Career advice from a nutrition adviser at USAID

Global food systems may be at a crossroads. An economic analysis published in January 2024 by researchers at the University of Oxford and the London School of Economics and Political Science warns that if current trends persist, food insecurity could leave 640 million people, including 121 million children, underweight by 2050. At the same time, obesity rates are projected to soar by 70%, and food production will continue to drive a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Global food systems also come with hidden costs exceeding $10 trillion annually — nearly 10% of global gross domestic product — according to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s 2023 State of Food and Agriculture report. These costs stem largely from unhealthy diets driving obesity and noncommunicable diseases, particularly in wealthier nations. Low-income countries, however, bear the heaviest proportional toll, with hidden costs exceeding 25% of their GDP, driven by poverty and undernourishment. The research at Oxford and LSE also suggested there may be a different way forward. The alternative involves bold policy changes and sustainable practices, with the potential to save millions of lives from diet-related chronic diseases and turn food systems into net carbon sinks. As the FAO underscores, these issues demand urgent action to reform agrifood systems and address their cascading impacts on health, society, and the environment. A critical need exists for more professionals working at the intersection of nutrition, food systems, and climate. In light of this, we spoke with Qwamel Hanks, a nutrition adviser, who is an institutional contractor at the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Resilience, Environment and Food Security under the Global Health Training, Advisory, and Support Contract, or GHTASC, with Credence Management Solutions. She has worked with the agency for almost six years and her work places her on the front lines of addressing these challenges. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Can you share your education and career journey and how you transitioned into a nutrition adviser role at USAID? In my youth, I could not grasp how food insecurity still exists in our modern times, given the amount of food produced. It always really bothered me, and it felt like an injustice that is solvable. So, it was quite early in high school that I realized I wanted a career in global nutrition. However, my journey was not perfectly linear! For my undergraduate education, I studied Food Science and Human Nutrition with a Minor in Business at the University of Florida. Once I graduated, I worked in domestic nutrition and food security for about five years. While this work experience gave me a good understanding of issues and solutions for nutrition in our country, I eventually realized that I needed to do more to transition out of the domestic field and into global nutrition. Thus, I relocated to Washington, D.C. and began a Master’s in Global Health at George Washington University. I believed that living in the nation’s hub for international affairs and attaining higher education would better position me for the right opportunities, which indeed proved true. I accepted a job with USAID while completing my graduate practicum in Ghana and have worked for the agency for almost six years now. What does your day-to-day look like? What kind of projects are you working on? My job entails working on nutrition through the food system. While the days can vary based on the season, a typical day usually consists of managing projects that we fund, supporting country offices with their nutrition and agricultural programming, and coordinating with internal and/or external stakeholders. For example, one of our projects is USAID Advancing Food Fortification Opportunities to Reinforce Diets (USAID AFFORD). This is a food system project that aims to help global and national-level efforts for large-scale food fortification, which is an evidence-based, cost-effective intervention that adds micronutrients to staple foods. As a member of USAID AFFORD’s management team, I often spend my days reviewing technical project outputs, coordinating with other donors and partners that also have fortification initiatives, and developing communications about the project that support USAID leadership in telling our story. The work hours are also quite variable, given that USAID collaborates with people around the world. Some days, I start work before sunrise, and other days, I have meetings at night. There are also occasional work trips to support country offices or to represent our equities at global convenings. What skill sets have you found to be most valuable, or what skills have you focused on building to progress in your career? I have found that skills in communication, organization, teamwork, and tact are particularly valuable in this field. The work that we do requires a lot of collaboration, navigating delicate issues or conversations, meeting deadlines and leveraging resources. I also think that patience is not only a virtue but a skill. Working in development and government requires an ability to accept that we cannot always control timelines. Strategic patience can reap a lot of benefits. What are some common challenges/hurdles of the role/sector you work in? Nutrition is a very interdisciplinary field. Working in global nutrition requires varying degrees of knowledge on an array of topics, such as agriculture, health, gender, climate change, and behavioral science. In addition to utilizing all sides of your brain, nutrition and its relevant disciplines are constantly evolving. This means that constant study is required to keep up with the latest evidence. However, this is one of my favourite aspects of this sector. You can never get bored! Are there any specific resources, certifications, training programs, or events that you would recommend? I would recommend having a solid understanding of what you want to do in this field and then focusing your education, supplemental training, and certifications on that. Examples include data analytics, project management, and communications. If you want to focus on technical nutrition (i.e., advising or consulting), then a Master’s or PhD in nutrition can help make you a competitive candidate for those roles. USAID and our partners have numerous online resources for nutrition. To learn more about USAID’s approaches and programming for nutrition, visit USAID’s nutrition sub-page. To take a free online course on global multisectoral nutrition, visit the Global Health Learning Center. For professionals aspiring to follow a similar path, what practical advice would you give? This is a rewarding field. Helping individuals or communities to improve their nutrition can save and change lives. Keeping this sentiment at the forefront of your mind can help you overcome obstacles or setbacks that you will encounter on this path. Update, Jan. 9, 2025: This article has been updated to clarify Qwamel Hanks’ job title with USAID. Ready to stand out from the crowd and get noticed by the recruiters who matter most? Update your Devex profile and start connecting with top global development recruiters now.