Navigating Nutrition in Emergencies - inside WFP's Rapid Response Nutrition team

‘Pathway to WFP’ is the LinkedIn career series by the World Food Programme investigating the professional backgrounds and life choices that led our staff to the world’s largest humanitarian agency. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive new episodes directly in your inbox!

Behind every emergency nutrition programme is a team of people working to make sure help reaches those who need it most. One of them is Weldon Ngetich, a Kenyan nutritionist whose passion for saving lives led him to join WFP’s Rapid Response Team. Deployed on short notice to emergencies around the world, Weldon helps set up and strengthen life-saving nutrition responses for children and mothers in crisis-affected areas.

Whether supporting nutrition responses in Sudan during conflict, coordinating partners in South Sudan, or setting up life-saving programmes in Gaza, Weldon’s work ensures that malnourished children and vulnerable mothers are not forgotten amid the chaos of crisis. His journey—from a rural childhood in Kenya to a global humanitarian career—is a powerful reminder of how lived experience, technical expertise, and compassion can combine to drive change.

Here, he reflects on the path that brought him to WFP, the lessons he’s learned, and the future he envisions for the next generation of nutrition professionals.

Introduce yourself! What is your role at WFP? Where do you work and where are you from?

My name is Weldon Ngetich, and I’m from Kenya. I work as a Nutrition in Crisis Specialist with WFP’s Rapid Response Team (RRT), which is based at our headquarters in Rome. Our team supports emergency nutrition responses around the world, deploying on short missions to assist country offices when crises hit. I’ve recently been deployed to South Sudan, Sudan, and Kenya, where I’ve helped ensure that those most at risk of malnutrition—especially young children and breastfeeding mothers—receive the support they need to prevent or recover from malnutrition. This work is critical to saving lives.

Tell us about your professional journey: how did you start your career? What is your academic and previous professional background.

My journey into nutrition was inspired by personal experience. I grew up on a small farm in rural Kenya, where I saw the devastating effects of malnutrition on children in my community. Many of my schoolmates frequently fell ill due to lack of access to basic health and nutrition services. Some missed school several times a week, others had to travel long distances to see a doctor, and many struggled to keep up academically. Tragically, we even lost classmates to preventable diseases like polio. Witnessing this hardship made me determined to find solutions.

I started my career as a volunteer in Nairobi, supporting nutrition programmes for children under five and for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers—many of whom were living with HIV. That experience taught me about the root causes of malnutrition—poverty, food insecurity, poor hygiene and sanitation—and its lasting impact on families and communities. It also strengthened my resolve to work in this field.

I was the first in my family to attend university. After high school, I received government sponsorship to study for a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Home Economics. With support from friends and extended family, I went on to earn a Master’s degree in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University in Kenya. I later received a scholarship to pursue further studies in Health and Global Development at University College London.

Over the years, I’ve worked with several organizations—including Concern Worldwide, CARE International, and Valid International—in a range of contexts. These diverse experiences laid the groundwork for my current role at WFP.

What brought you to WFP? Feel free to expand on how you joined the organization, and how your experience has been so far.

My journey to WFP was a long one—over a decade in the making. From completing my second Master’s degree in 2011 to joining WFP in 2022, I spent 11 years building hands-on experience with different organizations. I immersed myself in field work to truly understand what it takes to implement effective nutrition programmes on the ground.

What drew me to WFP was its unique role in tackling hunger and malnutrition at scale. While NGOs and governments play a vital role, WFP’s reach, logistical capacity, and ability to respond rapidly to emergencies really stood out to me. At WFP, I saw the opportunity to impact large populations in a short period of time.

I joined WFP’s Nutrition Rapid Response Team in 2022—and, interestingly, my very first deployment was back to Kenya to support the drought response.

Since then, I’ve had the privilege of supporting several countries, including my own—Kenya—as well as Sudan, South Sudan, Libya, and Gaza. It’s been an incredibly fulfilling experience. I’m part of a highly collaborative team, and I’ve been lucky to have a truly supportive supervisor. Being able to help set up emergency nutrition responses and see the real-life impact gives me a deep sense of purpose. Over the past three years, I’ve not only grown professionally but also had the chance to build global networks and connections that continue to enrich my work.

What are some of your day-to-day responsibilities at work?

No two days are the same in my role. When I’m deployed, my responsibilities vary depending on the context and needs. I might be conducting a situation analysis to understand the emergency, designing a nutrition response, identifying and contracting implementing partners, overseeing programme delivery, or building the capacity of WFP staff and partners to sustain the response after my deployment ends.

WFP works in close collaboration with other organizations and UN agencies, so a key part of my role is participating in coordination platforms like the Nutrition, Health, or WASH clusters. In these forums, I represent WFP and often guide technical discussions.

I also contribute to monitoring and reporting. Each month, we assess the situation and adjust our approach as needed—whether conditions are improving or worsening.

Because the drivers of malnutrition vary across contexts, our responses must also be tailored. That might mean designing prevention or treatment programmes, and choosing the most appropriate delivery method—whether through specialized nutritious foods, cash transfers, or vouchers for nutritious food.

When I’m not deployed, I support a range of activities—reviewing reports from country offices, contributing to nutrition surveys, and helping shape technical guidance.

What is the most rewarding part of working at WFP? 

The most rewarding part of working for WFP is knowing that the work we do is directly saving and improving the lives of people facing crisis. In every deployment, I can see the real impact our support has on individuals and communities—and that sense of purpose keeps me going.

I also enjoy the fast-paced nature of being part of a team that can be mobilized on very short notice. It’s both exciting and challenging to receive a deployment assignment and be on the ground within days, quickly getting oriented and jumping straight into action. It keeps the work dynamic and meaningful.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in your job and how did you overcome them?

One of the most difficult moments in my career was being in Sudan when the war broke out in 2023. There were ongoing bombardments nearby, and I felt overwhelmed with panic. Communication was nearly impossible—phone and internet networks were down—so I couldn’t reach my wife and children. We had limited food and were sleeping in uncomfortable conditions.

In situations like that, adaptability becomes essential. I leaned on the support of my team and supervisor, who went above and beyond—not only checking in with me whenever the network allowed, but also staying in contact with my family to reassure them. WFP also provides access to counsellors and mental health support, as well as strong security protocols that help us stay as safe as possible in volatile situations.

Can you go in detail about WFP’s nutrition programme? Please introduce it to our global audiences, touching on our goals and impact. 

WFP’s nutrition programming is very broad. We have direct nutrition programmes (the distribution of nutritious food products to people at risk of or suffering from malnutrition) and indirect programmes (such as supporting the production, availability, affordability and consumption of nutritious foods through social protection systems, food systems, value chains, local food solutions, and food fortification). My area is direct nutrition programming, which involves providing assistance to prevent and treat malnutrition.

On the prevention side, depending on the context we could provide a cash transfer (if there is nutritious food available in local markets) or a voucher for nutritious foods. Or we could provide a specialized nutritious food – an energy and nutrient dense product which can be a chickpea or peanut paste that’s ready to eat, or cereals that can be cooked into a porridge or pancakes. We also use specialized nutritious foods to aid the recovery of those who are already malnourished.

At WFP, our ultimate goal is to end hunger and malnutrition. Currently, 2.8 billion people are unable to afford a diet which meets their nutrient needs. 45 million children under 5 suffer from acute malnutrition (the most deadly form of malnutrition, responsible for 50% of all deaths of children under 5). 148 million children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition, and 37 million are overweight. 

In emergencies, we combine lifesaving interventions with long term strategies to strengthen systems to support people’s nutrition once the emergency is over.

In 2024, WFP reached almost 27 million children under 5 and mothers with direct nutrition programming.

Why do we need more Nutrition experts working in the humanitarian field?

Because nutrition is fundamental to survival. In emergencies, people without access to adequate nutrition are far more vulnerable to illness and disease—and may not survive. Yet despite its critical importance, nutrition is often under-prioritized in favour of other sectors like shelter or general health. That’s why we need more nutrition experts to elevate its importance and ensure it’s part of the core response.

Nutrition experts help bridge the gap between science and the realities on the ground. We need professionals who can generate and interpret evidence, design effective programmes, and guide field teams with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Their expertise strengthens responses and leads to better outcomes for those affected by crisis.

Can you share 3 tips on how to pursue a similar career?

• Build a strong technical foundation. Academic study in nutrition, public health, or a related field is essential to understand the science behind effective programming.

• Gain practical experience early. Volunteering or taking internships—especially in communities facing hardship—will help you develop the real-world skills and empathy needed in humanitarian settings.

• Stay adaptable and broaden your skill set. Nutrition intersects with other areas like health systems and food security. Building complementary skills in these areas will make you a more effective and versatile professional.

Do you have anything to add?

Humanitarian work can be challenging—but it’s incredibly meaningful. It offers the chance to learn every single day, to see the world from new perspectives, and to know that your work is helping make the world a better place.

Thank you Weldon!

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