Dietary Diversity for Sustainable Development: Local-Global Policy Lessons from Tanzania

There is an urgent need for nutrition-sensitive interventions in the face of rising malnutrition, food insecurity, and climate change. As global initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize dietary diversity as a pathway to achieving better health, food security, and gender equity, this study examines the prevalence, determinants, and broader implications of dietary diversity in low-resource settings, offering a nuanced perspective that integrates global health and sustainable development frameworks. Grounded in empirical research from rural Tanzania, Dietary Diversity for Sustainable Development delves into the crucial intersection of food systems, culture, gender, and nutrition, highlighting actionable strategies for improving nutritional outcomes among women of reproductive age. By employing a culturally sensitive approach and leveraging context-specific data, the authors present practical recommendations for improving nutrition within rural communities which foregrounds women’s nutritional challenges, links local insights to global imperatives, and offers replicable strategies for improving diet quality in similar low-resource settings. Bridging the gap between policy discourse and on-the-ground realities, Dietary Diversity for Sustainable Development provides a groundbreaking analysis of dietary diversity as both an indicator and a driver of sustainable development. Essential for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, this book contributes valuable evidence-based perspectives on sustainable food systems and development.