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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. With a PhD in Applied Human Nutrition from the University of Guelph, Canada, he has over two decades of experience in nutrition research, policy, and capacity building. His research focuses on addressing micronutrient deficiencies; growth retardation with a particular focus on stunting; improving dietary quality; infant and young child feeding practices; sustainable food systems; nutrition-sensitive agriculture; and overnutrition. Dr. Kalimbira has led numerous high-impact research projects funded by organisations such as Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Big Win Philanthropy, UNICEF, USAID, FAO, and the Embassy of Ireland with a strong emphasis on evidence-based solutions to malnutrition. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to national and international nutrition policy development. As a dedicated academic, he has supervised over 50 postgraduate students and played key roles in institutional leadership, including serving on Malawi's Nutrition Policy Advisory Team and steering committees for nutrition programmes. In 2018 he was one of a handful of global experts who attended the Inter-Agency Technical Consultation on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Indicators, which led to revision of the indicators worldwide. Dr. Kalimbira is a seasoned consultant, and has extensively consulted for local and international NGOs such as World Vision, Concern Universal, GIZ; United Nations agencies such as UNICEF, WFP and FAO; development partners, including The World Bank and Big Win Philanthropy His work continues to drive innovation in nutrition research and its application to improve public health outcomes in resource-limited settings. For nearly three decades, his teaching responsibilities have included undergraduate courses (Introductory Nutrition; Food and Their Nutritive Value; Assessment of Nutritional Status, Public Health Nutrition; Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle) and postgraduate courses (Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism; Advanced Nutritional Assessment; Nutritional Epidemiology).
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.