Cynthia Matare

Cynthia Matare is a Nutrition Education Specialist at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) based in Rome, Italy.

*This series of ANH Academy career journeys were taken from real interviews, carried out by Lauren McIntyre, IMMANA Research Uptake Manager.

*The views expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Tell us about your background. Where, when, and what did you study at university for your undergraduate and graduate studies?

My undergraduate was in nutrition sciences from the University of Zimbabwe, and following that I went on to do my PhD, which was in international nutrition. So, I have basically been in this field since the beginning. My PhD was at Cornell University and I actually didn't do a Master’s degree, the process was all kind of serendipitous. At the time I didn't even know that you could go from your bachelor’s straight into a PhD. I really wanted to go to Cornell because people that I knew and looked up to had studied there, and I knew that they had a really good programme. But the year I was planning to apply, they stopped their master’s programme. So, I reached a point where I was like, OK, do I really want to do a PhD? And so, it was at that moment where I had to decide to either try and get into a master’s programme somewhere else or just go straight into a PhD at Cornell. As I said, Cornell had been a school that I had really been looking into, and their programme was something that I really wanted to do. And so, I was like, why not? Let me do this! I applied, got in, and here we are.

Did you move straight into your field of work?

I actually worked before I started my PhD. After I finished my undergraduate, I worked for the Ministry of Health in Zimbabwe as a district nutritionist. That kind of shaped my interests in terms of what part of nutrition was of interest to me and, through that job, I found that I was deeply interested in behaviour change and communication for nutrition. The year that I finished my PhD, I got the IMMANA fellowship, where I worked with CARE USA and CARE Zambia on their Nutrition at the Centre programme. We were trying to understand women’s time use and how that could impact the effectiveness of interventions, in nutrition, WASH and agriculture. After the fellowship, I moved to a consultant position on a project in Tanzania which was closely related to the work that I was doing during my fellowship. We were trying to understand the barriers to optimal infant and young child feeding in Tanzania, to inform social and behaviour change interventions for the ASTUTE project that was ongoing in the Lake Zone regions. For this project, I was the lead technical and research consultant working with IMA World Health in collaboration with Cornell University. After this, I joined FAO.

What does your role involve day-to-day?

I’m working on a project where the goal is to strengthen capacities for nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems. Specifically, I am working on a component where the aim is to develop capacities of nutrition students in universities, so that they can become better nutrition educators after they graduate. Towards that, FAO developed a course called ‘Education for Effective Nutrition in Action’ (ENACT). We had a learning lab on the ENACT course last year at ANH Academy (2020), so hopefully some of the audience will be familiar with it. The work that I’m doing is mostly in two parts. The course was developed between 2012 and 2016, so way before I joined FAO, but it was developed for the African region and there’s a French version as well. For the African context, my job is really in some sense to promote use of the course, so that universities can include it either as part of the curriculum for nutrition students or as a standalone course. I am mostly reaching out to and engaging with universities, and then also trying to be involved in training tutors of this course. It is a long course, delivered over one or two semesters, so we need to train the lecturers who will then deliver it in their institutions. I’ve been involved in a couple of these training workshops. The second aspect of the job is that there’s been a lot of interest outside of the African region for this course, specifically in Latin America and Asia. For now, though, we’re working on adapting the course for India. We are working with the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in India to adapt the course so that it’s suitable for the Indian context. So, related to that, my role is working with the NIN and my colleagues in the FAO India country office and here in Rome, providing technical support towards that.

What are you looking forward to in your current role this year?

It is around the middle of my second year in this position, and if you do the maths I was only about six months into my job before COVID-19 happened. Our current funding is until the end of this year so we are kind of wrapping things up. I’m looking forward to thinking back to the past two years to see how much of an impact we’ve made, because, with COVID-19 there’s been a lot of challenges working in this kind of situation but work has been going on and we’ve managed to keep things moving. However, the implementation of other things has not been able to happen. I think once we sit down to really look back, we’ll be able to see that we really did achieve some of the goals we set and that there has been an impact.

What’s the most satisfying aspect of your work?

I think the thing that is most satisfying for me is knowing that we are contributing towards the future of more effective implementation of nutrition and food systems work. If we have a cohort that are trained very well, through the ENACT course, then we know that they will be able to use that thinking in the work that they will do in the future. It’s satisfying to think about the potential of that.

If you did not have the job that you have now, what would you do and would it be ANH-related?

I think that I would either be a chef or a food stylist – so, still somewhat related to food but not intimately connected in the way that we think about agriculture, nutrition and health. I like to experiment with food. I try to do a lot of fusion foods and having moved here to Italy it has been really good for me as the foodie that I am. Italy is all about fresh foods and you have to work with what is in season. I think that’s a little bit more challenging, especially compared to places where you can get most things all year round. I think that in some way forces you to be more adaptable! I think it’s nice to think about that for my next life (laughs).

What were your career milestones, and when did they happen?

I guess I would say my first milestone would be my first job because I think that really shaped who I am, even up to this day, and it shaped my career trajectory. Also, it was really good to be in this job despite the challenges of that time because that was when Zimbabwe was going through an economic crisis. It was a very challenging job but it shaped who I am as a nutrition scientist so that was a big highlight. Then another milestone would be getting my PhD. For me, especially as an African woman and my parents didn’t go to college. We were the first generation to go, and my parents always instilled that we need to have the best education. So, getting my PhD was a huge milestone for me and of course, my parents as well. They were excited. As a researcher, publishing my first paper was also a big milestone. I was like, oh, wow, OK, I can do this! So that was really, really exciting for me. So, looking forward, (especially in the context of this conversation where we're talking about mentoring and being mentored) I’m looking forward to progressing more in my career and being available to other up-and-coming nutritionists who I can hopefully be a good mentor to. I'm looking forward to being a steady mentor to some people in the future. I am not involved in a mentoring scheme currently but I have had a really good support system in several people that I have worked with, and I look up to them as mentors.

Was there a time where you had to learn a great deal in a short amount of time (a learning curve)?

I guess going into this position was a real learning curve for me because previously I had worked in relatively small organisations. As you can imagine, FAO is a very big organisation and with that comes a lot of different ways of doing things. So, it really was like being thrown in the deep end, learning all the intricacies of working in a large international organization as I went along. Although I was able to grasp most things in my first few months, I think I am still constantly learning as I go.

Did you have any experience of rejection or failure in your career path?

I think everyone has had some kind of rejection or failure at some point. Thinking back to my first publication, I think anyone who's ever tried to publish a paper, except for the fortunate few who get accepted the first time, it's always round after round of “No, this is not the suitable place for this paper” or “No, we don't like your paper”. Now I've published quite a few, but it’s always that cycle of rejection when you’re trying to publish and if you let it get to you, it can really get to you. I think it's just important to know that rejection is a part of life. With publishing also, it's a very good example in that sometimes you can be rejected, but it’s not because your paper is not good enough, it’s just not a suitable place to publish that paper. Even if you might see yourself in that journal one day, the editors know better in terms of what their audience is looking for. I think many people feel that when they are rejected or when they fail that they're not good enough. I guess it’s something that I have to keep telling myself that it’s not a reflection on you, but just find somewhere you can be accepted. You can learn from it and hopefully even grow from it and become accepted where you feel like you should be accepted.

How do you manage stress in work and what advice would you give others?

I think there are very few jobs where you won't be stressed, so stress is part of it. There's good stress and bad stress; there's little stress that you can get by and then there is major stress. I think for me the response to that would be that I say the Serenity Prayer a lot of times. I don't know if you know the Serenity Prayer: ‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change...’. For me, it reminds me that there are things that are within my control, and things that are not within my control. Usually when I'm feeling stressed, I just remind myself of that, then I figure out what is the next step, what can I control? If I conclude that this is something that I cannot control, then there are few people that I reach out to and kind of run down the situation…so talking to friends, confidants, colleagues. Especially, I think to people who are outside of the situation that’s stressing you to get an outsider’s view of the situation. I also like to run a lot. That's a good, distressing thing – even when times I don’t feel stressed and I go for a run and then I realise, oh, I feel so much lighter, what's going on? I find running to be very centering and relaxing. I also like to travel. Before COVID-19, I used to travel a lot for work, but I found that travelling for leisure was a different kind of travel. I like hiking as well and I've recently taken up cycling, so I'm trying to find little things that that I can do.

How do you balance your work and family life?

I'm not married, I'm single and I don't have children, so life is a little bit easier I think for me compared to others who have young children to also care for. But of course, I do have my siblings and my parents who also want some of my time. It’s easier when it's that situation I feel, versus if you have small kids who don't understand most of the time, no, Mummy needs to do this. So, I think I'm somewhat privileged in that respect.

Have your family played a role in choosing your career path?

Not really, to be honest. My parents certainly influenced me in terms of doing the best I can, being a hard worker. I did mention earlier that my parents didn't go to college, but my mother actually graduated with a first degree a year after I graduated with my first degree, and she ended up getting two master's degrees after that. They have always been pushing us to excel in whatever we do. I think that's the extent to which they have influenced my career.

What have you learned from role models in your life and what have your experiences with mentoring involved?

My current mentors, or people who I look up to, have really influenced and shaped my thinking in a lot of ways. Even beyond just the technical aspects of things - they've taught me patience and integrity. Patience is certainly one thing that I needed to work on. Since I was a child, I was the second child and last child for quite a long time so I've always been an impatient person. I've learnt to be patient because especially in the work that we do, particularly with research, things never go as we expect them to go. Without a doubt, if you're not patient, you'll be stressed entirely. It’s been good to watch them progress in their careers and see what is in the realm of possibility and dream beyond what I think I could have imagined. Also, to be a person of integrity always is a valuable lesson that I have learnt from one role model.

How did you find these role models?

One of them was on my PhD dissertation committee and she has always been checking up on me and pointing me towards opportunities. It has been really great to have her support and her believing in what I can do. Then, the other mentor of mine was working on the project that I worked on for my dissertation. He was my direct supervisor at the time and I worked closely with him for about six years. We still work together now, but less directly. Just watching him in the way that he did things and learning how to become a better manager, a better leader - I think those were the valuable lessons that I gained from him.

If you were a mentor, do you think the possible challenges faced by your mentees working your field would be different from yours? If yes, in what way?

I think one of the biggest challenges would probably be imposter syndrome. I think almost everybody suffers from it, but I think especially as a young black African woman, there are always some opportunities that you might let pass by thinking that you are not good enough for them. I think a big challenge that many people have is thinking that they're not good enough for certain opportunities that come up. I think that it is essential to get out of that imposter syndrome mindset and grab any opportunity that comes your way. The worst thing that can happen is that you will fail in that position, but failure can have lessons. If that opportunity is being presented to you, it means somebody has seen that you are good enough and you are capable of doing good within that position. I think in terms of challenges, that might be the biggest one.

Any advice in how to overcome imposter syndrome?

I think for me it's been a lot of pep talks to myself. You have to reach a point of realising that this is imposter syndrome even though it's difficult to get out of. Then also, being presented with opportunities that I have not sought after has been validating in some way, because then you know that this person is looking for me because they see that I can do this job. I think for people who are in hiring positions, giving people opportunities is a good way of validating them. As much as internal validation is important, I think a little bit of external validation is also needed to help people realise that they are as good as they are. I think it's a two-way street.

What is one piece of advice you could give to someone beginning their career in your field?

I would affirm and emphasise seizing opportunities. If an opportunity comes your way and you miss it, it might change your whole life trajectory immensely and if you take it, it would also immensely change your whole life trajectory. If it’s something that really speaks to your heart and speaks to where you see yourself going, don't be afraid to seize those opportunities and don't be afraid to ask for opportunities as well. The worst thing that can happen if you ask for an opportunity is that they will say no and then you just move on! But, the best thing that can happen, is that they can say yes and you get the opportunity. I feel like for me there's a lot of opportunities that I have looked at and I say to myself, this is not me. There's no way that they would hire me. There's no way they'll choose me. Then the very next day, I have a friend send it to me and then another friend send it to me and then I'm like, oh, OK, I think this is worth something! So, I think if you just listen to your gut instinct from the get-go, then you probably wouldn’t have been in a situation where you need three other people sending it to you before you think that you could apply for an opportunity.

What about people who are interested in agriculture, nutrition and health. They might not know which subject to choose…

That's an interesting one, because I think you will find yourself naturally moving towards what resonates the most with you. I think that in whatever position that you will be in, you will be working in a way that everything ties together. Speaking from my own experience, as I said, I studied nutrition, both undergrad and graduate school, and have worked mostly from a nutrition mindset. But in all of the work that I've done, I've worked with people in agriculture and health. The outcomes for some of the work that I do are health-related and some are also agriculture-related. So, I think at the end of the day, you end up taking a bite of each of the aspects of agriculture, nutrition and health. I would say to not really think about it in that way and also not to think about them separately, because they are all related in some way. It starts with agriculture and it feeds into nutrition and ultimately, it's all for people to have good health. And so, if you think about it in that way, I think it makes it easier and not so much pressure in terms of picking where you want to be.

What advice would you give about interaction with other disciplines?

I would say to really throw yourself into opportunities that allow you to interact with other sectors. I think globally it is a challenge that people still try to work in silos when the world does not function in silos. So, I would say find opportunities where you can work with people from other fields, based on your interests, of course. For me, one of the things that stands out the most coming from a nutrition background and something that I've become interested in is women's mental health. You would think nutrition and women's mental health; how do these two things connect? However, they are connected in so many intricate ways that I think I've spoken about previously in a webinar that I gave for ANH. To emphasise, we as the world also need to stop thinking about and doing things in silos and work together more. Find opportunities that allow you to work with other people and I guess if you are not in that opportunity, do a lot of reading, it could never hurt. I've had to do a lot of reading on a lot of different topics that are seemingly not nutrition-related but it became an interest of mine because I found the connection to nutrition and I was like, oh, let me read on this. Then with reading, you also find people who are experts in that area that you might be interested in. Just reach out to them, talk to them, suggest a call and things like that. I think, especially in this world where we are now so easily connected that could be helpful.

Can you recommend a something for people who need inspiration or information about a career in your field?

Going back to this women's mental health aspect that I was talking about, one of the people that I admire and the work that they do is not nutrition related, but it's health-related, is a psychiatrist in Zimbabwe. His name is Dixon Chibanda, and he developed what is known as the Friendship Bench, where he trained grandmothers to provide mental health support to people in low-income areas in Zimbabwe. He gave a TED talk on that intervention and I really like his work and specifically the talk that he gave, because it highlights the importance of having home-grown interventions for many of the development issues that we are trying to solve. I think there have been a lot of “high tech solutions” that have tried to be implemented and failed miserably, because they didn't take into consideration the local context. I think the work that Dr Dixon Chibanda does with the Friendship Bench can be applied in so many other fields.

 

If you have any questions or feedback about this career journey, please contact l[email protected].