Asaeli Naika

National researcher

Region: Pacific

Asaeli is a Fiji-based nutrition professional with interests between the intersections of sustainable food systems, climate change adaptations, disaster risk reduction/ management, and nutrition in emergencies (NiE). He has worked in Government as public health nutritionist with work experience in nutrition policy and planning, national surveys, food and nutrition-related research, post-disaster nutrition assessments, IYCF, school nutrition, workplace wellness, food security and agriculture. He has also worked in FAO Fiji as food processing and preservation specialist (under a pro-resilience project in 100 communities in 2019-2020), national technical expert in agriculture (under three post-cyclone emergency projects in 2021), and data harmonization specialist (under the FAO/WHO GIFT project early 2022). He is currently a first year Masters candidate in Fiji National University and his research is focussed on nutritional analysis and antioxidant potential of unprofiled and underutilized indigenous leafy vegetables of Fiji. Asaeli holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Science (in Biology) and a Bachelor of Science (majoring in Chemistry and Food and Nutritional Sciences) from the University of the South Pacific. Other interests, as a public nutritionist, include low-carb, ketogenic, and fasting lifestyle interventions for improved nutrition, and overall health and well-being

Projects

2023

Drivers of food choice among school-aged children in Fiji

2023-2025

Pic More Veg

2022-2023

Assistance to UNICEF to conduct a research on the food environment factors affecting young children, adolescents, and mothers’ diets in Fiji

2022

Assistance to UNICEF to conduct a review of policies and programmes in prevention and management of all forms of malnutrition across all life stages in 14 Pacific Island Countries

Researchers

Tala Rammal

Research assistant

Projects: DIKODA, UNICEF, WFP

Viola Lesi

Researcher and learning expert

Projects: SEQUA, UNICEF

Mere Nailatikau

Communications, Research Consultant

Projects: UNICEF

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