Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Awards
Publications
Community Service
External Engagement
Cyling, Travelling, Hiking, Art and Crafts and Reading
Timeline
Generic

OJWANG Alice

Nutrition And Dietetic Consultant And Faculty
Nairobi

Summary

Dr. Alice Ojwang is a highly accomplished and respected professional in the field of Dietetics and holds a PhD from the Centre of Excellence for Nutrition at North-West University, South Africa. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Ojwang has established herself as a distinguished faculty member and consultant, specializing in the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases, focusing on obesity and Type 2 diabetes in Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa. Alice has made significant contributions to nutrition awareness through impactful TV programs and published work in print media, effectively enhancing public knowledge on nutrition nationwide. Dr. Ojwang actively supports two technical working groups within the Ministry of Health's Division of Nutrition, demonstrating commitment to driving positive change at a systemic level. In academia, Alice plays a pivotal role in curriculum development, mentors faculty and students, and leads critical research initiatives that shape and advance Kenya's Nutrition and Dietetics profession. Her exceptional work positions her as a leading figure in the field and a key contributor to public health initiatives across the region.

Overview

24
24
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education

Work History

Lecturer (Clinical Nutrition, Expert)

The Technical University of Kenya
07.2013 - Current
  • Chairperson (Academic Team Leader), Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Lead a team of 14 lecturers, 2 technical assistants, 1 graduate assistant, 1 administrative assistant, and oversee 150 undergraduate and postgraduate students
  • Assist the Director in executing strategies for online learning and continuing education, while collaborating with administrators on methods, technology, and administrative services to enhance academic delivery
  • Provide leadership in research within the department by designing studies with both lecturers and students, securing grants, and building capacity for ongoing research projects
  • Spearheaded the development of academic programs, including a Master’s in Community and Clinical Nutrition and PhD curricula in Nutritional Sciences and Public Health, which are currently implemented in the School of Health and Biomedical Sciences
  • Fostered collaborative relationships with colleagues, driving curriculum development and enhancing teaching strategies through shared best practices

Dietetic Consultant

Diabesity Nutrition Centre (formerly Xenihealth)
01.2006 - Current
  • Nutrition management of Chronic diseases
  • Individual sessions, worksite, and group wellness programs
  • Conducted over 50 worksite wellness working with several cooperate organizations and Health and medical insurance organizations.
  • Conducted thorough nutritional assessments, generating accurate diagnoses and appropriate interventions
  • Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to develop comprehensive care plans
  • Established a supportive environment that encouraged open communication among team members, fostering collaboration in daily operations

CPD Development

Centre for Nutrition Education and Research
01.2001 - Current
  • Provided leadership training, mentoring, and capacity building for nutritionists/dieticians around the country
  • Established Continuous Nutrition Education seminars for nutrition and dietetic professionals in Kenya and Easter Africa

Nutrition Consultant

Ministry of Health - Kenya
01.2005 - Current
  • Developed Kenyan food group posters to be used for national Health promotion in all health facilities in Kenya
  • Developed Kenya National Materials for Nutrition and HIV/AIDS, in-service training, and use in Hospitals and all health facilities in Kenya. In addition, I I lead the Implementation of a National training program in Nutrition and HIV/AIDS and dissemination of a toolkit for use in Comprehensive Care Centers (CCC) in public hospitals in Kenya
  • Developed curriculum for USAID (food and Nutrition Technical Assistant-FANTA) food by prescription program, training manuals, dissemination of tools, and training of in-service providers in National Hospitals Kenya
  • Conducted gap analyses to identify areas of improvement within existing training programs, leading to targeted updates that increased overall efficacy
  • Provided constructive feedback on participant performance during workshops, enabling attendees to refine their skills effectively post session.
    Maintained detailed records of training sessions, participant feedback, and program outcomes to support evidence-based decision making
  • Chairperson- The Technical Working Group Healthy Diets (Division of Nutrition-Ministry of Health, Kenya). Set national nutrition agenda, Set national policies and guidelines and work with county representatives
  • Current Member of the Research in National Nutrition, Technical Working Group: Support the actualization of Key Result Area (KRA) 16 on sectoral and multi-sectoral nutrition systems, learning and research strengthened of the Kenya Nutrition Action Plan 2018-2024
  • Chair: Ministry of Health (Kenya) Obesity working group: Monitoring obesity data in the country, developing IEC materials and health promotion

Panelist

World Health Summit
10.2023 - 10.2023
  • Strengthening Communities to Address Malnutrition.Strengthening communities begins with education on nutrition and healthy practices, empowering individuals to make informed food choices. This process includes collaboration between community leaders, healthcare workers, and government bodies to ensure access to nutritious food, clean water, and healthcare services.

Summer School Trainer

Heidelberg Institute of Global Health
06.2023 - 07.2023
  • Sustainable dietary management in Non-Communicable disease (Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes), experience from Sub-Sahara Africa
  • Evaluated the effectiveness of training initiatives by tracking participant progress and gathering feedback for continuous improvement
  • Enhanced trainee engagement through interactive workshops and hands-on activities
  • Delivered dynamic presentations to facilitate learning and retention among diverse audiences

Technical Assistant Specialist

Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office
01.2021 - 07.2023
  • Produce a guidance document for the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FDCO) that sets out how its policy engagement and aid investments in agriculture, economic development, and other areas related to the food system can help improve access to sustainable and nutritious diets and thereby contribute to reducing all forms of malnutrition
  • Development of search terms for literature review: Reviewed 700 publications and wrote a report together with a team of food systems experts from the UK
  • The guidance document has since been distributed and targeted at technical advisers working on agriculture, private sector development, trade and investment, economic development, food security and nutrition, livelihoods and social protection, and climate and environment programs that relate to different parts of the food system and are engaging in policy dialogue with governments, private sector, and other stakeholders in these areas

Nutrition Administration

Global Nutrition Collaboration
01.2017 - 12.2018
  • Global Nutrition collaboration (GNC) coordinator (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics project: Supporting the Academy's role in managing the GNC and activities of the hunger-free communities
  • Strengthen and facilitate contributions from dietitians and involvement of all stakeholders to improve nutrition and promote collaboration internationally. The project involved 20 Top-Nutrition and health professionals from 10 countries across the globe
  • Planning projects and communication strategies, including preparing for meetings, keeping minutes, participating in work package calls, and providing overall organizational and project management support to the GNC document and information-sharing platform
  • I completed a “Food security assessment tool” as part of a team. This tool was piloted in India

Regional Obesity Trainer

Hoffman La Roche
03.2001 - 06.2006
  • Regional trainer of obesity and related risk factors in Sub-Sahara Africa;
    Created Xenihealth obesity centers in 7 countries in Africa (Kenya, Ghana, Botswana, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa)
  • Trained over 500 Health professional (Medical practitioner, Nutritionist/Dietician and Nurses, in these countries on obesity and related risk factors

Education

Ph.D. - Dietetics

North-West University
South Africa
01.2015 - 01.2019

Master of Science - Nutrition And Health

University of Stellenbosch
South Africa
01.2002 - 01.2005

Bachelor of Science - Bachelor of Education And Home Economics

Kenyatta University
Kenya
01.1995 - 01.1998

Skills

1 Leadership and Strategic Management

I lead the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at the Technical University of Kenya, overseeing academic activities, mentoring staff, and guiding students I provide strategic direction, ensuring institutional goals are met through research and curriculum development I am also a trained African Nutrition Leader and a TOT in leadership development

2 Curriculum Development and Educational Innovation

I developed key academic programs, including a Master's in Community and Clinical Nutrition and a PhD in Nutritional Sciences, currently in use at the university I lead online learning initiatives and promote innovative teaching strategies to enhance student and faculty experiences

3 Research Leadership and Grant Writing

I lead research projects, securing funding, managing studies, and publishing results My grant writing and fundraising expertise have supported numerous local and international projects I have a strong track record in high-impact research like the Euro Horizon Changemaker program and the Africa Oxford Initiative

4 Public Health and NCD Expertise

I specialize in preventing and managing NCDs, particularly obesity and Type 2 diabetes My contributions span health initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa, including work with the Ministry of Health and the World Obesity Federation to address NCD challenges

5 Mentorship and Capacity Building

I mentor young nutritionists and dietitians, offering leadership training and capacity-building programs Through community outreach and educational efforts, I empower the next generation of professionals, fostering a culture of growth and development

Materials Preparation

Awards

  • AWS grant, $60,000, AI in Nutrition: Artificial Intelligence Photographic Application to support carbohydrate Management in persons with Type 2 diabetes, 01/2024, 12/2025
  • Euro Horizon Change Maker, 200,000 Euros, 01/2024, 12/2028

Publications

  • Kodhek, A. O., Oguya, F., & Otieno, C. F. (2023). Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients’ Needs Assessment in Primary Care Setting: The Quiddity of Attitude in Quality Improvement. Nur Primary Care, 7(5), 1-4.
  • Association of dietary patterns and overweight among university students in Southeast, Nigeria, Patricia, Ukegbe, Alice, Ojwang, Nigerian Journal of Nutritional Sciences, 41, 1, 2020
  • Plasma phospholipid fatty acid patterns are associated with Adiposity and the Metabolic Syndrome in black South Africans: a cross-sectional study, Ojwang, A.A., Kruger, H.S., Zec, M., Ricci, C., Pieters, M., Wentzel-Viljoen, E., Smuts, C.M., Kruger, I.M., Cardiovascular Journal of Africa, 30, 4, 228-238, 2019
  • Ojwang, A., Smuts, C., Zec, M., Wentzel-Viljoen, E., Kruger, I. & Kruger, H. 2019. Comparison of dietary and plasma phospholipid fatty acids between normal weight and overweight black South Africans according to metabolic health: The PURE study. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids:102039.

Community Service

  • Bible Education Program, Provide comforting messages and answers from the Bible about the world conditions and frequently asked questions, weekly
  • Nutrition Education for children with cerebral palsy, Association of Children with Cerebral Palsy in Kenya

External Engagement

  • World Health Summit, Panelist, Strengthening Communities to Address Malnutrition, Berlin, Germany, 10/2023
  • Training Summer school, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Heidelberg, Germany, Sustainable dietary management in NCDs, experience from Sub-Sahara Africa, 10/2023
  • Expert Role: The World Obesity Federation – Advisory Group on Economic Costs of Obesity: As an expert within the World Obesity Federation’s Advisory Group on Economic Costs of Obesity, my role involves providing insights and guidance on the economic impact of obesity at global, regional, and national levels. This includes analyzing healthcare costs, productivity losses, and the broader economic burden caused by obesity-related diseases. I contribute to research, policy recommendations, and strategies aimed at reducing obesity's economic impact through prevention and management programs. Additionally, I collaborate with international experts and policymakers to shape interventions that drive both health and economic improvements globally. 10/2021-current

Cyling, Travelling, Hiking, Art and Crafts and Reading

I enjoy cycling, traveling, and hiking, which keep me active and connected to nature. I also have a passion for creating art and crafts, including knitting, crochet, and jewelry making. In addition to these hands-on activities, I love diving into interesting books, particularly poetry and the traditions of various cultures. I also find inspiration in studying biblical personalities—analyzing their traits and qualities helps them come alive, offering me both guidance and hope.

Timeline

Panelist

World Health Summit
10.2023 - 10.2023

Summer School Trainer

Heidelberg Institute of Global Health
06.2023 - 07.2023

Technical Assistant Specialist

Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office
01.2021 - 07.2023

Nutrition Administration

Global Nutrition Collaboration
01.2017 - 12.2018

Ph.D. - Dietetics

North-West University
01.2015 - 01.2019

Lecturer (Clinical Nutrition, Expert)

The Technical University of Kenya
07.2013 - Current

Dietetic Consultant

Diabesity Nutrition Centre (formerly Xenihealth)
01.2006 - Current

Nutrition Consultant

Ministry of Health - Kenya
01.2005 - Current

Master of Science - Nutrition And Health

University of Stellenbosch
01.2002 - 01.2005

Regional Obesity Trainer

Hoffman La Roche
03.2001 - 06.2006

CPD Development

Centre for Nutrition Education and Research
01.2001 - Current

Bachelor of Science - Bachelor of Education And Home Economics

Kenyatta University
01.1995 - 01.1998
OJWANG AliceNutrition And Dietetic Consultant And Faculty