Saima R

Nutrition specialist (MPhil Human Nutrition) with 19+ years of experience across UNICEF, government, international NGOs and development consulting in Pakistan. Delivers results in emergency nutrition response (CMAM), food fortification and USI, maternal, infant and young child nutrition, and multi-sectoral nutrition policy and programme design, including the national PC-1 revision on stunting and malnutrition.

Master

Trainer, skilled in government liaison, technical reporting and donor proposal development.

Independent Nutrition Consultant - Self-employed - Pakistan

(2026)

• Provide independent technical support to on [nutrition programme design, policy and strategy support, training, proposal development.

Consultant, PC-1 Revision – National Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Programme - PATH - Pakistan

(2025-08 - 2025-12)

• Supported the PC-1 revision of the National Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Programme, coordinating consultations with federal and provincial stakeholders and liaising on data and reports.
• Organized the stakeholder validation workshop for participants and compiled annexes and workshop documentation.
• Served as in-country focal point for global PATH staff and local consultants, tracked deliverables and timelines.

Programs Expert - DevRes (Development & Research) Expert (Pvt) Ltd. - Islamabad

(2025-02 - 2025-08)

• Developed nutrition, health, WASH and food security programmes and proposals.
• Managed survey teams for quantitative and qualitative fieldwork and authored technical, survey and evaluation reports, including final evaluation reporting (Strengthening the Resilience of Flood-Affected Communities in Pakistan” (BMZ Project No. 1132)
• Facilitated workshops and trainings, represented the firm at donor meetings, technical forums and conferences.

Nutrition Officer (NO-B) - United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) - Lahore Field Office

(2022-10 - 2024-10)

• Established four Stabilization Centers in flood-affected districts (Rajanpur, DG Khan, Mianwali, Kalabagh), to treat children with severe acute malnutrition.
• Led two rounds of mass and family MUAC screening across five South Punjab districts, screening 562,668 children aged 6-59 months children.
• Supported the South Punjab launch of the Pakistan Maternal Nutrition Strategy 2022–27 and established two ECD centers (DHQ Rajanpur, DHQ Muzaffargarh) with the Department of Health.
• Trained five High Burden Districts health staff on MMS through antenatal care with the Ministry of Health and Junaid Family Foundation.
• As supplies focal person, ensured timely distribution of RUTF, MMS, IFA and anthropometric equipment, across flood-affected and other districts.
• Advised government, NGO and UN partners on UNICEF nutrition policy and practice; supported programme and sectoral reviews with minutes and results reports.

Program Officer / USI Consultant - National Fortification Alliance (NFA), Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination - Islamabad

(2019-10 - 2022-09)

• Coordinated the NFA’s USI programme with line ministries, provincial health departments, food authorities, GAIN and other partners.
• Organized national and provincial review meetings, workshops and advocacy seminars, provided technical assistance to industry and regulators on QA/QC and fortification standards.
• Developed USI policy briefs, brochures and awareness materials; set up the NFA document depository and knowledge management function.

District Nutrition Coordinator - Integrated Nutrition Program - Nowshera

(2015-01 - 2017-06)

• Planned, supervised and reported on district nutrition activities across fifteen (15) health facilities in coordination with the DHO.
• Supervised nutrition assistants, facility staff, LHWs/LHSs and NGO partners; delivered need-based capacity-building and ensured supply availability.

Nutrition Deputy Program Manager - ACF International - Kohat

(2013-06 - 2014-12)

• Ensured delivery of the CMAM programme to donor and government requirements; supervised treatment at CMAM and IYCF sites, supplies and reporting.

Team Leader - Relief Pakistan - Swat

(2010-09 - 2011-07)

• supervised OTP and supplementary feeding staff, reporting and supply distribution.

Nutrition/M&E Officer - Relief International - Mansehra

(2007-08 - 2008-10)

• supervised supplementary feeding centers, trained health staff, monitored quality of reporting and distribution.

Nutritionist - Community Uplift Program - Mansehra

(2006-08 - 2006-11)

• awareness sessions, rapid nutrition assessments, food distribution and training manual input.

MSc/Phil (Hons) - Human Nutrition - Agricultural University Peshawar (2005)

BSc (Hons) - Human Nutrition - Agricultural University Peshawar (2003)