Dr Alexander KALIMBIRA
About Dr Alexander KALIMBIRA
Dr. Alexander A. Kalimbira is an Associate Professor of Human Nutrition and Head of the Department of Human Nutrition and Health at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Malawi. He holds a PhD in Applied Human Nutrition from the University of Guelph, Canada, and brings nearly three decades of distinguished experience spanning research, policy, capacity building, and institutional leadership. His research portfolio addresses the fundamental drivers of malnutrition, with specific expertise in micronutrient deficiencies, childhood stunting, dietary quality, infant and young child feeding practices, and the nexus between sustainable food systems, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and overnutrition. He has led high-impact, multi-partner research initiatives funded by major organisations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Big Win Philanthropy, UNICEF, USAID, FAO, and the Embassy of Ireland, consistently focusing on generating actionable, evidence-based solutions. A respected voice in global nutrition, Dr. Kalimbira has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and has directly contributed to shaping both national and international nutrition policy. His complete publication record is accessible via ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9771-5093. His academic commitment is demonstrated through the supervision of more than 50 postgraduate students. He also holds pivotal advisory roles, including membership on Malawi’s Nutrition Policy Advisory Team and steering committees for key national nutrition programmes. In 2018, his expertise was recognized through an invitation to the Inter-Agency Technical Consultation on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Indicators, where he contributed to the global revision of these critical metrics. Complementing his academic work, Dr. Kalimbira is a seasoned consultant with extensive engagements across local and international NGOs (such as World Vision, Concern Universal, and GIZ), United Nations agencies (including UNICEF, WFP, and FAO), and development partners like the World Bank. For nearly three decades, he has enriched the next generation of professionals by teaching a comprehensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, from Introductory Nutrition and Public Health Nutrition to Advanced Nutritional Epidemiology and Human Metabolism. Through a career dedicated to integrating research, policy, and practice, Dr. Kalimbira continues to advance innovative and sustainable strategies to improve public health outcomes in resource-limited settings.
Research Interest for: Dr Alexander KALIMBIRA
Overnutrition
While undernutrition remains a major challenge, Malawi is also experiencing a growing burden of overnutrition, including overweight and obesity, particularly in urban areas. Research in this area aims to understand the drivers of overnutrition (e.g., dietary shifts, sedentary lifestyles) and develop interventions to promote healthy eating and physical activity. The research links overnutrition to metabolic conditions such as diet-related non-communicable diseases, focusing on the metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture
This approach integrates nutrition objectives into agricultural practices to improve dietary outcomes. In Malawi, research focuses on initiatives like promoting biofortified crops (e.g., orange-fleshed sweet potatoes), diversifying farm production, and empowering women farmers to enhance household nutrition.
Sustainable Food Systems
Research in this area explores ways to ensure food production and distribution systems are environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially equitable. In Malawi, this involves promoting climate-resilient crops (e.g. crops and livestock indigenous to Malawi), reducing post-harvest losses, and supporting smallholder farmers to improve food security and nutrition.
Diet Quality
This involves enhancing the nutritional value of diets by promoting the consumption of diverse, nutrient-rich foods. In Malawi, where diets are often cereal-based and lack variety, research aims to address this by encouraging the inclusion of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and animal-source foods to meet nutritional needs. It also involves exploring adoption of fortified foods to enhance micronutrient intake.
Growth Retardation (with a focus on stunting)
Stunting, a form of chronic malnutrition, is prevalent in Malawi, affecting over 37% of children under five. Research focuses on understanding the causes (e.g., poor maternal nutrition, inadequate infant feeding practices, and infections) and implementing interventions to reduce stunting through improved nutrition, healthcare, and sanitation.
Micronutrient Deficiencies
This refers to the lack of essential vitamins and minerals (e.g., iron, vitamin A, zinc, iodine and selenium) in the diet, which is a significant public health issue in Malawi. Research in this area aims to identify strategies to combat deficiencies through supplementation, fortification (large scale fortification, agronomic biofortification, home fortification) and dietary diversification, particularly among vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women.