As Regional Director, Africa, for Nutrition International, Dr. Richard Pendame oversees the development and delivery of Nutrition International’s programs. In his role, Richard builds and sustains key partnerships with national governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and development agencies within Africa. Richard is responsible for technical advice and support for operational research that strengthens the capacity of health systems in sub-Saharan African countries. He works to ensure that many more pregnant mothers and newborns, at high risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, are reached with proven health interventions.
Richard is a Public Health Specialist with more than 15 years’ experience in public health medicine and in the development management of health systems, including service delivery for public health systems, health policy development and analysis, health systems reform and national leadership of a health sector. He also has expertise in integrating micronutrient programs within national health systems and in operational research aimed at strengthening the capacity of the health systems in sub-Saharan African countries.
Richard joined Nutrition International as Deputy Regional Director and Health Systems Advisor, Africa, in 2011 and was responsible for advising program staff and partners on how micronutrient interventions could be better integrated into health systems in order make them more sustainable. He has successfully guided Nutrition International country directors and program officers in planning, monitoring and reporting on micronutrient programs in the Africa region.
Hailing from Malawi, Richard has 10 years experience managing public health systems and programs that began with his early service as a District Medical Officer and lead him to become Secretary (CEO) for Health in the Malawi Ministry of Health (MoH). He has also co-authored a number of scientific research publications.
Richard has a Masters in Public Health (Epidemiology and Health Systems Management) from Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland, USA from the School of Hygiene and Public Health. He also has a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Management from the University of Birmingham in the UK.
During his work with the Ministry of Health in Malawi and Kenya’s Ministry of Health, he played a key role in the prevention of undernutrition, nutrition service delivery, Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), HIV/AIDS nutrition and food security. He has extensive experience in policy, advocacy and capacity strengthening, national nutrition policy development, and targeting of interventions for the most vulnerable to achieve maximum impact.