Two MRR Innovation Lab projects are conducting research to learn more about nutrition, both how to reinforce it and whether nutrition-related programming strengthens household resilience.
In this Q&A, MRR Innovation Lab associate director Tara Chiu outlines some of the key ideas that underpin a powerful business case for insurance companies and microfinance institutions to invest in the future of risk-management tools for smallholder farmers.
Women are at the heart of agriculture but often face a number of challenges that keep them having from full control over their lives. Learn how MRR Innovation Lab researchers are testing ways to spark transformational and lasting women’s empowerment in rural communities.
Information and learning can empower rural families to increase their food security and resilience. MRR Innovation Lab research teams are testing ways to fill information gaps and spark learning across smallholder farming communities.
A MRR Innovation Lab research team is leveraging the strengths of small agrodealers in Mozambique to scale an innovative bundle of stress-tolerant maize and insurance in remote small-scale farming communities.
Market systems are critical for rural households in developing countries who rely on agriculture for food and income. MRR Innovation Lab research teams are developing and testing ways to strengthen market systems, which will provide insights on how to make markets work better for all and to spur inclusive agriculture-led growth.
In Samburu, Kenya, MRR researchers are testing "Family Insurance," which they designed to respond to women's needs in taking care of their families during drought.
New paper reports that targeted fertilizer recommendations paired with subsidies to purchase fertilizer can increase maize yields on small-scale farms in Tanzania. Soil tests also showed that a change in fertilizer recommendations from the government of Tanzania could address a common deficiency limiting maize yields.
For this International Women’s Day on March 8th, we highlight some of the critical innovations the MRR Innovation Lab is supporting to help women in vulnerable rural communities mitigate the risks they face.
New research supported by USAID is learning whether investments in broadly based resilience helps families to withstand even this completely unexpected and global shock of the COVID-19 pandemic.
