The double burden of malnutrition – undernutrition and obesity happening at the same time – affects most low- and middle-income countries. In Africa, which has a complicated food system, it poses complex health challenges that need to be addressed by nutrition professionals on the continent.
The African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP) has for 22 years played a pivotal role in leadership capacity building and the development of early- and mid-career nutrition professionals and institutions, not only locally, but also on the rest of the African continent.
Based at the North-West University (NWU), it is a 10-day leadership development programme hosted by a highly committed team of experts. They often travel to other African countries to host specific leadership development programmes where the need arises.
“We are very proud of the ANLP; it was initiated and is led by Africans in Africa and is tailor-made for our nutrition leaders,” says Dr Thabo Putu of the NWU’s Centre of Excellence in Nutrition (CEN).
High-potential leaders drive change
In line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to ensure zero hunger (Goal 2), good health and well-being (Goal 3), and quality education (Goal 4), the ANLP aims to make impactful contributions to develop the leaders who manage and develop effective nutrition interventions to combat hunger and disease.
This year marks the 22nd time the ANLP has been presented since its inception in 2002. “It started as an initiative by a handful of passionate individuals and now has a home in CEN. We transform leadership theory into an impactful and practical experiential leadership development experience for high-potential leaders across the African continent,” says Prof Johann Jerling of CEN.
The programme has exceeded all expectations since its humble beginnings and has now ballooned from an initial 40 requests to attend the programme annually to more than 240 currently. Its achievements demonstrate the impact the programme is having. More than 500 participants from 40 countries in Africa have taken part since it started. Two thirds of these participants are women – a testament to the empowerment of women on the continent.
African nutrition leaders converge in Potchefstroom
Twenty-four participants from eight African countries will attend the 22nd ANLP for individuals in Potchefstroom from 5 to 15 March.
Dr Christine Taljaard-Krugell of CEN says the attendees represent a wide variety of nutrition-related disciplines in the government sector, the United Nations, civil society, academia and, to a lesser extent, the private sector.
“We believe that after the 10-day workshop, attendees will have improved their self-leadership capacities and developed a personalised action plan for growth that will extend far beyond the programme.”
She says they are also integrated into a pan-African network that in future will become the backbone of nutrition leadership on the continent. For more information on the ANLP, visit www.africanutritionleadership.org or email Ronel.Benson@nwu.ac.za. To learn more about the ANLP and the participants, watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ScELRs3pas.
