1. Assessment of Need and Demand for Short and Medium Term Planning by the eNutrition Academy (eNA) in Africa
Presented by: Dr. Grace S Marquis, Associate Professor, School of Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
Prof. Alfredo Martinez, Department of Physiology and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Spain
Dr. Jacqueline Kung’u, Nutrition International, Africa Regional Office, Nairobi Kenya
Dr. Dorcus Mbithe, Department of Foods, Nutrition & Dietetics, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

2. Objective
A subcommittee of the eNutrition Academy (eNA) was formed to collect information on the topics that are most needed for courses in Africa.
The objective of the subcommittee was to:
develop the mechanisms to assess the needs that are representative of the potential users,
and the means to prioritize suggested topics.

3. A) Reviews – to achieve objective 1 (assessing needs)
Methods
A) Reviews – to achieve objective 1 (assessing needs)
Review of information collected by trustees through scientists attending professionals meetings and informal polling
Review of online E-Learning module available for undergraduates and graduates
Review of a sample of online E-Learning module available for undergraduates and graduates of nutrition curriculum available in the region
Review of articles discussing what a graduate nutrition program should include and priority setting

4. B) Online survey – to achieve objective 2 (Prioritization)
Methods
B) Online survey – to achieve objective 2 (Prioritization)
Collecting topics using an online survey on academic needs in the universities in Africa setting

5. B) Online survey – Questions
Methods
B) Online survey – Questions
Q1: Have you participated in any nutrition online learning in the past?
Q2: What was your overall impression of e-learning in your setting?
Q3: If so, which ones? List up to 5 and as much information you are able to provide:
Q4: Were you able to accomplish the objectives of the course?
Q5: What were the challenges?
Q6: Please add any other comments from your experiences that would help us develop useful elearning courses
Q7: Considering your institution and the resources that are and are not available to you, please suggest up to 5 e-learning topics that you think are important for your to have, in your courses or interactions with nutrition students/trainees, in order of priority (1=most important)
Q8: What additional benefit will these topics provide to the student/trainee?
Q9: Why did you suggest these topics?

6. B) Online survey – Questions
Methods
B) Online survey – Questions
Q10: Please reflect on what is needed to strengthen national capacity to undertake e-learning of nutrition courses in your setting?
Q11: Type of work/institution
Q12: Do you teach/supervise/train undergraduate students?
Q13: Do undergraduate students in your institution have access to computers with internet?
Q14: Do you teach/supervise/train graduate students?
Q15: Do graduate students in your institution have access to computers with internet?
Q16: Through what group did you receive this survey?
Q17: If you would like to learn more about or become involved in the eNutrition Academy, please send us your contact information

7. Results - Reviews Program planning Program implementation
Multi-disciplinary approaches for nutrition
Monitoring & Evaluation
Gaps identified through the reviews
Policy development
Genetics
Use of safety nets
Endocrinology
use We also identified gaps in similar areas in the online nutrition modules. The review of articles highlighted the need to reach beyond traditional nutrition material by integrating with other disciplines to adequately understand specific nutrition topics.
Need to integrate with other disciplines to adequately understand nutrition topics
Analysis of dietary data

8. Results – Online survey
45 Respondents from academic institutions & NGO in Africa
Respondents reported e-learning courses they had covered & those they suggest that should be developed as e-learning courses.

9. Results – Online survey E-learning topics covered by respondents
Nutrition in Emergencies
Nutrition Education
Management of acute malnutrition
Complementary feeding
Monitoring and Evaluation
Epidemiology
Nutrition & Sports
ENACT

10. Results – Online survey
The online survey topics identified ranged through the breadth of nutrition from molecular nutrition to public health nutrition.
Notably, close to a quarter of the respondents reported that statistics was the priority 1 topic for them.

11. Results – Online survey E-learning topics suggested by respondents
Research writing
Statistics
Assessment of nutrition status
Public health nutrition
Nutrition biochemistry
Basic nutrition
Lactation management
Malnutrition
Proposal writing
Scientific writing
Research methods
Epidemiology
Nutrition education
Food fortification

12. Results – Online survey E-learning topics suggested by respondents
Assessment of food habits
Nutrition communication
Nutrition physiology
Social sciences in nutrition
Food & nutrition security
Nutrition survey design
Dietary studies
Food biodiversity
Policies & politics in nutrition
Food regulation
Clinical nutrition
Community nutrition
Metabolomics in nutrition
Social protection

13. Results – Online survey E-learning topics Suggested by respondents
Nutrition composition of indigenous foods
Social media in nutrition education
Internet & computer application in nutrition
Role of food industry
Dietetics
Monitoring & evaluation
Global nutrition
Economics, health & nutrition
Implementation research
Leadership
Nutrition policy & advocacy
Program development
Nutrition in emergencies
Nutrition
planning & policy

14. Conclusion
We conclude that there is a need to invest in online nutrition modules.
The topics identified through various means give us a glimpse of what the potential users consider important.