Robert Akparibo

Dr. Robert Akparibo is an Associate Professor in Global Health and Nutrition based within the Division of Population Health, at the School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield (UK). He serves as Director of Students Experience for Postgraduate Taught Programmes and is a Registered Nutritionist (Public Health) with the UK Academy for Nutrition (AfN), as well as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).

His educational background includes:

• BSc (Hons) Public Health Nutrition from University for Development Studies, Ghana
• MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from University of Copenhagen, Denmark
• MPH from University of Sheffield, UK
• PhD in Public Health Nutrition from University of Sheffield, UK
• MEd in Medical Education from University of Sheffield, UK
• PGCert in Nutrition Epidemiology from Imperial College

Dr. Akparibo's research focuses on addressing the double burden of malnutrition, with specific attention to young children, adolescents, and maternal nutrition, food security and food systems in the global south. His work investigates how food environments, including school food environments, impact child malnutrition and non-communicable diseases in adults. Since 2017, he has been exploring the nutrition transition in Africa, examining dietary behaviors and their health implications. His research has directly informed policy decisions, including Ghana's National NCD policy and the first Food-based Dietary Guidelines for Ghana.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on global health challenges, particularly the intersection of nutrition, food systems, and non-communicable diseases in African contexts. The research spans methodological approaches from systematic reviews and economic modeling to qualitative studies using photovoice methods. A significant portion of his work examines health systems and interventions in Ghana and Kenya, with increasing attention to cancer care equity and cardiovascular disease management in resource-limited settings.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Registration as a Public Health Nutritionist with UK Academy for Nutrition
• Senior Fellowship with the Higher Education Academy
• Selection for the White Rose Consortium Universities' Vice Chancellors equity in leadership development scheme

Dr. Akparibo actively supervises Master's and PhD students in his research areas and has secured substantial research funding as PI or Co-PI. His current projects include the NutriShed Project funded by IMMANA (£285,000, 2023-2025) and a social enterprise interventions study with University of Maastricht (£15,000, 2020-2024). Previously, he led or contributed to numerous significant projects including Erasmus Plus Knowledge Exchange (£236,000), Drivers of Food Choice Competitive Grants Program ($117,000), and the TACLED project (£243,675).

He co-chairs the Global School Meals Coalition Research Consortium's Nutrition Community of Practice and chairs the Global Special Interest Group on School Health and Nutrition for the UK Nutrition Society. His work with the WHO on Ukraine's Schools Meals programme demonstrates his global policy impact.