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  1. Queen Mary University of London
  2. About us
  3. Sustainability
  4. Sustainable development goals
  5. Goal 2: Zero Hunger
  6. Research and Innovation

Research and Innovation

Nutrition and child health 

Queen Mary researchers have contributed to the Sanitation Hygiene Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) trial, a major research programme examining how nutrition, sanitation and hygiene interventions can improve child health in Zimbabwe. 

The study involved approximately 5,200 infants and tested approaches designed to improve infant feeding, reduce exposure to poor sanitation and address persistent challenges including child stunting and anaemia. 

Queen Mary researchers have used data from SHINE to explore how nutrition and environmental conditions interact during early childhood, helping build the evidence base for interventions that can improve growth, reduce malnutrition and support healthier development. 

The work also reflects Queen Mary’s long-standing collaboration with researchers in Zimbabwe and Zambia, linking global health research with practical challenges around food security, nutrition and child wellbeing. 

Supporting Food Security in a Changing Climate 

Food insecurity and climate change are increasingly interconnected challenges, particularly in communities already experiencing social and economic marginalisation. 

Remitting for Resilience (R2) is a multi-country research partnership involving 12 universities across 10 countries. The project examines how migrant remittances can strengthen gender-inclusive resilience to food insecurity and climate change in marginalised African environments. Queen Mary leads the UK-Zimbabwe research partnership, examining how money sent home by Zimbabwean migrants can help households respond to growing environmental and economic pressures. 

The project is generating evidence from both ends of a major remittance corridor. Research includes surveys with 300 members of the Zimbabwean diaspora in the UK, alongside interviews with migrants, recipient communities and policymakers. 

The research examines how remittances support food access, household livelihoods and climate adaptation. It also considers financial and regulatory barriers that may increase transfer costs or restrict access. 

The project works with remittance providers, regulators and compliance bodies to identify opportunities to improve remittance systems. Findings will inform policy recommendations and community resources intended to strengthen food security, livelihoods and resilience to climate change. 

Food Improvement Goals in Schools (FIGS I & II) 

The Food Improvement Goals in Schools (FIGS) programme, led by Dr Meredith Hawking, examines how Universal Free School Meals affect children, families and schools in Tower Hamlets. 

Working with Tower Hamlets Council, children, young people, parents and local communities, the research found that universal provision can help reduce pressure on household budgets, improve access to nutritious food and support greater equity by enabling children to eat together regardless of family income. 

More than 650 people have engaged with the research, and findings have been shared with organisations including the Greater London Authority, Nutrition Society and Health Determinants Research Collaboration. 

The programme has also secured £155,815 in follow-on funding to investigate the cost-effectiveness of Universal Free School Meals and support future policy development. 

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