Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 17 years of professional experience, the expert is highly skilled in nutrition, food systems, health, and agriculture. They have led projects in collaboration with international organizations, focusing on policy guidance, community nutrition programs, and food utilization. As a Principal Nutritionist, they have developed research initiatives and supervised staff. Notable accomplishments include developing weaning food products to improve nutrition outcomes and facilitating training programs. Leadership roles have included managing food and nutrition education activities and coordinating stakeholder meetings to enhance sector-specific best practices in Malawi.

Project experience and donor exposure

The expert has collaborated with the International Labour Organization (ILO/IPEC Malawi) as a Projects Coordinator. Responsibilities included organizing awareness campaign meetings, monitoring project staff, managing finances, and updating donors on project progress. The projects were focused on rural youth development and took place in Malawi, specifically through the Students for Rural Youth in Development initiative at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The scope of work was sector-specific, targeting education and capacity building within the agriculture sector.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in key sectors such as education, health, agriculture, and research, the expert has held roles including Principal Nutritionist and Food and Nutrition Officer. Their focus has been on policy guidance, program development, and stakeholder collaboration. Interdisciplinary expertise encompasses nutrition education, capacity building, and food security, with projects implemented at a national level in Malawi. The expert has also contributed to research and innovation in food utilization and has experience in teaching and project coordination, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of sectoral interconnections. Extensive experience in Malawi includes collaboration with local and international organizations to implement community nutrition programs and food security initiatives. The expert has a deep understanding of Malawi's local governance and cultural dynamics, which is reflected in their ability to engage with rural communities and stakeholders effectively. Long-term assignments in Malawi have equipped them with region-specific expertise in addressing nutritional challenges and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Languages and education

The expert is fluent in English, possessing excellent listening, reading, and speaking skills, with good proficiency in writing. English is used in professional settings, including collaboration with international organizations and facilitating training programs. Additionally, they are a native speaker of Chichewa, demonstrating excellent competence in all aspects of the language. These language skills support effective communication in multilingual teams and diverse cultural contexts. The expert holds a Master of Food Science from Michigan State University in the United States, where they studied community nutrition assessment, food processing, and advanced food chemistry. Additionally, they possess a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, majoring in Food Science and Human Nutrition, from the University of Malawi, Bunda College of Agriculture. Their academic background is firmly rooted in the fields of food science and human nutrition, with a focus on both theoretical and practical aspects of nutrition and food processing.