Remembering Dr. David Nabarro: Visionary leader in global food security and sustainable development

Sir David Nabarro (born 26 August 1949), a renowned advocate for food security, nutrition, and sustainable development, has passed away. His death marks the loss of one of the most respected and influential figures in the global effort to end hunger and build equitable food systems.

Dr. Nabarro’s career spanned decades of public service across the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the UK Government. Most recently, he served as Co-lead of the Food Workstream of the UN Secretary-General’s Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance, where he helped guide global responses to rising levels of food insecurity linked to conflict, climate change, and economic shocks.

Previously, he served as the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Food Security and Nutrition and Coordinator of the UN High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis, roles in which he played a central part in aligning international action behind country-led strategies to tackle hunger. As Coordinator of the Scale Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, he brought together governments, civil society, donors, and the private sector to drive progress on nutrition in some of the world’s most vulnerable contexts.

Trained as a physician, Dr. Nabarro studied at Oxford and London Universities and held advanced degrees in reproductive endocrinology and public health. His early career included work with Save the Children on child health and nutrition programmes in Iraq, South Asia, and East Africa. He later held senior positions in the UK’s Overseas Development Administration and Department for International Development, shaping policies on global health and human development.

At the World Health Organization, he served as Director of Health Action in Crises, Executive Director in the office of former Director-General Gro Harlem Brundtland, and Director of the Roll Back Malaria Department. He was also the UN system’s Senior Coordinator for Avian and Pandemic Influenza and played a high-profile role as the WHO’s Special Envoy on COVID-19.

Dr. Nabarro was known not only for his expertise and leadership, but also for his deep commitment to people-centered development and multilateral cooperation. His ability to navigate complex political landscapes while keeping the needs of the most vulnerable at the centre of the conversation earned him widespread respect and admiration.

His legacy is embedded in global movements for better nutrition, stronger health systems, and sustainable, inclusive food systems. Colleagues remember him as a generous mentor, a thoughtful collaborator, and a relentless advocate for justice and equity.

Dr. David Nabarro leaves behind a remarkable legacy of service and impact. He will be remembered as a visionary whose life’s work improved the lives of millions around the world.