Her PhD thesis entitled ‘Development of a Household Food Security Index for Low-income Areas of Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape’ focused on developing a practical Household Food Security Index that can be used in clinical and community settings in South Africa. Promoter of her PhD thesis was Prof Dr Annelie Gresse (Nelson Mandela University), and Co-promoters: Prof em. Dr Rosa du Randt (Nelson Mandela University) and PD Dr Christin Lang (University of Basel). The study integrates key indicators including Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), Household Hunger Scale (HHS), and Nutritional Status to provide a more comprehensive measure of household food security. 

The aim of her research was to contribute to improved identification of households experiencing food insecurity and to support more effective monitoring and intervention strategies within healthcare and public health contexts. The study highlights the limitations of single-indicator approaches and demonstrates the value of the composite Household Food Security Index (HFSI) as a sensitive, practical monitoring tool. Strengthening surveillance systems and implementing context-specific, targeted interventions are essential for improving household food security and resilience to socioeconomic shocks. By combining dietary variety, hunger, and nutritional indicators, the proposed index offers a practical tool that may assist practitioners and policymakers in better understanding and addressing food insecurity.

The UNESCO Chair team congratulates Dr Madeleine Nienaber on her excellent work and wishes her all the very best for her future!