Advancing Use of Nutrition Knowledge to Improve Practice by Policy and Program Communities in India During a Political Transition

Models are needed for how to advance use of knowledge by programs and policy officials to make evidence-based decisions about nutrition. How to advance use of nutrition knowledge in India from 2011 to 2015 during a political transition was investigated through studying a knowledge initiative led by the International Food Policy Research Institute. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 37 diverse participants, and 1091 news articles, 318 Twitter and 175 Facebook posts, 12 YouTube events, 65 knowledge products, and 130 engaging events were assessed. Open-axial coding, content and themes analysis, triangulation, and process tracing were used. The knowledge initiative analyzed the landscape, made knowledge available, mobilized it, and engendered its use. After political transition, knowledge was readied for the reassembled nutrition technical community, including timely responses to governmental information needs. Making nutrition knowledge available, mobilizing it, and engendering its use can be advanced through knowledge initiatives in large, complex countries during political transitions.