EPHI, NI Sign New Strategic Partnership MoU to Advance Nutrition and Public Health Research in Africa
In a landmark move to strengthen nutrition and public health research and innovation, the Ethiopia Public Health Institute (EPHI) and Nutrition International (NI) have signed a new strategic partnership agreement aimed at elevating excellence in nutrition science across the region in Africa. The signing ceremony was held at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa on November 6, 2025.
The agreement was formally signed by Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director General of EPHI, and Dr. Mandana Arbi, Vice President of Research and Development at Nutrition International, based in Ottawa, Canada
NI has collaborated with EPHI and supported nutrition initiatives in Ethiopia for the past two decades. This new partnership marks a significant step forward, institutionalizing cooperation and expanding the scope of joint efforts.
According to both organizations, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is designed to establish formal and sustained collaboration on joint research, innovation and evaluation of nutrition and public health interventions.
“This MoU establishes EPHI as a regional center of excellence for research, innovation, and evaluation in nutrition and health-related areas,” stated Dr. Masresha Tessama, Director General Delegate of EPHI, during the signing ceremony. “It will catalyze impactful research, inform policy, and contribute to improved health outcomes across Ethiopia and the continent.”
The agreement outlines a strategic collaboration between EPHI and NI’s Research and Development unit, with the shared goal of improving nutrition and overall health through evidence-based programming and scientific analysis.
Dr. Mandana Arbi emphasized the importance of the partnership, noting its alignment with Nutrition International’s mission to tackle global nutritional challenges through research. “This partnership enables us to harness our collective expertise to deliver data-driven solutions that strengthen health systems and improve lives,” she stated.
The signing of the MoU signals Ethiopia’s growing leadership in regional nutrition research and policy development, as both organizations reaffirm their commitment to advancing public health through scientific collaboration and innovation.
In a landmark move to strengthen nutrition and public health research and innovation, the Ethiopia Public Health Institute (EPHI) and Nutrition International (NI) have signed a new strategic partnership agreement aimed at elevating excellence in nutrition science across the region in Africa. The signing ceremony was held at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa on November 6, 2025.
The agreement was formally signed by Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director General of EPHI, and Dr. Mandana Arbi, Vice President of Research and Development at Nutrition International, based in Ottawa, Canada
NI has collaborated with EPHI and supported nutrition initiatives in Ethiopia for the past two decades. This new partnership marks a significant step forward, institutionalizing cooperation and expanding the scope of joint efforts.
According to both organizations, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is designed to establish formal and sustained collaboration on joint research, innovation and evaluation of nutrition and public health interventions.
“This MoU establishes EPHI as a regional center of excellence for research, innovation, and evaluation in nutrition and health-related areas,” stated Dr. Masresha Tessama, Director General Delegate of EPHI, during the signing ceremony. “It will catalyze impactful research, inform policy, and contribute to improved health outcomes across Ethiopia and the continent.”
The agreement outlines a strategic collaboration between EPHI and NI’s Research and Development unit, with the shared goal of improving nutrition and overall health through evidence-based programming and scientific analysis.
Dr. Mandana Arbi emphasized the importance of the partnership, noting its alignment with Nutrition International’s mission to tackle global nutritional challenges through research. “This partnership enables us to harness our collective expertise to deliver data-driven solutions that strengthen health systems and improve lives,” she stated.
The signing of the MoU signals Ethiopia’s growing leadership in regional nutrition research and policy development, as both organizations reaffirm their commitment to advancing public health through scientific collaboration and innovation.