Namukolo Covic joined IFPRI as Research Coordinator in the Poverty, Health and Nutrition Division of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She leads A4NH support to efforts by ReSAKSS to promote evidence-based policy planning and implementation in nutrition, including the promotion of best practices, mutual learning, and policy review and dialogue processes.   Her other responsibilities include coordinating the Transform Nutrition Consortium research efforts in East Africa, working closely with other development partners and African Union structures on nutrition and supporting the IFPRI Africa team on policy related nutrition research.

She combines academic training in both Agriculture and Nutrition having a BSc in Agriculture and MSc and PHD in Nutrition. Before joining IFPRI she was a Senior Lecturer at North-West University (South Africa) and led the Food and Nutrition Security Research Programme there within the Centre of Excellence for Nutrition. She has expertise in capacity and leadership development for nutrition and has been a key member of the African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP). Beside involvement in the 10 day ANLP training programme she has lead nutrition capacity strengthening activities in Zambia and Rwanda. She is the current General Secretary of The World Public Health Nutrition Association, and a council member of the Federation of African Nutrition Societies. Her research has focused on community based micronutrient interventions related to cognitive function in children, infant and young child feeding and broader food and nutrition security aspects of sustainable diets. 

External blog: Nutrition and agriculture in Africa: What role for research?