The World Bank

The relationship between poverty and nutrition is a two-sided one: on the one hand, economic growth (which is generally associated with an eradication of poverty) leads to reduced malnutrition. On the other hand, nutrition is one of the key ingredients for human capital, which in turn represents one of the key factors of growth. There are numerous studies that show the correlates of malnutrition using both household level variables and community infrastructure. However, few of these studies indicate the interplay of the two categories of correlates. Little is known about how programs compensate for the absence of assets held by the poorest families or for a low level of female education. The current study looks at the heterogeneity of project effects. The empirical results show that mothers ’ education and access to clean drinking water are important determinants for the nutritional status of children. We find evidence of a positive impact of female education at the primary level on nutrition, as well as a negative effect of weak social status of the mother measured as a significant age difference to the head of the household. Interaction effects of these variables with the presence of an NGO in the village stress the important role played by these institutions in helping disadvantaged mothers overcome their difficulties. These findings bear important policy implications and represent a further step towards gaining an improved understanding of the complex determinants of child (mal)nutrition