2019 Articles

Considering Ethics Along the Data Value Chain for Nutrition

Fanzo, Jessica C.

The 2017 Global Nutrition Report called for revolutionizing efforts across the nutrition data value chain. This chain includes data priority-setting, collection, analysis, interpretation and use of information by decision-makers working in the nutrition space. It proposed to position data as a value product to address malnutrition in all its forms. The data value chain highlighted six critical steps as shown in Figure 1 and called for an agenda that requires: “1) in-country mechanisms for national priority-setting and data coordination; 2) operational guidance for data prioritization, harmonization of indicators, and incorporation of nutrition into routine management information systems; 3) tools for capacity development at multiple levels; 4) costed data plans that are built into national development strategies, resourced and implemented; 5) dissemination of tacit knowledge and experience; 6) innovation across the value chain; and 7) fostering a culture of data use and sharing.”