The aims of the Social Development Division include researching and increasing knowledge of factors curtailing the exercise of rights or limiting the development potential and social well-being of the population. Food and nutrition security is one such factor, and an important one. Since 2003, the Division has been conducting projects on the conceptual analysis of gaps, inequalities, policies and programmes, with a view to combating hunger, undernutrition and food insecurity in the region and addressing problems related to obesity and the consequences of malnutrition.