUTRITION IN SOUTH ASIA: TOWARDS IMPACT AT SCALE – AGENDA – DAY 2
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Time: 9:00-1o:15 (Nepal time) | Venue: Bagmati Ballroom
KEYNOTE
Zoom Link: Pending
Moderator
Veronique Lorenzo, Ambassador of the European Union to Nepal
Keynote Speaker
Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (icdrr,b)
Keynote Title: Bangladesh’s Journey to Reduce Stunting at Scale
Q&A
Time: 10:15-10:30 (Nepal time) | Venue: Bagmati Ballroom
Poster Pitches 2: Gender Equity, & Social Inclusion
Zoom Link: Pending
Fish Consumption and Its Role in the Diet Quality of Adolescents from Low-Income Urban Bangladesh
Syeda Mahsina Akter, External Researcher, Wageningen University and Research – Bangladesh
Effect of Nutrition Education Intervention on Diet Quality Among Adolescent Girls in South and Southeast Asia: A Systematic Review
Satyajit Kundu, PhD Candidate, Griffith University – South Asia region / Bangladesh
Adolescent BMI Shifts After a Whole-of-Government, Whole-of-Society Intervention in Bangladesh
Meghna Chakravartty, Research Associate, Centre for Non-Communicable Diseases and Nutrition, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University – Bangladesh
Effect of Women’s Empowerment, Food, and WaSH on Stunting Among Under-Five Children in South Asia: A DHS Analysis
Saira Parveen Jolly, Assistant Scientist, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University – South Asia region / Bangladesh
From Collective Action to Family Dialogue: Scaling Gender-Transformative Nutrition Through Pariwaar Chaupal in Rural India
Shivangi Karmakar, Programme and Knowledge Management Consultant, ROSHNI Centre for Women Collectives Led Social Action – India
Scaling Community-Led Strategies to Combat Anemia in Tribal India: Evidence from Project SUMAN in Silvassa (2023–2025)
Vijay Kumar Sharma, Project Coordinator, Aatapi Seva Foundation – India
Climate-Resilient Social Protection for Nutrition in Female-Headed Cancer-Affected Households: A Gender-Equity Model from Sri Lanka
Noorul Jinnah Zeron Anas, Medical Radiotherapist, University of Colombo – Sri Lanka
Displaced Diets: Urbanization, Indigenous Marginalization, and Nutritional Vulnerability in the Patra Community of Sylhet, Bangladesh
Sheikh Mehzabin Chitra, Graduate Student, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology
From Boats to Land: Transition of Diets and Cultural Identity of the Resettled Bede Community of Bangladesh
Chowdhury Anika Farah, Student, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
Contribution of Microcredit with Inputs on Nutrition and Food Security, and Women’s Empowerment: Evidence from Panel Data of Bangladesh
Md. Mizanur Rahman Sarker, Professor, Department of Agricultural Statistics, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
Trends and Inequities in Animal-Source Protein Consumption Among Children in Nepal, 2006–2022
Prashant Acharya, Research Officer, Bodh Insight
Coverage and Determinants of Regular Fortified Blended Flour Use Among Children 6–23 Months in Remote Mountains, Karnali Province, Nepal
Sona Shrestha, Public Health Officer, Public Health Office Dolakha, Ministry of Health, Bagmati Province, Nepal Government
Time: 10:30-11:00 (Nepal time)
Tea Break
Parallel Thematic Sessions
Time: 11:00-12:3o (Nepal Time) | Venue: Bagmati Ballroom
Thematic Session 3a: Bridging Knowledge & Action: Nutrition Education for All Stakeholders
Zoom Link: Pending
Co-Chairs
Tuyen Thi Thanh Huynh, Research Team Leader – Food Environment & Consumer Behavior, Alliance Bioversity-CIAT
Opening remarks by co-chairs
Oral presentations
Strengthening Nutrition Through the Scalable, Multi-sectoral IGNITE Initiative in Pakistan
Arsala Jameel Farooqui, Research Coordinator, Aga Khan University
Promoting Supplement Adherence through Community Health Research Workers Communication: A Qualitative Investigation from JiViTa Bangladesh
Atiya Rahman, Assistant Scientist, Humanitarian Hub, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University
Education in Sri Lankan Secondary Schools
Menikgedara Poornima Sujeewa Rathnayake, PhD Candidate/Nutritionist, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Livestock Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
Bridging Nutritional Literacy Gaps Through WhatsApp: A Gender-Inclusive Diabetes Prevention Study in Pakistani Higher Education
Mohammad Azeem Malik, Student of MBBS, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
From Posts to Plate: A HIQUAL Tool Analysis of Diet-Related Posts on Sri Lankan Government Facebook Pages
R Wanasinghe Mudiyanselage Pahala Gedara Harishchandra Thilak Wanasinghe, PhD Student, Global Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Scaling without Systems Change is Tokenism: Lessons from an Adolescent Nutrition Literacy Programme in Bihar
Saroj, Founding Director, ZealGrit Social Welfare Foundation
Q&A
Closing remarks by Chair
Time: 11:00-12:30 (Nepal Time) | Venue: Koshi Hall
Thematic Session 3b: Harnessing Social Protection to Improve Dietary & Nutrition Outcomes
Zoom Link: Pending
Co-Chairs
Opening remarks by co-chairs
Oral presentations
Cash Alone is Not Enough: Mixed Evidence on Maternal and Child Nutrition from Madhya Pradesh’s Maternity Benefit Programme
Bhabesh Hazarika, Assistant Director, Sixteenth Finance Commission, Govt. of India
Transforming Nutrition During Afghanistan’s Lean Season: Innovative Nutrition-Sensitive Market-Based Solutions Empowering Vulnerable Households
Mekbib Hilegebrile Seife, Nutrition Expert, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) Afghanistan
Institutionalising Fortified Wheat Flour in Himachal Pradesh’s Public Distribution System: An Implementation Experience to Address Anaemia
Mihika Wakhloo, Program Manager, Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT)
From Wages to Well-being: Scaling Maternal and Child Nutrition in Tea Garden Communities through Assam’s Wage Compensation Scheme
Pallabi Gogoi, Ph.D. Research Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Scaling Nutrition Resilience in Vulnerable Regions: Longitudinal Evidence on Social Protection and Livelihood Diversification in Rural West Bengal
Pinaki Das, Professor, Vidyasagar University
Q&A
Closing remarks by co-chairs
Time: 12:30-13:30 (Nepal time) | Venue: TBC
Lunch
Parallel Thematic Sessions
Time: 13:30-15:00 (Nepal time) | Venue: Bagmati Ballroom
Thematic Session 4a: Nourishing Spaces: Homes, Schools & Markets
Zoom Link: Pending
Co-Chairs
Opening remarks by co-chairs
Oral Presentations
Matching Intervention Packages to Local Food Environment Risk Profiles in Sri Lanka Based on a Theory-Driven Constrained Latent Class Analysis
Budni Hasanga Hewavidana, Student, Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya
Cost and Affordability Analysis of Diets in Nepal: An Approach to Identify Affordability Gaps and Areas for Scalable Interventions
Krishna Lamsal, Programme Policy Officer, United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP)
Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) Programme, Sri Lanka (2020–2025)
Mohideen Naina Marikar Mohamed Nusry, Programme Associate, The United Nations World Food Programme
School-Based Strategies for Anaemia Prevention: A Qualitative Gap Analysis in Telangana
Naga Venkata Sri Sandhya, PhD (Part-Time External), JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysore
Mapping Outdoor Food Advertising and Its Association with Adult Dietary Intake in South Asia
Petya Atanasova, Imperial College Research Fellow, Imperial College London
Scaling Digital Food Delivery Apps in India: Implications for Diet Quality and Obesity Risk
Suman Chakrabarti, Associate Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Q&A
Closing remarks by co-chairs
Time: 13:30-15:00 (Nepal time) | Venue: Koshi Hall
Thematic Session 4b: Digital Solutions for Diet & Nutrition
Zoom Link: Pending
Co-Chairs
Opening remarks by co-chairs
Oral Presentations
Empowering Communities via a Digital Quran-Based Campaign: Advancing Nutrition & Disability Inclusion for Health and Equity in Afghanistan
Mekbib Hilegebrile Seife, Nutrition Expert, Welthungerhilfe (WHH)
Validation of an AI-Assisted Dietary Assessment Tool Among Adolescent Girls in Sri Lanka: A Step Towards Scalable Nutrition Monitoring
Nilmini Jayalath Karunarathna Hitihami Mudiyanselage, PhD Student, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Livestock Fisheries & Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
Digital Storytelling to Promote Healthy Eating: ‘Magic Creatures and the Nutri-Garden’ for Primary School Children
Thushanthi Perera, Senior Lecturer, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
Mazboot Bunyad: Early Outcomes of Pakistan’s First Digital Nutrition Registry for Malnutrition Management
Zahid Memon, Associate Professor, Aga Khan University
Digital Convenience, Dietary Consequences: How Online Transactions Drive Processed Food Consumption and Medical Expenditure
Zeeshan, Assistant Professor, New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM), New Delhi, India
Q&A
Closing remarks by co-chairs
Time: 15:00-15:30 (Nepal time)
Tea Break
Time: 15:30-16:30 (Nepal time) | Venue: Bagmati Ballroom
Plenary Session IV: From successes to horizons: Advancing stunting reduction at scale in South Asia under the SDGs
Zoom Link: Pending
Time: 16:30-16:45 (Nepal time) | Venue: Bagmati Ballroom
Poster Pitches 3: Methods & Metrics
Assessing the Need for Integrated Micronutrient Data to Support Evidence-Based Nutrition Decisions by Indian Food System Stakeholders
Rupinder Sahoa, Post-doctoral Researcher, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Targeting Nutrition Vulnerability in Tribal Gujarat Using TRAINS: A GIS-Based Framework for Village-Level Prioritization and Convergence,
Surabhi Pareek, Research Scholar, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
The Price of a Nutritious Diet: A Cost of Diet Analysis in Sri Lanka
Keshini Therese Diluki Soza, Programme Associate, The United Nations World Food Programme
Trade-off Analysis of Climate Resilience, Healthy Diets, Market Structure, and Social Inequality: Foresight Scenarios from 2020–2050 in Bangladesh
Mohammad Monirul Hasan, Country Advisor – Policy, Foresight, Social Protection, and Environment, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
Developing a Rural Food System Assessment Framework for India: An Adaptation from Urban Food System Assessments for Nutrition (UFSAN) Framework
Himanshi Pandey, PhD Research Scholar, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat
A Stakeholder-Informed Model to Improve School Food Environments in Urban Pakistan: Findings and Solutions from Karachi
Maira Mubashir, Senior Instructor, Aga Khan University
A Systems Approach: Integrating NERP and LANN+ for Food and Nutrition Security in Eastern Terai, Nepal
Archana Yadav, MEAL Officer, Welthungerhilfe Nepal
Nutrient Dataset Development via FAO/INFOODS Approach for Infant Nutritional Survey in Rural Matiari, Pakistan
Sanam Iram Soomro, Senior Instructor, Aga Khan University
Enhancing Health and Nutrition through Strategic Engagement with Local Governance
Chitra Chandra, Program Manager, Child in Need Institute (CINI)
A Standard Market Assessment Method for Fortification Monitoring – Tracking Iodised Salt and Fortified Oil Across Time and States in India
Advait Deshpande, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
The Khichuri Index: A Measure of Meal Affordability in Bangladesh
Nawshiba Arnob, Research Specialist, BRAC
Parallel Learning Labs
Time: 17:00-18:15 (Nepal time) | Venue: Bagmati Ballroom
Side Event 2a: Impact of a Training of Trainers approach to interdisciplinary teaching & learning
Host: ANH Academy
Learning objectives:
- To showcase the impact of a training of trainers programme one year after an in-person learning workshop in Sri Lanka
- Share learnings, challenges, and how others can use a similar model
- To share open access resources for interdisciplinary teaching & learning
No. of participants: Smaller group is ideal for optimal participation
Target Audience:Professors/lecturers in agriculture, nutrition and health
Level: Basic
Mode: In Person Only
Time: 17:00-18:15 (Nepal time) | Venue: Koshi Hall
Side Event 2b: From Feeding to Nourishing: Rewiring Food Systems for Nutrition and Resilience through Fortification
Host: UN World Food Programme
Zoom link: Pending
Learning objectives:
- Understand how analysis of secondary household consumption data can identify subnational micronutrient gaps and compare practical solutions to fill these.
- Appreciate how fortified staples can move food systems from feeding to nourishing – using country experiences (Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh)
- Explore regional opportunities to integrate fortified staples into social protection programmes (school meals, safety nets, and national food security platforms) nd emergency reserves, with models like APTERR.
- Identify the levers for lasting change – policies, partnerships, and operational strategies that can scale fortified staples sustainably through school meals, safety nets, and national food security platforms.
No. of participants: 30-50
Target Audience:Government representatives, program implementers, nutrition and food policy experts, development partners, and researchers working in food systems, social protection, and emergency preparedness. The session offers practical insights and regional experiences on integrating fortified staples into nutrition-sensitive social protection and emergency preparedness strategies and evidence generation, advocacy and partnership building that can support this. It provides a platform for peer learning, policy dialogue, and cross-country collaboration.
Level: Intermediate: Participants should have a basic knowledge of nutrition interventions, food systems, or social protection programming.
Mode: Hybrid
Time: 17:00-18:15 (Nepal time) | Venue: Karnali Hall
Learning Lab 2c: Research Communications
Host: Centre for Non-communicable Diseases and Nutrition, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University
Zoom Link: Pending
Learning objectives:
- Identify the key principles of effective research communication and explain how to adapt messages for different audiences, including policymakers, funders, and the general public.
- Apply techniques for translating complex research findings into clear, concise, and engaging language through a short written or oral exercise.
- Evaluate and refine a sample research communication product (e.g., abstract, presentation slide, or media pitch) using best practices for clarity, accuracy, and audience relevance.
No. of participants: 25-35
Target Audience:Early and mid-career researchers/academics/post graduate students interested in research and are passionate about communicating research beyond formal platforms to a wider audience. This workshop meets participants’ needs by:
1) Equipping them with strategies to translate complex research into clear, audience-friendly messages.
2) Providing practical techniques to tailor communication for policymakers, funders, media, and the public.
3) Building confidence through hands-on practice in both written and oral formats.
Level: Basic or intermediate
Mode: Hybrid
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