Empowering Communities & Nourishing Futures: A Journey in Nutrition with Carla Mejia

‘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!

Carla Mejia , regional nutrition advisor for WFP Latin America and the Caribbean. She shares her unique journey from the private sector to a pivotal role at the World Food Programme.

She discusses the innovative programs and significant challenges in her field, offering valuable insights and practical advice for those aspiring to make a difference in nutrition and humanitarian aid.

Read more to learn about Carla's experiences and the transformative work being done to ensure better nutrition for vulnerable populations across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Please introduce yourself - What is your role at WFP? Where do you work and where are you from?

My name is Carla Mejia. I'm the regional nutrition advisor for WFP Latin America and the Caribbean. I'm based in Panama and originally from Ecuador.

Can you tell us more about your professional journey: how did you start your career? What is your academic and previous professional background?

I am a food scientist by training. I did my undergraduate studies in agriculture and food systems in Honduras, and then completed my MSc and PhD in Food Science and Nutrition at Purdue University in the US, focusing on protein science.

I began my career in the private sector, developing healthier snacks for children. Later, I worked at an NGO focused on food safety, collaborating with the private and public sectors globally, and contributing to the US Food Safety Modernization Act under the Obama administration. A friend recommended I apply for the regional food technologist position at WFP's Regional Bureau in Bangkok. I applied and was thrilled to join WFP and since then working here has been incredibly fulfilling, far beyond my expectations.

Thinking back I believe WFP’s mission is what got my attention. It was very straightforward: “We are a humanitarian organization that delivers food assistance and works with communities to improve their food security and nutrition and to improve their resilience against shocks.” What’s interesting is that, on its face, it oversimplifies the mission. Bringing nutritious food to people living in extreme conditions is a very difficult process.

What brought you to WFP? Feel free to expand on how you joined the organisation, why you decided to apply and how your experience has been through the years.

Initially, I aimed to contribute to my country's development through my work in agriculture and food science. However, my private sector experience, while valuable, didn't offer the fulfillment I sought. The WFP's mission to deliver food assistance and improve food security and nutrition deeply resonated with me. Working at WFP allows me to contribute meaningfully to society, making a real impact on people's lives.

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 programme has two main arms. First, we focus on nutrition-specific interventions to prevent or manage wasting/ acute malnutrition [a life-threatening condition caused by insufficient food consumption, frequent illness, or both], especially during emergencies. This targets vulnerable populations like children under two, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people living with HIV. Second, we implement nutrition-sensitive interventions across all WFP programmes, including school meals, cash-based programmes, and general food assistance. In  Latin America and the Caribbean we primarily strengthen government capacity in integrating nutrition into social protection programmes to improve dietary access and overall health.

Can you share the improvements/ success stories you’ve witnessed since you’ve started working in this field? Focusing on WFP’s impact and life changing work in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Rice fortification [the enrichment of harvested rice with essential vitamins and minerals to increase its nutritional value] stands out to me as a significant success story, improving micronutrient access for millions. Collaborating with governments, the private sector, and communities, we’ve significantly enhanced nutritional status across regions. In Latin America and the Caribbean, linking social protection systems with nutrition outcomes has optimized assistance for vulnerable groups, such as reducing anaemia rates by 50% in the Dominican Republic.

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

A key challenge we face is the time it takes between implementing nutrition programmes and seeing outcomes. This means we need to sustain our advocacy efforts over time to ensure governments and donors understand why nutrition interventions are so important.

Personally, I find advocating for better child nutrition is a constant and sometimes frustrating effort. Without access to good nutrition, a child’s dreams and hopes will not come true. Without proper nutrition, children are much less likely to have good education outcomes and job prospects, increasing their chances to be poor, and lowering their future contribution to their country's GDP and development. Yet, securing funding for nutrition interventions remains difficult.

These complex challenges are in a way a reflection of my personal challenges as a professional in this field. I find myself continuously in the same position advocating for better nutrition, especially for children.

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

Nutrition is vital for survival and thriving. Without integrating nutrition into humanitarian efforts, the need for assistance will persist. More nutrition professionals are essential to ensure sustainable development and reduce long-term dependency on humanitarian aid.

I hope that at some point the world doesn't need humanitarian assistance anymore and for this, nutrition is crucial.

Can you share 3 quick tips on how to get a job in nutrition?    

• Never stop learning: I think WFP is one of those organizations where you can continuously learn. You should always be open to learning beyond your area of expertise as professional. I am a food scientist by training myself. However, I became interested in this area of work within WFP, and I really felt I needed to learn about the work my colleagues do so that I can adequately contribute.  
• Welcome collaboration: I would suggest folks to collaborate more with colleagues beyond their unit and division. If you are a nutritionist, I suggest you collaborate across the aisle with colleagues who are not nutritionists and vice versa. Try to collaborate on different initiatives with colleagues and be curious. That will allow you to know people you can connect with professionally and will also result in a deeper understanding of WFP and a well-rounded outlook in terms of career choices.  
• Communicate: Learn how to communicate well with non-technical counterparts. As professionals we need to learn how to communicate well verbally and in writing to address different audiences. This allows us to be competitive and better advocate for ourselves.

Thank you Carla!

Let us know your thoughts and questions and share these career tips with the future humanitarians in your LinkedIn connections. Subscribe to our ‘Pathway to WFP’ newsletter to receive the next episode in your inbox!