Tufts’ Jordan Nutrition Innovation Lab leads efforts to support optimal infant, young child and maternal nutrition and health in Jordan.

An Update From Tufts’ Jordan Nutrition Innovation Lab
The Feed the Future Nutrition Innovation Lab in Jordan (JNIL) is a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project implemented by Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. As one of over 20 Innovation Labs, JNIL aims to support optimal infant, young child and maternal nutrition and health in Jordan. Led by Research Associate Professor Dr. Shibani Ghosh, JNIL’s main objective is to generate evidence on program impacts and build research capacity to support optimal health and nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and children in Jordan.
In 2022, JNIL conducted its inaugural National Scientific Symposium, the first annual Nutrition Research Designs and Methods Workshop, and a quantitative research anthropometric measurement training, amongst other research and capacity building activities.
First National Scientific Symposium in Jordan
JNIL’s First National Scientific Symposium, “Diets, Nutrition and Health in Jordan: Promoting Science-Based Actions to Support Mothers, Infants, and Children,” was held on August 16th-18th, 2022 in Amman, Jordan. The inaugural symposium brought together government and non-government stakeholders, regional and international scholars, academics, researchers, students, and program specialists to promote sharing, understanding, and adoption of rigorous evidence on maternal and young child nutrition and health in Jordan.

Dr. Shibani Ghosh, Principal Investigator of the Jordan Nutrition Innovation Lab from Tufts University, presenting the concluding remarks and call to action for the First National Scientific Symposium in Amman, Jordan.
A total of 482 participants, both in person and virtual, attended the two-day event with 15 in-country institutions represented. Twenty invited speakers and ten competitively selected oral presentations were delivered through plenary and oral sessions. Of those in attendance, JNIL was honored by the presence of His Excellency, Health Minister of Jordan Dr. Firas Al Hawari.

Dr. Shibani Ghosh, Principal Investigator of the Jordan Nutrition Innovation Lab from Tufts University, presenting during the poster sessions during the first day of the symposium. Amongst those listening are His Excellency, Health Minister Dr. Firas Al Hawari and Her Excellency, USAID Mission Director Sherry F. Carlin.
First Nutrition Research Designs and Methods Workshop
JNIL held its first Nutrition Research Designs and Methods Workshop from August 6-11, 2022 in Jerash, Jordan. The in-person workshop was preceded by an online preparatory and reading period from July 3-August 5, which included a one-week break for the Eid-Al-Adha holidays. The overall goal of the workshop was to train upcoming Jordanian scientists on the rigor of research methodology and enhance skills in conceptualization, development, implementation, and analysis of robustly designed quantitative research protocols. The 12 participants in attendance were selected from 77 applicants through a competitive, non-partial selection process.

A picture of the panel discussion titled “Nutrition Leadership Development in Jordan.” In this panel, three professionals working in the policy, program, and science space, in Jordan and outside, provided insights from the perspective of their own sectors. From left to right: Shibani Ghosh, Tufts University, Samah Al-Quran, USAID Jordan, Ahmed Kablan, USAID Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, Washington DC, and Ayah Talal Zaidalkilani, University of Petra
Principal investigator Dr. Shibani Ghosh and members of JNIL, including Tufts professors Lynne Ausman and Laurie Miller, traveled to Jordan to conduct the workshop. By the end, participants were equipped with the skills needed to enhance their capacity to conduct rigorous research. One student expressed, “I am particularly grateful for the knowledge and skills I gained in scientific research, which have enabled me to join the Nutritional Student Research Club at the University of Jordan and contribute as a co-author in an upcoming publication. Thank you for providing a platform for individuals like myself to grow and develop professionally.”

A group picture of the core faculty and mentors present during the duration of the workshop. From left to right: Mohammad Qardan, Mindset, Afnan Alghanmi, Tufts University, Laurie Miller, Tufts University, Hala Nawaiseh, University of Jordan, Shibani Ghosh, Tufts University, Reema Safadi, University of Jordan, and Moad Rahamneh, Tufts University.
Quantitative Research: Anthropometric Measurement Training
In 2022, JNIL also conducted a five-day anthropometric measurement training from September 27-October 3 in Amman, Jordan led by Afnan Alghanmi, a PhD student at the Friedman School and core member of the JNIL team. Fifty-eight enumerators were trained on various measurements, including mid-upper arm circumference and skin fold thickness, to assess the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women.
The overall goal of the training was to produce women skilled in taking anthropometric measurements and enrich the pool of young female professionals working in maternal and child nutrition in Jordan. This was in response to the noticeable lack of female engagement and clinical perspective in the country, which posed a challenge to capturing clinical sensitive data from the target population. As a result of this gender disparity, the JNIL team developed a rigorous training plan specifically focused on engaging women with an interest in maternal and child nutrition.
“It was an absolute pleasure and honor to use my knowledge and expertise not only to train the enumerators and be part of this global team of experts, but also to empower these women and help them develop their skills” says Afnan Alghanmi.

A group picture of attendees with Afnan Alghanmi, a PhD student at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.
Disclaimer: This blog post is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Feed the Future initiative. The contents are the responsibility of the Jordan Nutrition Innovation Lab and Tufts University do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.