AYV News, July 8, 2024.

The Scaling-Up Nutrition (SUN) in partnership with the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF) welcomed Dr. David Nabarro to Sierra Leone.

Dr. Nabarro is Co-Director and Chair of Global Health at Imperial’s Institute of Global Health Innovation, which he was appointed in 2019. He is also Strategic Director of the Swiss-based social enterprise, 4SD (Skills Systems and Synergies for Sustainable Development), established in 2017, training and mentoring leaders for sustainable development.

Previously, he was appointed UN System Senior Coordinator for Avian and Pandemic Influenza in 2005, and UN Secretary-General’s (S-G’s) Special Representative for Food Security and Nutrition from 2008 to 2014.  David was also appointed Coordinator of the Movement for Scaling Up Nutrition in 2011 (as Assistant Secretary-General), UN S-G’s Special Envoy for the West Africa Ebola Outbreak Response in 2014 and UN S-G’s Special Adviser for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Climate Change 2016 – 2017 (as Under-Secretary-General). David has served in numerous capacities for almost four decades.

Ahead of his departure from Sierra Leone after a week in country, David wrote:

“On the final day of my first visit to #SierraLeone since the Ebola virus disease outbreak, I am excited by the country’s progress and the convergence of stakeholders on key topics like #climate, #nature, #FoodSystems, and, of course, #nutrition. Whilst there are still gaps to be addressed, political will is impressively strong at both national and local levels.

“One of my most overwhelming realisations has been the remarkable level of internet #connectivity and the immense value that instant access to information brings to various sectors: enabling rapid communication, coordination, and knowledge sharing. I look forward to learning even more today. Thank you to everyone who helped organise this visit.”