Dedicated to our former UNICEF colleagues and my mentors, Urban Jonsson and Bjorn Ljungqvist, and with a Foreword by Prof. Ted Greiner, Editor, World Nutrition Journal and externally reviewed by Prof. Jonathan Gorstein of the Gates Foundation, the book presents a journey of insights on how to sustainably and with high population impact address all forms of malnutrition—including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight/obesity—through the combined lenses of science, ethics, practice, and transformative multisectoral programming. Drawing on case studies from countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Indonesia, Thailand, Brazil, Guatemala, Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, and the UK, the book reflects over four decades of international and community-based experience across Africa and Asia.
Guided by a Human Rights-Based Approach to Programming, the book introduces an expanded Nutrition Conceptual Framework and the Triple A process—Assessment, Analysis, and Action—to provide practical scientific and ethical guidance for policymakers, governments, development partners, practitioners, academics, students, researchers, non-governmental organizations, donors, philanthropic organizations, and the private sector for navigating complex nutrition challenges, striving for effective, locally owned, and equitable nutrition solutions.
The book argues that nutrition is both a catalyst and nourishment for creative processes defining our individual and collective existence within the quadripartite nature of humans: the body, the mind, the soul, and the spirit—actively shaping every facet of human life. It highlights that multisectoral nutrition programs are essential— scientifically, ethically, and practically—for fostering healthier, fairer, and more prosperous societies in a complex world marked by economic, social, geopolitical and environmental challenges.
A key section details how to develop multisectoral national nutrition plans, covering steps, governance, stakeholder engagement, results, costing, monitoring, and risk management. The book concludes by emphasizing resilience, tailored approaches, climate-smart food systems, urban nutrition strategies, ethical Artificial Inteligence (AI) use, and stronger national ownership as donor support evolves.
The publication of this book marks the culmination of my experiences and insights in programming for children and women. It fulfills a promise made to my UNICEF and professional colleagues in 2013 when I was retiring as EAPRO Deputy Regional Director that in retirment I will do at least three things: First to write a book on nutrition to share my extensive experience and knowledge, second to document my Life Story, which they thought was inspiring and third to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. The release of this book completes the first pledge, work has begun on the second and on the 3rd of January 2026, four months before my 75th birthday, I summitted Mt. Kilimanjaro, a story to be told later.
I look forward to your feedback on the book and hope its content resonates with you as much as it did with me throughout the writing process.
My email is: festo.kavishe@gmail.com
Congratulations, Festo!
ReplyDeleteThanks Richard! Will appreciate any comments you have when you read it
DeleteLooking forward to it. I re-opened the UNICEF sub office in Iringa in 2012. The legends of the Iringa JNSP were still evident many years later and helped us move forward on several other agenda - with stunting being a much harder nut to crack than severe malnutrition - but thanks to those early days we had some tools and vision. RIP Urban and Bjorn.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, looking forward to read the book- which is much needed contribution in the area.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Festo. I am sur the book will be of immense vlue to all those who try to solve the seemingly impreganable poblem of undernutrition and for trainers in the subject. Best wishes Soma De Silva.
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