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. 2022 Oct 13:9:963748.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.963748. eCollection 2022.

Critical review of indicators, metrics, methods, and tools for monitoring and evaluation of biofortification programs at scale

Santiago Rodas-Moya  1 , Francesca M Giudici  1 , Bho Mudyahoto  2 , Ekin Birol  3 , Stephen R Kodish  4 , Carl Lachat  5 , Taymara C Abreu  1   6 , Alida Melse-Boonstra  1 , Karin H van Het Hof  1 , Inge D Brouwer  1 , Saskia Osendarp  1   7 , Edith J M Feskens  1
Affiliations

Critical review of indicators, metrics, methods, and tools for monitoring and evaluation of biofortification programs at scale

Santiago Rodas-Moya et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

Sound monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems are needed to inform effective biofortification program management and implementation. Despite the existence of M&E frameworks for biofortification programs, the use of indicators, metrics, methods, and tools (IMMT) are currently not harmonized, rendering the tracking of biofortification programs difficult. We aimed to compile IMMT for M&E of existing biofortification programs and recommend a sub-set of high-level indicators (HLI) for a harmonized global M&E framework. We conducted (1) a mapping review to compile IMMT for M&E biofortification programs; (2) semi-structured interviews (SSIs) with biofortification programming experts (and other relevant stakeholders) to contextualize findings from step 1; and (3) compiled a generic biofortification program Theory of Change (ToC) to use it as an analytical framework for selecting the HLI. This study revealed diversity in seed systems and crop value chains across countries and crops, resulting in differences in M&E frameworks. Yet, sufficient commonalities between implementation pathways emerged. A set of 17 HLI for tracking critical results along the biofortification implementation pathway represented in the ToC is recommended for a harmonized global M&E framework. Further research is needed to test, revise, and develop mechanisms to harmonize the M&E framework across programs, institutions, and countries.

Keywords: biofortification programs; indicators; methods; metrics; monitoring and evaluation frameworks; tools.

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Conflict of interest statement

BM was the current head of Monitoring and Evaluation at HarvestPlus. EB was the Director of Impact and Strategy at HarvestPlus when we conducted the study. KH was affiliated with Wageningen University and Research when she was involved in this project management. Currently, she was employed by Pepsico Inc. TA was affiliated with Wageningen University and Research when she was involved in this project. She was currently employed by Amsterdam UMC. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Overview of the multi-phase, iterative process research approach.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Theory of Change representing the generic biofortification program impact pathway; the numbers in white circles correspond to the indicators shown in Table 6.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Evolution of the M&E framework across biofortification implementation phases.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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