Issue of December 2016

African Nutrition Matters

Volume 4 No. 6 - December 2016

AFRICAN NUTRITION SOCIETY THE NEWSLETTER

African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016

In this issue In this issue.............................................................................................................. 2 Editorial....................................................................................................................3 Making Africa’s Agriculture sector more nutrition sensitive: What role for research?....... 4 Letter from the out-going President: A reflective piece..................................................9 Letter from the President-Elect of the African Nutrition Society....................................14 African Graduate Nutrition Students Network (AGSNET) At ANEC VII.........................18 Journal of a late stage scholar: Reflections on the recently concluded ANEC VII..........20 The Impact of El Niùo on Food Security in Southern Africa.........................................22 Focus on African Nutrition Scientists.........................................................................24 Interview with Prof. Patrick Kolsteren........................................................................26 Trainings, courses and conferences......................................................................... 26

Disclaimer: African Nutrition Matters is an electronic publication by the African Nutrition Society (ISSN: 2412-3757) distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons AttributionShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Lead editors: Nonsikelelo Mathe (University of Alberta), Dia Sanou (FAO).

Section editors: Muniirah Mbabazi (University of Nottingham), Hayford Mawuli Avedzi (University of Alberta), Keiron Audain (University of Zambia), Elom Aglago (IARC France), Brenda Abu (Texas Tech University).

Editorial assistants: Tolu Emma, Theodora Amuna.

Layout design: Ali Jafri.

Technical Advisory Board: Francis Zotor (Ghana), Habiba Hassan-Wassef (Egypt), Paul Amuna (Ghana).

Cover photo: Satellite photo of cultivated fields - Credit: Pixabay/WikiImages.

All correspondence should be sent to the lead editors on: newsletter@answeb.org Follow us on Twitter and Facebook on @anmatters.

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016

Editorial Dear Readers, Welcome to the current issue of African Nutrition Matters.

Nonsikelelo Mathe Lead editor

Dia Sanou Lead editor

Globally it is understood that the currency by which we measure research productivity of an individual, group or institution is through attainment of funding grants and publication of peer review manuscripts.

To propel manuscripts and grants, is the development of studies of good scientific merit, and environments that enable research and implementation of these studies. Ultimately the aim of conducting research is to systematically investigate and gather evidence to solve problems within societies (e.g. malnutrition).

In this issue of ANM, we discuss nutrition research under the theme Nutrition Research in Africa Stakeholders and Emerging themes. In the thematic article, Dr Namukolo Covic from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) discusses the role of research in making Africa’s agricultural sector more nutrition sensitive. This thematic sets the tone for why and how research can contribute to solving nutrition problems in Africa. In an interview, Dr Kolstern Patrick of the University of Ghent in Belgium, discusses his research to combat malnutrition and the emphasises the emerging threat of non-communicable diseases in African countries. Dr Patrick acknowledges the fundamental issues that affect research conduct in African countries, citing funding challenges and and lack of collaborators.

The 7th African Nutrition Epidemiology Conference (ANEC VII) was hosted by the Moroccan Society of Nutrition (SMN) at the Palm Plaza Hotel in Marrakech, Morocco from 9-14 October 2016. The theme of this year’s conference was Nutrition Dynamics in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges for Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Indeed ANEC VII was the ideal forum for discussion and interrogation of the SDGs which, include goals dedicated to food and nutrition, directly (Goal two) and indirectly (Goals three, six, twelve and thirteen). In addition, ANEC VII was a successful gathering of researchers, policy makers, government representatives, industry and NGOs who spent a week deliberating on the way forward for Africa nutrition community, while paying particular attention to the SDGs and the nutrition related objectives of African Union Agenda 2063. Featured in this issue of ANM are the conference highlights, including a contribution from the African Graduate Students Network and a reflection from conference attendee Muniirah Mbabazi. During ANEC VII, the African Nutrition Matters (ANM) editorial team engaged African Nutrition Society members and ANM readers.

In a symposium, participants were encouraged to reflect on ANM and suggest ways for improvement and how ANM can better engage its readership. The team was very appreciative of not only the number and categories of participants attending the symposium but also the depth of the discussion and the suggestions made by participants to enhance the quality and impact of the newsletter. The ANS General Assembly has also endorsed ANM, as an official publication of the Society.

One of the highlights of the ANEC VII conference was the election of a new executive council. In this issue we have the president and president-elect of the ANS reflect looking back and forward, respectively, at the ANS. The ANM team would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Francis Zotor, the outgoing president, under whom ANM was established and whose leadership has helped position ANS in the continental and global scene. We also congratulate Dr Amos Laar for his election as the new ANS President for the next mandate and look forward to working with him and moving the African nutrition agenda forward.

We hope this issue ignites more thought and discussion on nutrition research in African countries.

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016

Making Africa’s Agriculture sector more nutrition sensitive: What role for research?

Namukolo Covic

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

In 2015, I wrote a blog entry for ELDIS based on a presentation I made at the Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS) conference in Arusha Tanzania. The topic of that blog was “Nutrition and Agriculture in Africa: what role for research?”1 This newsletter article is an extension of that blog. The objective is to briefly describe where African Union continental efforts are in trying to make agriculture more nutrition sensitive focusing on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) (African Union 2015a), the 2015 CAADP Results Framework (African Union & NEPAD 2015) and the role researchers can play to accelerate positive nutrition outcomes through developments being promoted in the agriculture sector. I do not think the African nutrition community or nutrition researchers are engaged enough with CAADP as an important component of the multisectoral landscape for nutrition on the continent.

The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) CAADP has been implemented by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) starting in 2003, as an African Union initiative emanating from the 2003 Maputo Declaration (African Union 2003).

As part of the Maputo Declaration the African Heads of States and Governments agreed to reduce hunger and promote economic development by focusing on developing the agriculture sector. The main goal of CAADP has been to help African countries reach higher economic growth through agriculture and contribute to addressing poverty, hunger and food insecurity, and expand agricultural exports regionally and beyond. Specifically it was agreed that African governments would spend at least 10% of national budgets on agriculture aiming for at least 6% growth per annum in the sector (African Union 2003). While food security was specifically targeted there was little focus on nutrition per se other than that the high levels of undernourishment and dependence on food aid at the time were major considerations. Since then things have changed to the current situation where nutrition is receiving unprecedented attention by the African Union as well as by Member States. At least 37 out of the 54 African countries are participating in the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement and SUN promotes inclusion of agriculture as part of a multisectoral approach to address malnutrition (SUN 2016). The African Union encourages Member States to participate in the SUN Movement and NEPAD actively participates in SUN activities. In addition, at least 44 countries have signed CAADP Compacts and are at different stages of the CAADP implementation process (Bahiigwa et al. 2016). CAADP Compacts stipulate the conditions for the long term partnerships with the agricultural sector at country level giving specific commitments between the government and development partners. Expectations among different stakeholders involved in implementation of CAADP at country level are described, including policy, budget, and investment commitments for long term development assistance.

Following the signing of the CAADP Compact, a national agricultural investment plan is formulated to direct implementation of programmes and interventions. Since 2011 NEPAD with support from FAO and other development partners implemented the CAADP Nutrition Initiative aimed at mainstreaming nutrition into the National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPs) as part of the CAADP process and in 2015 a limited number of nutrition indicators were added to the CAADP Results Framework. This has created a useful opportunity for monitoring nutrition as part of the CAADP process and for increasing the nutrition sensitivity of the agriculture sector at country level. There is the saying that “what is measured is done” and this should be leveraged. CAADP focuses on bringing about agriculture-led economic growth as a main strategy to achieve food security and nutrition targets but for the desired nutrition outcomes to be realized agriculture must become more nutrition sensitive and include not only

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016 specific nutrition objectives but also targeted activities and this is an area needing much research attention.

Current policy direction in favour of stronger agriculture to nutrition linkages should be leveraged Nutrition received unprecedented attention as part of the Malabo Declarations of 2014 with three nutrition relevant declarations made at the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of The African Union held from 26-27 June 2014 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea (African Union 2014). These include: 1. Declaration on Nutrition Security through Inclusive Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa This declaration targets ending hunger by 2025 through strengthening development policies to fight hunger more effectively. Stringent targets to reduce child stunting to 10 percent and underweight to 5 percent by 2025 were set. The requirement to focus on the first 1000 days of a child’s life is clearly articulated calling for member states to prioritize this as a goal in national development plans and strategies. The focus on children goes further with an additional call for the establishment of long-term targets that give all children an equal chance for success. Finally the declaration calls for continued dialogue and strengthening of advocacy in support of improved nutrition.

2. Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods This Declaration also calls for ending hunger by 2025, improving nutritional status and eliminating child undernutrition by bringing down stunting to 10 percent and underweight to 5 percent by 2025. The declaration recognizes limitations in Africa’s capacity to generate, manage and use research information for evidence informed policy development and tracking implementation to inform and direct progress and affirms the African Union’s commitment to enhance the needed capacity. A commitment is made for mutual accountability to actions and results and establishment of peer review mechanisms to foster alignment to commitments and tracking progress. Therefore research is being considered a key element of promoting progress on the continent and the African Union Commission and NPCA, in collaboration with development partners were called upon to institutionalize such review mechanisms. Progress is taking place in this direction with the first biennial review of CAADP as called for by the Declaration expected to take place in 2017. At country level though much needs to be done by nutrition researchers to come on board to generate much needed evidence within programmes and interventions to inform progress.

3. Declaration on Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths in Africa This declaration specifically focuses on ending preventable child and maternal deaths by the year 2035 in line with the Post 2015 Sustainable Development Framework. It calls for the development and implementation of country-led roadmaps to accelerate ending preventable deaths among children and mothers. It goes without saying that any strategy aimed at preventing maternal and child deaths must include nutrition among other relevant intervention areas.

There are other key strategic policy documents that also speak to addressing nutrition such as the Africa Regional Nutrition Strategy 2015-2025 (African Union 2015b) and Agenda 2063 (African Union, 2015). Agenda 2063 is considered a blue print for africa’s devleopment in support of Africa’s aspirations for 2063, the 100th anniversary of the African Union. It specifically includes calls for full implementation of CAADP and operationalization of related structures. Malabo Decissions, Declrations and Resolutions, the ARNS 2015-2025, and Agenda 2063 all call for mutual accountability to the given

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016 decisions, declarations, commitments and targets that have been set, based on peer review mechanisms. In addition, research is specificically called for as an integral part of the development processes. The CAADP Results Framework, the agreed monitoring tool of CAADP, has now included a number of nutrition indicators which must be monitored to start with, while more will hopefully be added with time and advocacy. There is no reason why the continent should not see simultaneous positive development in agricultural production, prodictivity and nutrition outcomes and CAADP presents an opportunity within which this can be realized, but only if effectively leveraged.

The strategic documents referred to above are by no means the only African Union documents that address nutrition but it is hoped bringing them to attention will stimulate intrest in the agriculture to nutrition research opportunities that continental frameworks for Africa’s development present. It is important to note that all African Union Member States are signatories to the declarations referred to and thus accountable to addressing them within their country contexts. CAADP momentum therefore has far reaching potential for increasing the nutrition sensitivity of Africa’s agricultural sector.

What role can researchers play?

es have strongly embraced the CAADP process judging from the number of countries already implementing the programme. Indeed Africa has seen increased agricultural production and productivity with undernourishment levels going down significantly over the past two decades (Figure 1). What the figure does not reflect, however, is the variation among countries as well as sub-national disparities. While some countries have recorded reduction in undernourishment well over 50% during the given time period others have in fact shown increases in the proportion of people undernourished (FAO 2015). A review in the 2013 Lancet Series on nutrition sensitive interventions found a largely inconclusive effect of agriculture interventions on nutrition with the exception of effect on Vitamin A interventions which have largely been on Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (Ruel & Alderman 2013). The lack of effect by most agriculture interventions on nutrition was attributed largely to poor design and evaluation processes. In addition recent Demographic Health Survey (DHS) data reported by the Global Nutrition Report for countries where diet diversity and minimum acceptable diet for children 6-23 months have been reported, reflect that these are both low (IFPRI 2016) requiring much attention.

This is despite many of the countries reporting increased agricultural production and productivity as well as economic growth rates over the past decade (FAO 2015). Examples of selected countries are shown in Figure 2. Although agriculture is fundamental to nutrition increases in food production have not produced matching positive dietary outcomes towards better nutrition. The reasons why agriculture is not contributing its fair share to improving diets and nutrition outcomes are beyond the scope of this

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016 newsletter article, but the implication for researchers is that “context really matters� requiring attention to sub-national disparities that may easily be masked by national statistics. The given declarations and related expectations from countries require that Researchers come on board to complement positive agriculture developments by generating the evidence needed to inform and direct progress towards better nutrition. There is therefore much needed attention on the following thematic areas of research: a) Generating evidence on how best to mainstream nutrition into national agricultural policies and programs and on what needs to be done to ensure that this impacts nutrition at national and sub-national levels. b) Greater involvement with programme design and implementation to ensure adequate provision for monitoring and evaluation of nutrition impact. This is important to be able to leverage the CAADP momentum. c) Generating context specific nutrition related evidence at national and subnational level towards making agriculture more nutrition sensitive and to track progress to inform and direct progress. This is best done as part of programmes and interventions in the form of implementation research. d) Generating evidence on best practices to ensure increased food production results in better diet diversity toward better nutrition in the first 1000 days. e) Generating evidence on the socio-cultural issues and taboos that may limit attainment of the desired diet diversity within diverse sub-national contexts.

Nutrition researchers and nutrition programme professionals are urged to engage with national agricultural processes to bring on board targeted nutrition objectives and activities, and incorporation of research to provide answers to the challenges faced. Only then can the current CAADP and Nutrition Momentum on the Continent be fully leveraged. The African Nutrition Society is an important stakeholder in what needs to be done and must explore ways to galvanize action through its extensive network of nutrition scientists on the continent.

is no reason why Africa should not obtain nutrition benefit more fully from the development of the Agriculture sector. The stage has been set but the work must now begin. Nutrition researchers and

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016 programme professionals must proactively seek collaborative engagement with their agriculture counterparts for nutrition. It will certainly be critical to engage with the CAADP processes especially at national level to generate context specific evidence to inform policies and programmes, monitor and evaluate processes to inform and direct progress. International researchers are urged to work with African researchers and institutions such that while evidence is generated, capacity is also strengthened for countries to sustain the needed evidence generation to support progress.

References African Union, 2015a. African Regional Nutrition Stratergy 2015-2025, African Union, 2015b. Agenda 2063: the Africa we want.

African Union, 2003. Maputo Declaration, Maputo, Mozambique.

African Union, 2014. Twenty-Sixth Ordinary Session DECISIONS , DECLARATIONS. , Assembly/A. African Union & NEPAD, 2015. The CAADP Results Framework 2015-2025 “ Going for results and impacts ,” Bahiigwa, G., Benin, S. and Tefera, W. 2016. Tracking Key CAADP Indicators and Implementation Processes. In. Covic, N. and Hendriks, S eds. Achieving a nutrition revolution for Africa, The road to Healthier Diets and optimal nutrition: ReSAKSS Annual Outlooks and Trends Report 2015. IFPRI, p. in publication.

FAO, 2015. Regional Overview of Food Insecurity: African food security propects brighter than ever, Accra, Ghana: FAO. IFPRI, 2016. Global Nutrition Report, Washington DC. Available at: http://globalnutritionreport.org/thedata/nutrition-country-profiles/2015-country-profiles-africa/.

Ruel, M.T. & Alderman, H., 2013. Nutrition-sensitive interventions and programmes: How can they help to accelerate progress in improving maternal and child nutrition? The Lancet, 382(9891), pp.536–551. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60843-0.

SUN, 2016. Scaling Up Nutrition Countries. Scaling Up Nutrition Countries. Available at: http://scalingupnutrition.org/sun-countries.

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016

Letter from the out-going President: A reflective piece

Francis Zotor

Trustee and PastPresident of the African Nutrition Society

The greatest honour for me was to be part of helping to shape the African Nutrition Society and its Africa Nutritional Epidemiology Conference (ANEC) over the course of its 14 years in championing the nutrition agenda across Africa. I have seen ANEC events traverse the continent and now, undoubtedly become the conference of choice to diverse professionals with an active interest in nutrition. During my four year tenure as President of the ANS, I had received tremendous support and encouragement from our Trustees. This gave me the motivation to move the Society a notch up and join global players to bring nutrition to the fore and have it established as paramount to every single individual, young or old and one that has far reaching implications to an individual’s health and wellbeing.

Our founding visionaries set for this great Society a movement that will “create a unified continental nutrition profession of individual members, provide a continental professional scientific forum, promote training, research and capacity building in nutrition and contribute to workforce development to meet Africa’s nutrition and health policy agenda”.

To my mind the hurricane of change has started and will thrive. I can attest to this vision because over the course of the four years and efforts by my predecessors, the ANS has sought to promote collegiality by bringing together individuals across Africa and other parts of the world during its biennial conference - ANEC. Not only have I watched with admiration countless conference participants spoke about how much our conferences has showcased professionalism, there exist a strong sense of belonging and intellectual interactions amongst diverse cultures and diverse languages, and especially provided a forum for students, graduates and professionals to identify the richness of our cultural diversity, professional interests, shared values within the contexts of the nutritional issues we confront in our various countries. The ANEC has come to stay and consolidated itself as providing a scientific platform for individuals can meet, interact and form professional collaborations and student networks through meaningful scientific dialogues and sharing of best practices. Under my leadership over the past four years and with the endorsement and guidance of our Trustees, the ANS has worked hard to promote standards of high quality scientific training, research capability and sound professional practice and leadership, necessary to drive nutrition and health policy into the heart of countries where our members come from. Great strides have been made especially through: These goals are met by engaging in the following core activities: ●

ANS (ANEC) Conferences and Training Workshops

●

ANS News and Events

The ingredients have been assembled and the foundations are being laid to within the short term gain grounds on the following some of which are far advanced: ●

Development of a professional practice framework leading to professional registration and accreditation

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Curriculum development, harmonisation and accreditation of nutrition programmes in Africa

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Capacity building and scientific development projects

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016 ●

Public-private partnerships and linkages with the scientific and academic communities, industry, non-governmental organisations and international agencies for the benefit of ANS members and the wider public interest

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Publications to promote intellectual and research outputs across Africa e.g. through relevant and high quality scholarly articles published in the African Journal of Nutrition (AJN), ANS’ official journal.

THE TEAM The ANS has been privileged to benefit from Africa’s finest sons and daughters who have provided tremendous leadership and direction to this great movement:

Dr Habiba Hassan-Wassef Egypt

Dr Paul Amuna Ghana

Rev Dr Tom Ndanu Ghana

Prof Maria Nyepi Botswana

Dr Linley Chiwona-Karltun Malawi

Prof Johann Jerling South Africa

Dr Cherinet Abuye Ethiopia

Dr Francis B. Zotor Ghana

The first and second Past Presidents and Trustees (Prof Anna Lartey – Ghana and Prof Wilna Oldewage-Theron – South Africa) were instrumental in helping found the ANS and leading it. These great daughters still serve in various capacities and lend their wisdom.

At the just ended seventh ANEC, the Annual General Meeting endorsed the election of three new Trustees: Prof Nnam Ngozi – Nigeria; Ms Julia Tagwireyi – Zimbabwe; Prof Sidiga Washi - Sudan

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016

The AGM also endorsed the following into office;

Dr Amos Laar President of the ANS

Dr Thomas Adepoju Secretary-General of the ANS

The Regional Representatives who will help move the nutrition agenda within the sub-regions are as follows:

Dr Sisay Sinamo – Ethiopia (East Africa Region)

Mercy Olufolakemi Anjorin – Nigeria (West Africa Region)

Tonde Matsungo – Zimbabwe (Southern Africa Region)

Dr Ali Jafri – Morocco (North Africa Region)

Dr Modestine Marie Kana SOP (Central Africa Region)

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016 Two great sons of Africa who have previously held these roles and deserve mention are: Dr Robert Fungo – immediate past Secretary-General of the ANS and Dr Victor Owino – past Regional representative of the East Africa).

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PUTTING THE ANS ON THE GLOBAL STAGE On the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Platform.

1. Active Membership of Ghana SUN Academic Platform and the Society has contributed to workshops and publications for the SUN platform on conflict of interest, social protection report and bridging the gap between research and policy.

2. Active member of Civil Society Network contributing to the advancement of SUN Movement objectives at global level.

3.

Active Member, SUN Movement Academic Platform Taskforce Subcommittee.

Within Africa, the ANS has been active in playing a leadership role in Nutrition at various levels: 1. NEPAD’s Expert Panel on Nutrition 2. Active participant at West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO) events 3. Active participant at Africa Union Commission events in nutrition

MAJOR CONSTRAINTS A major constraint for ANS that has dogged us since its inception has largely been financial.

1. Resource mobilization has been our biggest challenge. The Executive and Board of Trustees have worked tirelessly to source funding from various institutions, especially in Africa, but we are still hopeful the needed help will come in.

2. Setting up a physical office for the ANS secretariat for the day-to-day activities of the Society.

Efforts in integrating Francophone membership Over the course of the last four years, the Board of Trustees has made conscious efforts to increase membership from Francophone countries. In making efforts to demonstrate our commitment to this goal, the ANS has worked steadily with financial support from the FAO, to provide simultaneous translations from French to English and vice versa.

African Nutrition Matters (ANM) The African Nutrition Matters (ANM), which is the official Newsletter of the African Nutrition Society with oversight from the Board of Trustees, has published five issues to date since its establishment in 2012.

This has been made possible by the team of dedicated volunteers, who voluntarily gave their time and expertise, to run the ANM and deserve a round of applause.

E-learning Nutrition imitative: The eNutrition Academy The ‘ANS Trustees’ continues to participate in the strengthening of the e-learning nutrition platform.

The platform is an international consortium of nutrition societies; the African Nutrition Society (ANS),

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016 the Nutrition Society of Great Britain and Ireland (NutSoc), the American Society for Nutrition (ASN), the Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS), and the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS). Since its establishment in 2014, the eNA has sought to use the e-learning platform to provide nutrition e-learning materials for the education, training and professional development of scientists, students, practitioners and nutrition service providers in African countries. Therefore, we envisage a large section of society members benefiting from this initiative.

As an ongoing initiative, the eNA has applied for an International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) grant of €100,000 per year, for three years, under the leadership of Professor Sharon Donovan (ASN).

This grant, if successful, will run from 2017 – 2019 and the application includes support for a Content Developer (based in Africa) and a consultant Course Developer (based in the UK). This three-year project application has been supported by the IUNS and IUFoST. Working in partnership with IUFoST and other organisations, the eNA will develop and launch 3 courses namely: ●

Effects of urbanisation on health and Nutrition

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Climate change and food security

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Food processing and food security

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Since its establishment, ANEC has continued to maintain a prudent financial system which is audited

by Deon and Noed International. ANS also employed the services of Deon and Noed International in 2010. Doen and Noed is a reputably recognized international organization and has since its engagement with the ANS, maintained a rigorous financial management system, to guide ANS activities.The Society now has both local and foreign currency accounts (USD Dollar and Euro) with the UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA Accra Ghana and has three signatories to the accounts, namely, the Treasurer - Rev Dr. Tom Ndanu, Professor Anna Lartey, and Dr Amos Laar. Details of the financial status of the Society is usually posted on the ANS website for the benefit our members’ scrutiny.

Concluding statement The ANS has been placed on a solid footing and can truly boast of a movement that has the foundations laid in readiness within which standards of high quality scientific training, research capability, clear strategic direction and sound professional practice can be built. With the strategic leadership and guidance of our esteemed Trustees, the essential ingredients of any professional body of repute, the ANS is ready to strive and ensure that its members and the leadership meet the criteria they set for themselves. Although established in Africa, notably, the membership of ANS is worldwide and open to nutritionists and allied professionals with a genuine interest in nutrition and its impacts on human and economic development in Africa.

Let me take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed to the successes recorded in the past four years. The British Nutrition Society can be singled out as having stood by the ANS since the inception of the Society. The ANS is also very grateful to the IUNS, the Nevin Scrimshaw - International Nutrition Foundation, the FAO, Action Against Hunger and a number of International NGOs and several other organisations too numerous to state in this report. The most appreciation goes to our members who have been consistent and stood by the ANS vision and mission and would therefore implore them to continue to stand by this great Movement so that together we can all work and build on the excellent foundation that has been laid. Africa!!, the world is waiting for us to take the initiative and lift the bucket to our knee and we can receive the help we need to carry it shoulder high.

Francis B. Zotor, PhD, RNutr, FHEA Immediate Past-President, African Nutrition Society

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016

Letter from the President-Elect of the African Nutrition Society Dear colleagues and friends,

Amos Laar

President of the African Nutrition Society

As you are aware, the African Nutrition Society (ANS), is a learned society with the vision – “to create a unified continental nutrition profession of individual members, provide a continental professional scientific forum, promote training, research and capacity building in nutrition and contribute to workforce development to meet Africa’s nutrition and health policy agenda”. Over the years, the ANS has endeavored to promote professionalism, intellectual interactions, and nutrition research across all regions of Africa and beyond. It has provided platforms for both young and old to interact, share, learn, and to promote the field of nutrition. These have mainly been achieved through the ANEC Conferences, Training Workshops, and the use of e-platforms (such as the e-Nutrition Academy and the ANS website). The African Nutrition Matters (ANM) has also contributed to these endeavors. Efforts are underway to develop professional practice frameworks leading to professional registration and accreditation, with a longer term aim of harmonizing nutrition training across African Higher Education institutions. The immediate past President will elaborate on these in this issue of the ANM. You may also be aware that at the Seventh African Nutritional Epidemiology Conference in Marrakech, a new President of the ANS was elected. I take the liberty to introduce myself before proceeding with this letter. I have academic training in Nutrition, Public Health, and Bioethics and have served the University of Ghana, Legon with unblemished record for six years as Academic Senior Member. My interdisciplinary work spans Reproductive Health; Maternal and Young Child Nutrition, and Nutritionrelated NCDs. I also research into the socio-cultural, socio-ethical, and the medico-ethical dimensions of sexually, and perinatally transmissible infections (esp. HIV). I have participated actively and constructively in meetings that aimed to shape local and global nutrition agenda in the past half decade.

I served as the National Secretary of the Ghana Nutrition Association from November 2008 to December 2011; and Ex-Officio Executive Member from 2011 to 2014; I have been involved in the Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) activities at the global level since 2010; I am currently a member of the Ghana SUN Core Group; a founding member of the Ghana Civil Society Coalition for SUN (GHACCSUN), as well as the Ghana SUN Academic Platform. I have been an office-holding member of the ANS for the past four years. I was the Head of Professional Service Administration from 2012 to 2016. My involvement in ANS administration has offered me the opportunity to appreciate what ANS represents for members, for our profession and for our partners. I should say, I have come full circle with ANS and now as your President, look forward to working with fellow executives, the esteemed members of the ANS Trustees, and all of ANS partners to make sure that ANS remains a valuable organization for us, our professional practice, our Africa.

I promise to continue the excellent work done by my predecessor, Professor Francis Zotor. The immediate past President, and those before him have cleared clean our racing track, and we can only sprint. Energized by their successes, I look ahead with great confidence and optimism to the Society’s continued development. For the remainder of this letter I would like to present strategic actions the ANS plans to implement for the next couple of years. These actions will engender ANS’ growth; and will catalyze the Society’s collective dream of being at the forefront of advancing the scientific study of nutrition; promoting appropriate strategies for the improvement of nutritional well-being of the African population. Listed below are some of the proposed strategic actions.

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016

As a Society, we will: 1. Strengthen our partnerships with other learned Societies and Federations across all regions of the world; 2. Cement our partnerships with international organizations, including UN agencies, and other organizations desirous of building intellectual capacity and promotion of the field of nutrition in Africa; 3. Ethically engage with industry/private sector as we work towards realizing local, regional and global nutrition goals; 4. Incentivize membership recruitment in all regions of African and the Diaspora; 5. Sustain the actions of current Nutrition Capacity Development initiatives in African; 6. Stimulate the engagement of members and public through innovative and optimal use of ANS’ e-platforms and tools; 7. Appreciate our predecessors and current mentors by recognizing and showcasing significant contributions made by them; 8. Initiate inter-ANEC Lectures at the country level for country level engagement in between our Biennial Conferences; 9. Vigorously pursue the establishment of the Journal of the African Nutrition Society to provide an opportunity to members to publicize their research findings as well as the proceedings of our scientific meetings and conferences; 10. Motivate and support meaningful collaboration with research community.

the African nutrition

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016 Although details of these initiatives will be publicized in due course via appropriate communication and media portals of the ANS, I take the opportunity offered me now to comment on a couple of them.

Appreciating our predecessors and current mentors As a society, we need to identify and harness effective mechanisms to articulate the significant contributions made by our past Presidents, our Trustees, and members. As a member-based organization, ANS is nothing without the determination and foresight of its founders, the commitment and drive of those who follow in their footsteps. Without the dedication of all those who have served ANS we would not have developed into a leading Nutrition Society in Africa, and neither would we be so well positioned for the challenges that lie ahead. Therefore, we propose to recognize our distinguished past Presidents, and Trustees by showcasing their significant contributions both in our print media and e-platforms.

Optimal use of ANS’ e-platforms In this today’s world, e-platforms offer enormous potential to share, to receive, to interact, and to learn.

When exploited to its full potential, the ANS’ web site (www.ansnet.org) will serve as a warehouse for presenting nutrition knowledge to members and the public. Cognizant of this, plans are underway to revamp the site – improving its information storage and sharing capacity for members as well as the general public. To leverage technology, our web presence will be augmented by social media activity.

We propose to create Social Media Handles, and identify social media liaisons (to be led by the ANS Regional Reps, the AGSNET, and the ANM media editor) to ensure sustained social media activity.

Membership recruitment in all regions of African and the Diaspora: We plan to motivate and incentivize members, particularly Regional Representatives. Existing ANS Regional Representative in the East, West, North, South and Central Africa, and a sixth yet to be created to manage recruitment and promotion of the Society in the Diaspora will spearhead this activity.

Beginning in Addis 2018, the most vigorous recruiter will be honored with a valuable award. We also plan to develop clear benefits package for membership including but not limited to significantly reduced ANEC conferences registration fees for members in good standing; and receipt of branded ANS insignia and memorabilia.

ANS Lectures as an Inter-ANEC activity: This will be country-led; we will support member countries to have the distinguished members of the ANS give a Lecture in between the ANEC conferences. The Executive of the ANS, the Regional Reps will support countries in publicizing this ahead of time, through the traditional and innovative media portals described above.

Meaningful collaboration/engagement with the African nutrition research community: As the popular African Proverbs goes “If You Want To Go Fast - Go Alone, If You Want To Go Far - Go Together”. It would seem to me that nutrition research in Africa is currently moving fast but not going as far as it should. The antidote to getting our nutrition realize its God-given potential, may well lie in the wisdom of this Proverb. We should strive not only to identify relevant stakeholders, and be abreast of emerging nutrition research themes, but to commit to work together. Although there are challenges relating to resources and diversity, if we are to improve nutrition research in Africa, we have not option than to learn to work together on a local, continental, and international level.

As a learned society made of, and representing nutrition researchers, the ANS in line with both our Marrakech Declaration; the spirit of the Sustainable Developing Goals; and Agenda 2063, implores African nutrition researchers to embrace meaningful collaboration. If need be, the ANS is ever ready to act as a facilitator, and glue between nutrition researchers in the continent. Wherever we work,

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016 whatever we do, the ANS will continue to ensure their entire members feel their worth, and the worth of working together. We promised, on the 13th day of October 2016 – in Marrakech, to promote and work together across sectors to operationalize the Decade for Action on Nutrition; to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the goals delineated in Africa’s Agenda 2063. We will not renege on our promise.

I conclude my letter with thanks to all of our partners for their continued support, our dedicated members, and volunteers, particularly the Editorial Team of the ANM. The ANM, which continues to be the official newsletter of the ANS, remains in circulation, thanks to the sacrifice, commitment, dedication, and leadership of its Editorial Team. I note with pride, that ANS membership not only provides a discount on the registration for its Biennial Conferences, but also an opportunity to develop professional interests, professional practice, and above all the attributes of selflessness. If you are not a member and are interested in joining, please contact me at president@ansnet.org, or contact the General Secretary at secretary@ansnet.org or visit our website www.ansnet.org for additional information. We would be honoured to welcome you to the largest known extended nutrition family in Africa.

Sincerely,

Amos Laar, BSc, MPH, MA, Ph.D. President of the African Nutrition Society

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016

African Graduate Nutrition Students Network (AGSNET) At ANEC VII

Afua Atuobi-Yeboah University of Ghana Legon

Palm Plaza Hotel Marrakech, Morocco - The African Graduate Nutrition Students Network (AGSNet) held a symposium in Marrakech, Morocco as part of the 7th African Nutrition Epidemiology Conference.

The aim of the symposium was for members to interact, share progress of the constitution review and electoral process, ratification of the constitution and outdoor of new leadership. The symposium was chaired by Drs. Reginald Annan of the International Malnutrition Task Force and the Kwame Nkurmah University of Science and Technology and Dia Sanou of the UN-FAO, Eastern Africa. In attendance were twenty-one AGSNet members from across the globe. Dr. Francis Zotor President of the African Nutrition Society (ANS) encouraged members to be actively involved in the activities of the network since they were the future leaders for ANS. Prof. Mary Murimi of Texas Tech University, USA gave a presentation on the topic: “Givers, Takers and Matchers; Characteristic of Highly Successful People�. She touched on characteristics common among highly successful people namely; motivation, ability and opportunity. She added that success depended heavily on personal and social interactions highlighting giving, taking and matching as three fundamental styles of social interactions.

Muniirah Mbabazi

University of Nottingham, UK

1. Prof. Mary Murimi of Texas Tech University (USA) delivering an interactive seminar on the characteristics of highly successful people during ANEC VII in Marrakesh. Photo: Elom Aglago (2016).

During the business session of the symposium, Muniirah Mbabazi of The University of Nottingham, UK supported by Afua Atuobi-Yeboah of the University of Ghana, Legon gave update on the constitutional review and electoral process. Muniirah gave a brief background about the AGSNet for the benefit of new members present. She highlighted on the constitutional review process and its necessity, primarily to address diversity, changes in time, more inclusiveness and effective collaboration. She added that some organised bodies will work with other organisations that have laid down structures. She walked members through the task of the multi-country review team, how their meetings were organised and translation of the constitution to French with the support of a Francophone team. Presently, AGSNet

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016 has a draft constitution which needs ratification; therefore the review team will be calling on members for endorsement.

She also talked about the election process sighting low feedback. For instance, the committee had received single nominations each for the offices of President and West and East African Representatives. The other positions were still vacant. Moving forward, members thought it wise to conduct elections at the meeting but this was not achievable since there was no quorum and a validated constitution. It was agreed that the constitution be validated by membership by recirculation and thereafter, the election. The following timelines were set to achieve this target: 1) Constitution validation process was to be completed within a month after the symposium; 2) Opening for nominations, elections and handing over was to be achieved within 2 months after validation of the constitution. The elections will remain virtual with survey monkey as a tool for elections. It was suggested that at least by April, 2017, the new executives and The Network be functional. In the interim, the constitution review team would serve as a steering committee and would come up with terms of reference (TORs) to guide their work. Since the team had displayed strong commitment it was suggested that they step down and get nominated to fill positions after the constitution has been endorsed and a new team mane the election process. The team will.

Other matters discussed included social media presence, website challenges, list server updated and membership dues. On social media, concerns were raised on our absence of on major media channels.

Members were of the view that our presence would improve rating, popularity, outlook and further relevance to current times hence social media handles – Twitter and Facebook be created for easy access and communication with members. The website needed an immediate upgrade to market The Network to the world. Efforts should be channeled here. With regards to the list server update, it needs reorganisation to retain only active members. To this effect, a mail be circulated requesting update of membership status to initiate the update process. This list would form the basis of elections. Finally, members questioned monetary commitments to joining the network and the right to vote. She explained that membership dues were waived in the interim as restructuring (constitution and election processes) was underway. It would be re-instated afterwards.

The meeting ended with appreciation to members for sharing their time and thoughts with The Network.

They were urged to support the review team process by responding to mails and also encouraging others to join the network.

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016

Journal of a late stage scholar: Reflections on the recently concluded ANEC VII

Muniirah Mbabazi

University of Nottingham, UK

Conferences are a big thing for academics and scholars as they provide a friendly and relaxed audience for sharing and scrutinising research work without worrying about outcomes. Conference audiences provide space for scholars to freely talk about their research in a reflective way yet providing insights into their work and up to date research trends. These are important for re-aligning thought and improving research discourse.

In this article I write about my recent conference experience at the recently concluded African Nutrition and Epidemiological Conference (ANEC) VII in Marrakech, Morocco.

As a late PhD scholar running a tight budget troubles, looking for a travel grants was the only way I could afford to make it to the ANEC VII, though it is a daunting task for many scholars it might be the only option to experience conferences. Cutting the long story short my budgetary troubles were saved by the Nutrition Society (NS) – UK, ANEC and the school of Biosciences, University of Nottingham who funded my trip. I was one of the beneficiaries for the NS- ANEC VII travel grant, and I am glad I accepted the offer. The way around finding travel grants is early preparation and constantly looking out for funding. I will not pretend that I know all there is about finding travel grants, what is important to know is that there are no set rules on where to find funding, however, the best place to start best is your school and then you can venture widely. Having secured funding, then the rest come in play with ease. Though some grants make notifications close to the travel date leaving little or no time for the grantee to process their travel.

My last attended ANEC conference was in Nairobi, Kenya in 2010 and attending the just concluded conference was a big deal. I looked forward to hearing from several seasoned nutrition academics and researchers in Africa and Europe, and once again meeting my long lost conference contacts. More so, I looked forward to learning and hearing more about what other scholars and researchers were doing and in return share my research findings with them. Though my abstract was accepted under the poster category; I did not imagine there was much to learn from poster sessions as did learn through browsing the poster sessions. Quite often scholars think that poster sessions are a waste of time, this is not true as they provide you with a one on one chat with the researcher without scrambling to be heard.

There were several scientific sessions providing a lot of learning and insights into nutrition work in Africa and in particular advances in community nutrition were discussed. Such discussions provided moments of reflection into my own PhD research work, and also shaped my further understanding and thought into my study area and findings in real time without doing so much reading.

As part of the conference activities, were pre and post conference events to benefit from. There were several trainings namely; food based dietary guidelines by the FAO team itself, PhD proposal writing and statistical analysis courses by the NS among others. Some of these trainings can only be got at conferences at low or no price at all.

As an early career scientist, contemplating on the way forward after graduation, of great interest to me is networking. Besides the routine plenary and parallel scientific sessions, the ANEC VII provided several networking sessions in the form of health breaks that saw us enjoy the rich delicious Moroccan cuisines and serious closed door business meetings. Closed door meetings are often optional and many conference attendees miss out on the opportunity to meet people that will later form a greater part of their career networks. I attended a couple of closed door meetings ranging from the African

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016 Graduate Nutrition Students’ network (AGSNet), African Nutrition Matters (ANM) and the African Nutrition Society (ANS) business meetings. These meeting provide an opportunity to join professional groups and forging collaborations. It also worth noting that such meetings equip participants with skills in how to communicate briefly and concisely to diverse groups. Unfortunately, many scholars shy away thinking they are only for group/association executive members. Out of attending such meetings I have had an opportunity to interact, participate and actively contribute to several groups. For instance, while at the third ANEC I joined the ANS, AGSNet whom I have since kept in touch and I have be able to do and learn a couple of things from and with them.

Further, on facilitating meet ups and networking opportunities. Following the African Nutrition Leadership (ANLP) culture, alumni from the past years got together at a dinner. As an alumnus I joined others at a cosy diner to enjoy and experience the rich Mediterranean diet as meet other alumni. At this meet up we were able to meet and greet, chat away as well as reflect on how far we have come since our respective ANLP trainings. So who thinks conferences are about science without play? We were also able to take time off to browse through the different attractions in Marrakesh especially the night life where the people never go to sleep.

Above all the conference provided a time away from the hectic academic schedule. I will not say it was not hectic, but it rather provided a slower pace compared to the days in my life lately.

In a nutshell, next time you end up at a conference, get out there and do some learning, relaxing, site seeing. Looking forward to the next conference!

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016

The Impact of El Niño on Food Security in Southern Africa

Modesta Nnedinso Abugu

Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology Nigeria

El Niño is a natural phenomenon that results from fluctuations of sea surface temperatures and winds across the equatorial Pacific Ocean. It occurs when the easterly equatorial winds over the Pacific ocean become lighter than average, leading to a warmer than average sea surface temperature in the Central and Eastern Pacific ocean. An Earth Observatory Article written by David Herring in 1999 describes El Niño as a temperature anomaly that results in a drop in sea level and a lack of rainfall.

This phenomenon occurs every eight to twelve months, buts its impact on the regions affected can sometimes last longer.

During El Niño events, rainfall is drastically reduced in some regions, while other regions experience higher rainfall. In Africa, Southern African Countries including Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, some parts of South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, and Madagascar are the most affected by very low rainfall or drought, while eastern African countries like Kenya experience more rainfall.

The severity of impact of El Niño varies from one country to another and from one event to another.

The most common impact has been during the December to March planting season where the eastern region experiences an above-normal rainfall and the Southern region experiences a very dry season.

Over the past 35 years, South Africa, southern Zambia, Mozambique Namibia, Madagascar and most parts of Ethiopia have been greatly affected by drought in every six out of 10 El Niño occurrences (FEWS Net, 2014). This has drastically affected agricultural activities in those areas; leading to hunger, food insecurity, poverty, undernutrition and water shortages.

El Niño’s impact on agriculture and fishing activities in Southern Africa include low yield for small holder farmers, animals affected by drought and fishes dying as a result of reduced sea level. The World Food Programme (WFP) noted in 2016 that Southern African countries in 2016 were only now experiencing the impact of El Niño that occurred in 2015, with about one third of the population in Malawi and Madagascar and Zimbabwe not able to feed themselves (WFP, 2016). It was also predicted that its impact would worsen in the coming years.

Presently, the El Niño occurrences in South Africa and Malawi have led to an increase in the market price of maize as of January 2016. According to an EU publication by Rembold et al. (2016), South Africa has already experienced a 25% drop in maize production and a 23% drop in other cereal production due to the 2014-2015 dry seasons (Rembold et al. 2016). This low production will particularly affect countries like Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, which are heavily reliant on South African imports. Agriculture in many other countries are already suffering due to drought and concerns are being raised on how to provide more food for the growing population.

Drought emergencies have been declared in several South African provinces as well as in Zimbabwe and Lesotho (Reliefweb, 2016a). Nearly 40 million people in these southern African countries are believed to have been affected by what is being called the worst drought and in need of humanitarian assistance (Reliefweb, 2016b). In Malawi alone, over 6.5 million people are said to be food-insecure.

According to the WFP, over 40 million rural and 9 million urban people are at risk of El Niño related drought and erratic rainfall; while the Southern African Development Community (SADC) reported that 23 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and a further 13 million people are already food insecure following the strongest el Niño event ever recorded (UNOCHA, 2016) Children are particularly vulnerable to the impact of El Niño events. Data from 10 Southern African countries show that 2.7 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition and it is expected that the

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016 population in need of emergency food assistance and livelihood recovery support will increase significantly (UNOCHA, 2016).

Governments of affected countries are working in conjunction with humanitarian organizations and partners to resolve the resulting food insecurity situation by establishing adequate response strategies. These include forecasting methods such as tracking data from early-warning and weather systems of El Niño’s progression; as well as and mobilization of humanitarian assistance to the most affected communities (FAO, 2016) Coping strategies already in practice for these affected countries include government support to construct wells and small-scale irrigation development programmes in southern Africa, development of drought and cyclone-resistant cropping patterns and farming and fishing practices. The drought warning system has been very effective in alerting farmers to adjust their activities in preparation for the losses to come; with the media playing a key role in these announcements. (UNCAPSA, n.d) Other potential solutions to this El Niño induced food crises should include reducing food waste, increased use of underutilised crops of naturally drought tolerant crops and the application of modern biotechnology.

One of the most effective techniques to cope with El Niño challenges in Africa would be to grow drought resistant crops which have an ability to both attain and retain water. Crops resistant to abnormal weather and some varieties of traditional crops should be researched and introduced to replace the ones with a high water requirement. Genetic modification also provides new opportunities to improved crop tolerance to drought because it is specific to the gene of interest. In Africa, Kenya has begun research on the water efficient maize for Africa (WEMA) that combines the best global germplasm to new sources of drought tolerance for African adaptation.

Drought tolerance technology could go a long way to help farmers cope with El Niño by enabling them get the most from their inputs while protecting their investments in times of drought and water shortage.

Genetically modified crops that are drought-tolerant and/or water-efficient are a technological solution that warrants further research, development and application to help reduce crop loss during drought in Southern African countries who are greatly affected by this phenomenon.

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016

Focus on African Nutrition Scientists Hayford (known in the ANS community as Mawuli) was born in Ghana where he completed his BSc. (Honours) degree in Nutrition and Food Science and MSc. Dietetics from the University of Ghana, Legon. Hayford is currently a PhD Candidate studying for the award of PhD in Public Health Sciences at the School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Canada. His research focuses on diet and lifestyle in primary care and management of chronic non-communicable diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Hayford Mawuli Avedzi

PhD Candidate University of Alberta, Canada

Prior to beginning his studies at the University of Alberta, Mawuli worked with the Ghana Health Service as a dietitian at the Volta Regional Hospital, Ho. He was the Conference Administrator for the 2nd African Nutrition Epidemiology Conference (ANEC II) held in Accra in 2006. He also served as the West Africa Regional Representative of the African Graduate Nutrition Students Network (AGSNet) from (2007-2012); Administrative Officer of the African Nutrition Society (2010-2012), and the President of the Ghana Dietetic Association (2011-2012).

Hayford’s work received recognition and won one of six awards worth $116,800 by the Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research (CFDR) in the 2016 Annual Grants Competition. As one of three grants supported in part through the Danone Institute of Canada (DIC) funding, this project will help determine if, and how, the current approach to disseminating the Canadian Diabetes Association’s dietary recommendations pertaining to glycemic index concept education could be improved for better uptake using effective and efficient patient-centered approaches to nutrition self-management among adults with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus. To qualify for the CFDR/DIC funding, a study must fit the criteria of being focused on the synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and ethically sound application of nutrition knowledge to improve the health of Canadians, and/or directly compare knowledge translation strategies in the area of nutrition. As a trainee (who cannot hold an award, Hayford’s grant is being held in trust) Hayford will be carrying out this study under the supervision of a team of award winning researchers in three of Canada’s renowned universities: Athabasca University, University of Alberta (both in Alberta) and Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

In making the grants announcement in June 2016 in Toronto, Laurie Curry, RD, MS, MBA, Chair of the CFDR Board of Directors, said: “As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of CFDR’s incorporation as a charitable foundation, I’m thrilled to share the next wave of exciting projects we are funding to further dietetic research in Canada. The approved grants will further CFDR’s mission of advancing nutrition through continued enhancement of the knowledge used by dietitians in different fields of practice every day.” The Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research was created in 1991 by Dietitians of Canada to support applied nutrition and dietetic practice research. Thanks to the generous support of corporate donors and individual members of Dietitians of Canada, in its history CFDR has funded more than 129 research teams across the country, awarding more than $1,870,000 in grants. The CFDR research program supports the Foundation’s mission: Enhancing the health of Canadians by contributing new knowledge about food and nutrition.

Congratulations to Mawuli and his supervisors on this award.

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016

Interview with Patrick Kolsteren, MD, PhD For this issue, Dr. Elom Aglago had the opportunity to interview Prof. Patrick Kolsteren from the Ghent University in Belgium.

Can you please give us a brief summary of your background and your research activities, with a specific focus on Africa?

Prof. Patrick Kolsteren

Ghent University Belgium

I am a medical doctor with a degree in pediatrics and a PhD in nutrition. My research focuses on finding a way to combat malnutrition (first in the sense of undernutrition and now increasingly related to the epidemic of obesity and diet related chronic diseases.). I have strived to set up studies that provide the highest degree of evidence. Our focus is on the early years of life. We also conducted research to identify the research needs in nutrition for Africa.

To date, what have been the major findings of your research group, specifically in Africa?

It remains difficult to prevent malnutrition. We will need interventions that have a multi-pronged approach. There are no magic solutions and the basic problem of poverty and access to health care needs to be addressed. We find that safety net approaches are also needed. Undernutrition is a development issue. On the other hand we observe that there is an epidemic increase in the prevalence of overweight. Diets are changing rapidly and diet related chronic diseases will be the main challenge for the years to come.

We also observed that the research agenda in the field of nutrition is largely donor driven. We should develop a research agenda that is based on the identification of knowledge gaps in relation to policy priorities. This means that policy makers must identify questions to which they wants answers that the scientific community tries to answer. Where there is no answer possible, because there is no clear information, the lack of information can become a research topic. This way research can be more geared toward policy support.

How do you imagine research in upcoming in Africa?

We are trying to set up evidence networks that link researchers with policy makers. The underlying idea is that we gather information on what works or not in a given situation so that decision can be made on the basis of what we know can work. Where this information is lacking, this can become a research priority.

From a personal point of view, do you think Africa is doing better today in nutrition, than before?

There is certainly a renewed interest in nutrition. The bottle neck I see is that African researchers have difficulty attracting funds for what “they” would like to do. Research funds are available for topics that are not necessarily priority areas for the African setting.

Is it challenging to fund research in Africa?

The main issue is that the research topics are defined by organizations that have their roots outside Africa. The research themes are identified by “experts” who of course find their area of interest the most important one. There is also an attitude to find “quick fix” solutions. Whereas more impact or effect can be obtained by increasing coverage and finding ways to touch more people. This latter topic is not a very findable one.

Undernutrition or overnutrition? What should be the focus for African countries?

Both. There remains an important problem of undernutrition and at the same time we are witnessing an epidemic of overweight and diet related chronic disease.

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016

Trainings, courses and conferences Trainings/Courses Statistics in Medicine (Free) Stanford University (Online) https://lagunita.stanford.edu/courses/Medicine/HRP258/Statistics_in_Medicine/about

Introduction to Applied Biostatistics: Statistics for Medical Research (Online) Osaka University https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-applied-biostatistics-osakaux-med101x

Certificate Nutritional Epidemiology Utrecht University http://www.shortcoursesportal.com/studies/59374/nutritional-epidemiology.html#tab:contents

Programming for Infant and Young Child Feeding (Free) Cornell University/UNICEF (online Course) https://www.nutritionworks.cornell.edu/UNICEF/about/

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center 6th Course on Nutrition in Emergencies, Bangkok, Thailand 10th -21st October 2016 http://www.adpc.net/igo/category/ID998/doc/2016-swn0RE-ADPC-NIE-6_final.pdf

FAO/Wageningen University Netherlands Making Agriculture Work For Food And Nutrition Security, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 7th – 18th November 2016. http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/Expertise-Services/Research-Institutes/centre-for-developmentinnovation/short-courses/Shortcourses2016/CDIcourse_ANL_2016.htm

African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP) Applications Open

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African Nutrition Matters - Autumn 2016 http://www.africanutritionleadership.org/

Conferences 4th Asia-Pacific International Food Safety Conference & 7th Asian Conference on Food and Nutrition Safety October 11-13, 2016 Penang, Malaysia

8th International Conference on Clinical Nutrition December 8-10, 2016 Dubai, UAE

9th World Nutrition & Health Congress February 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany

4th International Conference on Food Security and Nutrition (ICFSN 2017) March 13-15, 2017 Prague, Czech Republic

11th World Congress on Nutrition and Food Sciences May 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan

IUNS 21st International Congress of

Nutrition (ICN)

October 15th – 20th, 2017 Buenos Aires, Argentina

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