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Health and food systems

We undertake research and policy engagement that shows how systems can be transformed to support people everywhere to lead healthier, well-nourished and more fulfilling lives.

Our work brings new understanding and action on tackling epidemics, zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance. We are helping to address the health and nutrition implications of trends such as rapid urbanisation or the rise of digital technology, as well as looking at the challenges caused by globalised and inequitable food systems and the need for fairer agricultural livelihoods.

Our research fosters transformational learning for more effective and adaptive nutrition and health programmes and policies using innovative, complexity-aware approaches to evaluation.

Latest News
‘It is our duty to look after the environment, while it also looks after us’ – reflections on environmental change from Zimbabwe
08 June 2026
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Food Equity Centre
A collaboration of researchers across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America working to challenge the power and politics that make food systems inequitable.
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Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform (SSHAP)
A global network of social scientists focusing on the social dimensions of emergency responses related to health, conflict, or the environment.
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Sanctuary for Health Justice
The Sanctuary for Health Justice will provide a welcoming environment for health equity scholars who are currently facing existential threats in the United States.
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Zoonotic influenza preparedness: a transdisciplinary One Health approach (ZIP)
Working in Bangladesh, Vietnam and UK, this project seeks to develop new ways of thinking about the risk factors for bird flu (avian influenza), a disease which causes devastating losses for farmers and also has pandemic potential.
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LEAD: Leadership in Enhancing Antimicrobial Discovery
The Leadership in Enhancing Antimicrobial Discovery (LEAD) coalition works to develop leadership and build collaboration to advance science and shape policy for action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
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Living Off-Grid Food and Infrastructure Collaboration
Research to help improve the lives of the poorest residents of cities in Africa and Asia by focusing on how they are meeting their basic needs and accessing infrastructure, particularly when they are living 'off-grid'.
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Livelihoods for sustainable rural futures
Research to understand dimensions of livelihoods resilience in rural areas, particularly around agricultural food systems.
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MA Food and Development
Gain an advanced understanding of the complex relationship between food and development through this Masters, delivered through a partnership between the University of Sussex and IDS.
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Humanitarianism News
IDS to lead new research network for crisis preparedness and response
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has awarded funding for the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) to lead the Multi-Hazard Research Network (MHRN), initially covering a three‑year programme, to strengthen decision-making before, during…
June 2026
Covid-19 Publications
Political Capabilities and Systemic Drivers of Innovation
The Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated that rapid vaccine development is possible – but scientific discovery alone does not guarantee delivery. Unprecedented R&D investment and public–private collaboration spurred vaccine development, yet many candidate vaccines never reached the…
May 2026
Health Opinion
Nepal’s maternal health success story: What is left out?
Sunisha Neupane recently passed her viva voce examination for her PhD in Development Studies by Research, undertaken at IDS. In this short blog post, Sunisha reflects on her research journey – from a maternal health…
May 2026