Sir Dr David N Nabarro

My old man --

From a very early age I realized that dad was a pioneer in various walks of life. He purchased the first Amiga in Liverpool – the earliest computer operating system with animation. He set up a LAN system in our Vertical House so that Tom and I could play Command and Conquer online – upon the advent of the internet.

When he used to come to watch my football games in Five Mile Drive for Summertown Stars he used to maraud around the touchline with this massive ‘Mobile Phone’ – the first of
its kind – it was a brick in the simplest sense. In between rants, when the officials made dodgy calls he used to shout ‘Linesman Blindsman’. I loved that. Dad pushed the envelope and always sought the apex.

At the age of 10 my parents separated. My old man used to come down in his navy blue Fiat Panda. Couldn't swing a cat in it. Upon occasion he took us to the High Wycombe dry ski slope. On our first lesson we ‘learnt’ how to snow plough -- slowing down by converging the tips of the skis at point of direction. After a very basic lesson on the kiddy slope he told me I was ready for the main slope. I ended up flying straight to the bottom of the piste into a crash matt, sporting a broken lip. He told me to go again. This was my Dad. Impossible is nothing.

I adored his never-say-die attitude in getting things done. I remember in L17, Southwood Road, Liverpool when Polly couldn’t ride her bike without stabilisers, he didn’t let her get in
for dinner until she managed it. Suffice to say she made it in time for tea.

Dad and Gillian brought into my life two of my most important rocks – my siblings Lucas John and Josephine Mari. I had an awesome year with them in their memorable 5 storey gaff
overlooking Lac Le Man. In that gorgeous space we had year upon year of fun at Paleo Festival, Neon – Dad and Gill hosting graciously with Dad’s Filet Mignon, frites and his exceptional sauce.

Dad and Gill built the most amazing platform for us siblings and our close mates to experience the beauty of live music in a spectacular and loving environment.

From when Josie was born with her gorgeous little red dress in Clapham, through to the arrival of Lucas
(John Arne Riise / King Crow) and then on to our bairns – Mine (Sophia & Alessia), Tom’s (Ori & Max) and
Polly’s (Isaac, Otto & Barney), Sir Dave doted on his offspring. My Squish used to ask ‘if Grandpa is a Knight, where is his shining armour?’. I said he didn’t need it.

One occasion in 2016 Dad was getting a huge back operation. After an extensive procedure with his Manhattan specialist doctor he basically had a traintrack of oversized staples down his back. I had a good natter with him and it was clear he needed me. I flew BKK to
NYC via Hong Kong on a 26 hour flight to spend a couple days with him during his
recuperation on the Upper East Side. I think he never forgot this and on several occasions he reminded me what that meant to him. When I’ve been up shit creek he has jumped on a plane and come straight to me. That is my Dad. He has helped me with my struggles to no end.

When Flo married Dad I was delighted. He reached a temperament – an equilibrium – that I
hadn’t seen before. I enjoyed their beautiful wedding and in their Ferney penthouse they had built a space to welcome this ever-growing bunch of sprogs.

With unrelenting drive until his final days, not only was my Dad an exceptional patriarch -- but from a utilitarian perspective he benefitted – and saved – millions upon millions of lives
with his unrelenting desire to benefit humanity.

He had no agenda other than to make the world a better place.

And I recon he nailed it. And that was my old man.

I think I first met David in late 1977 when he was the medical officer for Save the Children Fund (SCF) in Dhankuta, East Nepal. He was standing in the doorway of the office and he directed me and my friend to the top of the bazaar where we were planning to stay. Little did I know how soon I would be back and entering the same office door.

While in Dhankuta, David set up a nutrition unit attached to the SCF clinic. He noticed that though the children go better, many returned the following year. As he was leaving the post, with other members of the team using a 'systems' approach, he established the Child Health Support programme (CHSP) which provided health education in local schools and supported a community development programme with agricultural expertise. Having developed teacher training skills in Western Nepal since I first met David, I was lucky to be selected to oversee the CHSP sometime after David had left. However, I got to know him quite well as he visited quite frequently to oversee the nutrition study he ran from the London School of Hygiene with a team of staff in Dhankuta (including Marion) often seen carrying the weight-for-height stick and scales collecting data for David's nutrition study. Once he took on a South East Asia regional role for SCF, based in Kathmandu, our meetings were more frequent. During David's visits he would always be supportive of what we were doing contributing lots of ideas. He also worked very hard during these visits. In the evening with a group he would often fall asleep - and then 20-30 minutes later he would suddenly wake up and become fully engaged in the conversation.

When I left Nepal in 1984, David gave my name to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) which was setting up a management development programme in Odisha, India. Shortly after that, David joined the same department at LSTM. During our two years India we spent a couple of months in Liverpool to support a teaching programme. Marion and I got married and David and his partner Susie made a wonderful video of the wedding reception. We bought a flat in St Michaels, Aigburth where David and Susie had bought a house across the road. After two years in years in India I got a job at LSTM in Liverpool where David was now a senior lecturer. Living across the road, we saw quite a lot of David and Susie and David was a great support in helping me develop my career.

When David joined DFID, our relationship became more 'professional', as we were bidding for funds from his department. However, we remained friends as he continued his career working in international agencies. I last met him when he delivered the Leverhulme lecturer in Liverpool in 2019. Revisiting the video of the lecture this week [available of YouTube 'Sir David Nabarro, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Leverhulme Lecture 2019'] made me realise both his intellect and his humanity, both of which had greatly inspired me since the 1980s.

Deepest sympathies to David's family. David's life was remarkable - providing impact and support to so many individuals, in a range of ways. Having known David since the 1970s, when we worked at the LSHTM, it was inspiring to see his passion for providing care to disadvantaged communities. He brought so many insights to ways of improving nutrition in poor countries, over the years. His genuine concern for support of colleagues was also deeply appreciated. At this time of sadness for you - I hope that knowing that many people appreciate David's massive contributions towards the improvement of health and nutrition for disadvantaged people will be of comfort to you. Kind regards, Andrew

What should one do when remembering someone of such effervescent and infectious joy, of such wisdom and care, of compassion and courage, of deep and empowering humanity? Nothing but smile. Much love to Tom, Ollie, Polly, Josephine, Lucas, Flo and all who loved him.

I had the privilege of meeting Dr. David during his visit to Nepal while he was a candidate for WHO. That meeting marked the beginning of our regular conversations on social platform , where we discussed on a wide range of global and South Asian issues. we debated, learned, and exchanged our perspectives regularly.

David was more than a mentor to me; he was a guide, a challenger of ideas, and a source of inspiration. His wisdom, warmth, and ability to see the human side of every issue will always stay with me. He always inspired me to see , think from the system perspective.
I will deeply miss his guidance. Thank you, David—you will be missed and will stay in memories for ever.

From the first time I met him in 2010 as part of the SUN Task Team, David was a guiding light and an inspiration to me as he was to countless others. I am still processing his loss and feel David's absence daily, especially as I look ahead to the upcoming key advocacy moments for food security and nutrition. Being the tireless advocate, David understood that change takes time, patience and nurturing. He was a steadfast champion of civil society. David would remind us to meet people where they are and to be prepared for and comfortable in the complexity of changing systems and mindsets.

David had an amazing way of showing that he cared--he would make a point to ask how I was doing in the midst of preparing to lead a meeting or across a crowded room. I will always be grateful for his generous spirit, his encouragement and his warmth. And I will miss him very much. David, may you rest in peace.

My deepest condolences to Florence, to David's children and family, and to all his colleagues and friends. You are very much in my thoughts.

I met David face to face in 2013 in Nairobi when he was SUN Movement Coordinator. I was a little star struck.

For a year, I'd been with my colleagues Mary and Iftekhar gathered with the SUN multi stakeholder platform in Bangladesh, huddled around a conference phone, marveling over his facilitation. David conducting this strange but beautiful orchestra of countries sharing their experiences and progress in addressing undernutrition. Sometimes there were 20 of us huddled around the phone in a ministry or UN office. No matter how muffled the connection, or the cacophony of voices chiming in - he wove it all together in a way which made everyone feel heard, proud and seen.

When I met him, he was all focus and intent, but kind and generous with his time.

I joined the SUN team in Geneva in 2015 while he was leading the Ebola response. Learning from Florence and a magical team. We did our best to champion his approach to listening and leading from behind, embracing complexity and finding ways to find commonalities and always encouraging everyone to aim higher/ faster. Then carrying on his work with Gerda building a movement for nutrition.

I loved our interactions over the years, fun, cheeky, always enlightening and immense. His facilitation, curation and activation are and always will be legendary. He inspired new ways of leading, and I've never met a coalition builder with such a profound love for humanity and drive to ignite people to do good, do better.

I loved watching Flo and David as a team. Your smiles, love for each other and belief in others. Joining your beautiful wedding with our 1 year old son in the Jura was so special. As where all the UNGAs, EATs, SUNGGs, WHAs and COPs.

My condolences to the incredible Flo and to David's family. He has made such a profound contribution and has catalysed a generation of people who want to lead as he did. I feel lucky and honoured to have shared some of those years.

I first met David through SUN focal point meetings online with Flo, as a technical focal point for scaling up Nutrition in Ghana, and later at the Global SUN Gatherings. As a planner, language student, and humanitarian, I was immediately drawn to his systems thinking, his command of the French language, professionalism, and empathy. David knew how to make everybody count - he was not one to let go of any small window of opportunity to help push the SUN Agenda. Beyond the general focal point meetings, David reached out and offered to help in whatever way possible, including bringing high-level advocacy to struggling focal points to shore up political commitment. I was privileged to meet and work with David and Flo again when I assumed the co-convenership of the Food Systems Transformation Agenda. The last time we spoke was in one of such "specific" meetings, called by David and Flo, to find out how Ghana was navigating the Food Systems and Climate Agenda. I recall informing them about my impending retirement from the public service then. David thanked me for leading with empathy, wished me well in my future endeavours, and threw me a lifeline of support - he said, "If you need any help in your future endeavours, do not hesitate to contact us". That meant a lot to me, and I intended to take advantage of that promise. Even though you have left us, I am grateful for the deposit you left in Flo. We grieve, yet we are thankful to God for the gift that you were to our world and the privilege of knowing and working with you. We will miss you sorely, but we will hold onto the great memories and inspiration you left us with to give our best for the good of humanity. Rest well, my friend and inspirer!

I was quietly sitting in a chair near the end of a food systems workshop when my breakout group facilitator came over and sat next to me. He looked at me and asked, “Sanchai hunuhuncha?” (“How are you?” in my mother tongue, Nepali).

I was taken by surprise. I replied in Nepali, and we began to chat. At that time, I didn’t know much about him- only that he was genuinely interested in hearing my story. He listened patiently and encouraged me to keep going on my journey.

Later, when I got home, I Googled his name and discovered he was Sir David Nabarro. I was stoked. What stayed with me most was not his title, but the way he truly listened- he genuinely did. That moment has been imprinted in my mind ever since.

After that, our paths crossed many times- at conferences, on panels, during webinars, even at the farmers’ market in Rome- and every time, he had the same energy: humble, attentive, genuine, and above all, kind.

My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones.
Goodbye, David 🕊️

I pay my humble respect to an Adorable Person David Nabbaro with whom I came in contact during UNFSS dialogues. His inspiring comments, views, suggestions and unconditional support towards the Events even during Covid period is really remarkable and outstanding.

I only met David in the last couple of years whilst he was doing some work on food systems in the UK. I'm so shocked to hear of his death. He was an incredible leader, shown through his skill in chairing meetings; generous but firm, noticing who hasn't talked, gently bringing to conclusions. A consummate diplomat and a very special person.

Dear Florence
It is a shock.
Both of us, Henk Bekedam (DFID and WHO) and Ad Spijkers (FAO), have very fond memories of David as a person, supervisor (Henk with DFID) and colleague while working in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
David was "a man of justice”, rooted in reality but ready to pursue big steps to improve people’s livelihood. He has been truly inspirational to many with his tireless work for the good of the poor. He listened to all and always looked for solutions. The best we can do to honor him is to continue our work.
We hope to stay in touch with you and 4SD.
Keep strong!
Ad Spijkers,
Henk Bekedam

“We have to earn the right to lead” a voice said as all of us looked around to see who it was. Us - members of Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland’s transition team in Oslo. The voice - Dr. David Nabarro. It struck me instantly that I was looking at a leader - confident, committed and kind. We later became colleagues at the WHO. I worked at the tobacco control program and David in Malaria and much more. We remained in close touch. Our paths crossed often. He was a friend of India, my country, and knew much about our public health issues . I was shocked to hear of his passing - how, why. There was so much to do. We don’t make leaders like him anymore. Travel well David. ✨

I worked with David for five years from 1980-85 in East Nepal. We carried out a longitudinal nutritional study in four districts in East Nepal where a DfID funded Integrated Rural Development Programme was being implemented.
Despite his extremely busy professional life, David always rembered me and invited me to his several celebrations. It was very sad for me to learn I will never see him again!

David once told me that what truly matters after a meeting is not just what you learn during it, but how you feel afterwards — because that feeling is what stays with you. As the many meetings and interactions with David over the past decade come to an end, I’m left with a deep sense of sadness and immense gratitude. Sadness for the void left behind, and gratitude for the inclusive and meaningful dialogue he championed — conversations that aimed, always, to make the world a better place.

David had an enormous impact upon myself and the many others who had the opportunity to work with him but, more importantly, the health and welfare of the poor and disadvantaged across the world. At a personal level David was incredibly supportive of my own career and development, firstly in ODA and then DFID. When David moved to Geneva I had the honour to succeed him in heading Health and Population, an incredible department he had built into an internationally recognised engine for UK support and influence to health and development. He was a truly brilliant leader, with incredible energy and stamina. A unique brilliance, a maverick, a personality that he combined with being a compassionate and caring person. He had the courage to bend the rules when required! David was also enormous fun to spend time with, whether on the road or in social get togethers. I will never forget the firework incident for the Millenium celebrations at our house in France, a moment when half the HPD intellectual pool could have been wiped out, followed the next day with an enthusiastic plunge into the icy pool and waterfall! He has a wonderful family.

Our thoughts are with you all. We will miss him so much.

Julian

My first memory about David is from when I was working as a house doctor at the Middlesex Hospital in London for his father Dr John Nabarro who was a consultant endocrinologist. I remember Dr Nabarro telling me he had a son who had qualified as a doctor but was not following a typical medical career and had gone off to work in Nepal. I found this an inspirational idea. Later, when my husband Julian was working for ODA/DfID  I got to know David as an incredibly helpful mentor and friend. When we went to Bangladesh, where Julian worked as an ODA Health Advisor based in the British High Commission, David provided considerable support as, along with Professor Patrick Vaughan, I set up a collaborative research project with LSHTM and BRAC in maternal health.  After  working in Cambodia and then in Zimbabwe we returned to Europe in 1999. We have great memories of David & Gillian along with little Josie, and Polly, Tom & Ollie joining us for our memorable Millennium party in France! A few years later Julian went to work in Geneva while I returned to being a UK GP. We had many memorable social and work get togethers over the next decade. David was a truly inspirational friend and colleague over so many years of my working life and will be greatly missed. 

Even though I only worked for a couple of months under David's guidance in the SUN secretariat, I was part of the SUN family for longer and I have witnessed the excitement in people's eyes when they saw 'David', recalled conversations with him, or speeches he had made. He did have this ability to speak to everyone while making each one feels special.

My first week at the SUN secretariat coincided with a monthly teleconference call – these would gather all SUN countries to discuss various themes and were important momentums for the SUN family. I remember David was listening to a participant having the floor while at the same time, answering a phone call, asking someone from the team to prepare something on another topic and typing an email… before turning back to the initial speaker to sum up his main points, offer encouragement and courses of actions. I was amazed as this brain which contained several ones, the clarity, the calm, and the personal dimension with which he led these important calls.

I also remember going to lead a workshop in a complicated setting and unexpectedly receiving a phone call from David, where he offered insights on what was at stake, ways to overcome challenges and just reaffirmed his trust in my ability to do the job.

Thank you for this and for your inspiration, David, and bon voyage.

Sending you, your children, Florence, and everyone who has been touched by you, some love, courage and strength.

What a shock to hear the sad news about David - a truly amazing man. I will treasure my memories of collaborating with him at sessions of the TDR Joint Coordinating Board when he headed the DFID delegation, during meetings of the CDS Senior Management Group when he was in charge of Roll Back Malaria, working with him to organize the first meeting of Roll Back Malaria - memories of him disappearing into the London underground whilst trying to talk to me on the mobile phone - memories of a special conversation with him concerning TDR when he was the EXD in the DG's Office, and admiring his skill in the EB room, as he listened to the comments around the room, weaved them together and typed up a running summary on the screen - a real talent. We shall all miss you David. May you rest in peace. My deepest condolences to the family. Sue

I have been working for World Vision with David, Florence, Arne, and Marlen for the last 12 months or so as partners on Nutrition Dialogues.

What a priviledge.

David was so gracious and generous with his praise and thanks. He embodied and articulated an inspiring blend of technical excellence with a passionate and humble heart that recognised and sought to elevate the voices of those on the margins who are most impacted by the challenges we are trying to address.

Praying for the whole family.

Mike

We are shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of David Nabarro.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of David's leadership. His commitment to inclusivity and passion for bringing people together has shaped so many lives and driven impact well beyond the food systems and nutrition space.

David was always more than an advisor to the ACF - he was a constant champion, a gifted convenor, a deep listener, sometimes a challenger, and most importantly, a friend. It was always energising to be in a room with David, with his clarity of thought and mastery of language.

He was a deep believer in what humanity can achieve through collaboration and trust. He will be profoundly missed.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

On behalf of Emma, Clem, Morgan, James, Chris, Katie, Thomas, Paul, Alexandre, Kamila, Sok Silo x

David was kind, endlessly inclusive, and powerful in the way he brought people together. I only worked with David for tiny part of his expansive career, but am grateful for all the wisdom and wizardry with words he shared. He had a rare ability to notice and uplift the quietest voices in the room - often the ones doing the running around behind the scenes. It can be hard as a young woman in a space for of leaders and big thinkers, but he always encouraged and created space for anyone to contribute.

He was a pioneer of 'dancefloor diplomacy' - not just with his energetic dance moves, but how it can bring people together. His joy of this was infectious, especially with his colorful socks. It was a pleasure to see this in action, even recently, this May.

Thank you David, for your many lessons and belief in others. My thoughts are with Florence and his family x

David was a true global leader who shaped the world around him. My first dose of David's inspiration was when I met him in Cambodia in the early 1990s. Malayah had the same experience working for him later in that decade setting up the Roll Back Malaria partnership - the first of its kind in global health.

Through many decades, David made an incredible mark on us through his ability to listen and engage with people with vastly diverging views and to galvanize responses and cooperation to many of the world’s big challenges.

From a personal perspective, we were two of the lucky ones, who were nurtured by David. He was both a friend and a professional hero and he left a deep imprint on us both - shaping our careers and our deeply held belief in social justice.

At this important time in history, we need more David’s in the world - those who are relentless in making the world better and safer for everyone. He will be sorely missed.

Our thoughts are with Florence, his family, children and grand children.

David,
a man of words and of endless engagement. Among others, here are a few that come to my mind, that he carried with him throughout his life and work:
Dedication...to humanitarian and medical action, to its principles to people — equally valued
Humility...in the service of a cause greater than himself
Trust...as a mark of respect and steadfast commitment
Listening...in all circumstances while keeping a humanitarian sense of urgency
Uniting...practical, purposeful, and generous
Political...in the noblest sense
Impact...to act, support, innovate and to stand with those in greatest need

A tireless humanitarian, a man of quiet strength.
With all my thoughts to Florence, and David and Florence's families.
Thank you David

David will leave a void in so many lives, but also the biggest of legacies. I first met David in 1982 when, as he was inclined to do for thousands over many years, he responded to the request from a totally unknown student for some help with a project in Nepal. He was, from day 1, unstinting in his generosity with his time, his brilliance, his ability to make you want to put your best foot forward, and, however inadequately, emulate his drive for equity and justice. David was a mentor and colleague over the many years since, and a dear friend. Always an inspiration, and with that infectious passion and impatience (for all the right reasons) tempered with the warmth, humour and endearing quirkiness that will remain in my memories of an extraordinary 'one off'. My heartfelt condolences to all the family - thinking of you all, with love, Carole

Dear David,

It has been such a pleasure working with you and having learned so much from you during the tsunami response in Banda Aceh and the Ebola response in West Africa, I tried to incorporate so much of it in my own working style. I will miss you.

My condolences to David’s family and close ones.

David, Thank you for your light! Your magnanimity and humanity have been an inspiration for many of us, always guiding with humility and paving the way for the new. Wishing your family and loved ones much courage and peace!

My sincerest condolences to David’s family and friends, and to the huge and diverse group of colleagues and collaborators that he so inspired. I was one, as the recently-retired WHO Africa Regional Director.

I deeply appreciated his advice and encouragement during the COVID-19 pandemic, the West Africa Ebola outbreak, and other health crises. His deep knowledge, enthusiasm, humour and respect for all spurred us to action, including the most challenging circumstances. He leaves an indelible legacy of impact on the lives of millions across the world.

May he rest in eternal peace.
.

I am saddened with the news of Dr David passing away. I have come to know whom amid the COVID19 pandemic, were I used to meet with him among the special WHO DGs envoys in the weekly meeting to brief on the WHO (EMRO) situation. He always provided the ultimate vision and guidance, once he talked everyone would eagerly listen to his wisdom words. At the same time, he was a keen listener who would seek information and interact with passion to issues we raise. I wish I would have met him in-person, admitting his outstanding career, experience and knowledge and contribution to the advancement of public health on a global level. May his soul rest in peace and sincere condolences to you Florence and the family.

Shortly after I joined the WHO, I first met David in Nigeria during the Rollback Malaria Conference in Abuja. This marked the beginning of a remarkable journey across three continents and numerous countries. David has been my mentor, encouraging my photographic missions for WHO, and helping me achieve the status of an international photographer with experience in over 40 countries. Thank you, David, for your trust and for the many impactful projects we've completed together. I am grateful for our friendship, and I look forward to crossing paths again in another life.
Goodbye friend. Pierre-Michel Virot

David Nabarro was a dear friend, a mentor, a true systems leader and a force of nature. And an invaluable member of the EAT Advisory Board since the start. Fierce in truth, fierce in kindness, tireless in his mission to serve people everywhere.

I keep replaying one of our early meetings, seven years back. After a barrage of questions from me, listening carefully, David calmly flipped his notebook and wrote upside-down - flawlessly - so I could follow every word. That mix of brilliance, humility, and patience—that is the David I’ll remember.

His strong voice, leadership and genuine passion in these strange times will be sorely missed. No one can fill his shoes, but we can keep walking the path he cleared with such courage and conviction. I’ll miss his friendship and mentorship more than I can say.

All my love to Flo and the family. Rest in peace, David.

I am so sorry to hear of Sir David's passing. I met him a number of times when he visited Guinea during the ebola crisis. He was energetic, determined and focused, always showing great leadership; a wonderful and reassuring representative of the UN. He was kind and softly spoken, but his words were always compelling. He always too had time for people, no matter how busy he was. I will remember Sir David with great admiration and affection.
My heartfelt condolences to his dear family and friends.

Today more than ever before, we need folk like David who have the wisdom, generosity of spirit, and unwavering commitment to make the world a better place for all its people. As a nutritionist working in Africa, Asia, and Latin America for over four decades, I can attest that David became our nutrition community’s North Star at a time we needed it the most at the beginning of the global food crisis in 2008. Known for its fractious history, David helped to stitch the nutrition community together under the big SUN tent. This included a vast array of nutrition actors who had never been altogether comfortable sitting around the same table. He helped to unite our focus and guide our energies to high burden countries and the groups of people and communities most affected by malnutrition. Leading by example, he showed us how to listen deeply and meet people where they were. We watched as he adroitly navigated through the complex groups of actors needed to bring on board to improve nutrition. We all saw how hard he worked and the extraordinarily long hours of each of his days and many travels. He was unstoppable. And he was humble. With all his awards and recognitions, he remained David to us all. For those who were lucky enough to work with David, we will remain his living legacy to forge ahead to achieve a better world in whatever we do. To Florence and all of David’s family, I want to say a heartfelt thank you for sharing your wonderful husband, father, and grandfather with the world. May He Rest in Eternal Peace. With love, Victoria Quinn

Sir Dr David gave me an opportunity to understand the world better, gave me hope that there are people who are tirelessly working to make the world a better place, just like he was. Meeting him, learning from him, knowing his work, his kindness and brillance has been life changing and one of the best thing that happened in my life. I was always amazed at how beautifully he could create summaries and narrations for the most complex disucssion. His words , "Meet the people where they are"and "find comfort in complexities" have become the way of life for me and hopefully for many others.

My heartfelst condolences to Florence and the family. As he was, I too am optimistic that his legacy will be taken forward by people who's life he touched and changed for better.

Sincerely,
Anita Bake

I write to express my great sadnss to Ms Florence Lasbennes (Lady Nabarro) and all the family on the death of Sir David Nabarro with whom I had some contact to talk about Nepal before he went to work there.
He was a fearless and fearsome advocate for Global Health in all its aspects as was replected in the obituary published in the Times of yesterday.
I hope that at this time of sadness, grief and loss that you can experience some comfort from your memories of the happy times you had together, particularly those related to 4SD and its work in development.
Yours sincerely
Stephen Wright

I was deeply saddened to hear about Mr. David's passing. He was a kind, compassionate, and loving individual whose presence will be greatly missed. His contributions to health-related services were invaluable for the welfare and development of the community. He dedicated his life to alleviating suffering and misfortune.

His legacy will be remembered for years to come. I extend my heartfelt condolences to David's family and friends, wishing them patience and strength during this difficult time.

Sincerely,
Dr. Khushal Khan Qureshi
Kabul-Afghanistan

I was fortunate to work with David a decade ago when he stepped in to coordinate our team in the Office of the UN Secretary-General. I’m hugely grateful for the words of wisdom he shared and the example he set during that time. As a leader and colleague, his tireless determination, dedication, resilience and shear humanity were (and continue to be, for me) an inspiration. Thank-you David.

I met David when he was appointed the Special Envoy on Ebola, I witnessed his boundless energy, his commitment to get things done, and his ability to bring together people from all walks of life to seek solutions and solve problems. That was David he led, he inspired and he built bridges and connected people. People were important to David - as I listen to the tributes coming in from the SUN focal points, the youth groups, the UN family or civil society partners David touched them all with a shared humanity, a sense of purpose, genuine commitment, and he showed all of us how together we could make a difference. When I joined the SUN Movement as Coordinator - David and Flo took time to share their thoughts, their experiences - No Ego’s No Logo`s - an unwavering commitment to tackle malnutrition and mobilize every lever possible to make that happen.
David has left an incredible legacy - it falls upon many of us to take up the baton, with drive, tenacity, commitment and unrelenting determination that David brought to this world.
To his family I offer heart felt condolences. As you grieve his passing and celebrate his life please know he was a visionary leader, a friend a mentor and most of all loved.

I met David when he was appointed as the special envoy on Ebola (2014) of the Secretary General of the United Nations. As the international president of Médecins sans Frontières, I was asked to briefed him on the Ebola situation in West Africa. I remember inquiring if he was this sort of phlegmatic Brit character, a sort of James Bond… I was told, not exactly. He was a far remote D. Craig version with few tics and crazy focused on the task. We met in a dark basement restaurant in NYC.

David has this sort of in my-world demeanor, hardly looking at you when conversing, scribbling frantically notes while one is talking, making bullets points and underlining passage of his notes. He is computerizing and synthesizing as one speaks to him. And at the end of one hour conversation, he does his trick by summarizing the exchange in 5 bullets.
I knew I could work well with such a dedicated international civil servant. I remembered when we heard that public commitment of the US... 25 Ebola beds of hospitalisation was the US pledge for West Africa. I wrote him a candid email saying that the US were joking... how can such pledge be remotely considered "a considerable ramp up"? David's reply: It is a good start Joanne.

This summarizes so well my friend, a tenacious courteous fighter, fighter for more for the most vulnerable. He is the iconic role model of the best incarnation of an international civil servant.

He is dearly missed.

My deepest deepest sympathies to his family, friends, co-workers and world friends.

Humbly
joanne

Dre joanne liu, former international president of MSF

David was an extraordinary individual who had profound impact on those around him and the issues he cared about. I first met David in 2018, when I was being considered for (and considering) the role of Program Director of the Food and Land Use Coalition, after a career spent working in government. Our conversation was classic David – the warmth, humour and positivity with which he could quickly build rapport and put people at ease and his curiosity and intellectual probing to understand what motivates and drives others. I am so grateful our paths crossed at that moment, a turning point in my career.

Through my time at the helm of FOLU and beyond, David was always there when I needed him, as a mentor, colleague and friend. I tried not to abuse this privilege, knowing how many demands were made of him. But if there was a difficult or sensitive personal or professional issue that I needed advice on, he would find time. He helped me make sense of complexity, navigate tricky personalities, and gave me permission to step up, or back, or aside, always appropriate to what I needed at the time.

Like many others, I was so fortunate to have been guided by him in systems-based thinking and people-centred approaches. “Bring people in”; “meet them where they are”; “don’t worry if it gets a bit messy, it will take time to settle” and many other phrases that are like mantras to me now.

David was also such a brilliant moderator and public speaker. He would use energy, intonation and his physical presence to great effect – navigating with diplomatic aplomb those tricky moments when high-level speakers were taking too long, when technology stopped working, or when something unexpected happened in a room. Through humour, gravity, dignity or delight, he could summon up emotions like a conductor of an orchestra. He was a huge advocate for the voices of farmers, women and youth being represented, alongside Ministers and heads of international agencies, equally valued.

My heartfelt condolences to his family. When I last spoke to David, just a few weeks ago, he had been filled with stories of the last few months and the various things he’d been doing with his children and grandchildren, of whom he was so proud. It seems so incredibly unfair that these retirement years that stretched before him were not to be. I cannot imagine your loss, and I thank you for having shared David with us for so long.

While working through my own grief, and reading the tributes to David from all over the world, I am filled with hope. His sonorous voice whispering in our ears, his guidance continues, his legacy lives on.

I am shocked and so sad that David has died. Truly he was one of the good. What a wise, compassionate and loving person. I feel so honoured to have known him through Covid work, have learnt from him, and admired his compassion for all people. I send my love and deep condolences to all his family.

Dear Florence, family, and friends of David Nabarro

Please accept my condolences for your loss – and ours.

I served the UN for 34 years, and had the distinct pleasure of working with, and learning from, David on two separate occasions. First, in Geneva in relation to a variety of emergency humanitarian situations, and later, in Egypt, when David provided terrific support to our work with the Government on Avian Flu.

Besides mastery of detail, a remarkable work ethic, and a great sense of humor, what was so memorable about David was his deep commitment to the principles and values of the UN, which together with his truly outstanding diplomatic skills and humility, made him a uniquely influential international civil servant.

David was certainly one of the most effective and memorable colleagues that I had the pleasure of working with during my career. There is no doubt that he made the world a better place.

I am so sorry he is no longer with us, but there is no doubt that we will continue to remember and be inspired by his life’s work.

May he rest in peace.

James W. Rawley

I was really caught by surprise, as all of us, when I was informed. Surprised also by the deep sadness that caught me. I will always remember your curiosity and openness, and the generosity with which you welcomed me the first time we met. Each of our meetings has been so inspiring and enriching for me, with the official and “off the record” discussions! Someone like you having trust in me was just a gift. I will never forget you David.
Nicolas

Working with David at the HighLevel Task Force on Food and nutrition, I was struck by David’s commitment to listening, learning and reflecting on ideas and knowledge from all people, valuing insight from wherever it came. I also watched in awe his ability to translate ideas into political and practical action using his formidable political skill.

In less than a week, the world feels quieter, emptier, lonelier and somehow less hopeful without Sir David Nabarro’s boundless energy and unwavering dedication. He was a man who faced every challenge with courage, humility, and the unshakable belief that solutions are always possible when we act together.
I had the privilege of working with David during my tenure as UN Resident Coordinator in the Pacific. His wisdom and generosity of spirit strengthened our efforts to build resilience and protect the most vulnerable—work that still carries the imprint of his leadership and compassion.
Above all, David was a friend. He shared not only his expertise but also his kindness, humor, and genuine care for those around him. In every interaction, he made people feel seen, valued, and inspired to give their best to the world.
From global health to food systems transformation, David’s impact touched every corner of the world, yet he always found time to listen, encourage, and uplift those he worked alongside.
He leaves behind not only a legacy of service, but a reminder that our greatest strength as humanity lies in empathy and purposeful action. Rest in peace, David... you inspired us more than words can ever say.

The news of David's passing stopped me in my tracks. I had this notion that he would continue doing what he did, for many years to come. David was an indefatigable champion for nutrition, a natural leader and a wonderful human being. When I first met him 43 years ago when I started a Masters in Nutrition at LSHTM, I was immediately struck by his drive and intensity but also his sense of humour. I will never forget the first time he lectured us...he burst into the room, after a delayed flight from Kathmandu, threw his bag in the corner and got straight in...with an energy that became his hallmark. He was external examiner for my PhD a few years later (having influenced my field work in India, encouraging me from afar to keep going) and then much later, the chair of the advisory group for our Transform Nutrition consortium - on one occasion calling me to provide feedback on a report, minutes after coming round from a general anaesthetic for back surgery! My last brief collaboration with him was on a food justice webinar -- it was great that he could make the time, but he called me in advance to learn more about how he could best contribute. Amazing commitment. The numerous memories on this wall show how deeply people felt about him. I won't begin to list his many achievements...there were so many. Deepest condolences to Florence and his family.

Like so many thousand of people around the world, David was my mentor, friend and inspiration. He welcomed and settled me into DFIDs health advisers and later into WHO. Our families got to know each other, and many close friendships remain. Seeing him at work, whether close-by or from afar was always a lesson in how to make things happen. He has achieved so much; the world is a much, much better place because of him. He was also great fun, warm and thoughtful. A big loss but he’ll live on in my heart for a very long time.

Every encounter with David was a masterclass in compassionate leadership. He had a way of uplifting others, listening with intent, and offering clarity when it was most needed. He made complex challenges feel navigable—not just through strategy, but through heart.

David’s passing is not only the loss of a leader; it is a loss to humanity. His legacy reminds us what it truly means to lead with purpose.

🕊️ Thank you, David, for always hearing us.

Such an immense loss for the nutrition / the health/ the food systems communities. My heartfelt condolences to Florence and David's family, to his co workers and to everyone mourning his loss. Although we met briefly around systems thinking, I was impressed by his unwavering passion and communicable energy, his clear vision but even more so by his ability to convey messages in a very simple manner, always with people in mind and at the core of his messages. His drive and humanity will be deeply missed.

My sincere condolences to David's family and friends. David was a force of nature. I believe we joined WHO on the same day (11 January 1999) and worked closely on building the human resources plan for Roll Back Malaria. I have the privilege of working with him professionally and getting to know him a little bit more socially. He constant optimism and positivity was contagious. We also shared a keen interest in alternative music! He will be sorely missed.

Dear David,
I still can’t believe that you are gone.
Though we only knew each other for a short time, it was truly an honor. You had a way of lifting others up, and you empowered me in ways I didn’t expect but deeply needed. Your words and your spirit made a difference.
You will be remembered with warmth, respect, and gratitude.
May you rest in peace.
With heartfelt sympathy.

Dearest David,
It has been an honor to know you for this past decade since the West Africa Ebola and to see you in action. Thank you for your light! Your magnanimity and humanity have been an inspiration for many of us, always guiding with humility and paving the way for the new. Thank you for sharing your energy with us. Celebrate forever in peace. Wishing your family and loved ones much courage, strength, peace and hope! With gratitude and love, Maria G.

My heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Sir Dr David N Nabarro. So sad to lose a husband, father, grand father , mentor and a great leader like him. His legacy remains to great people he mentored. RiP

Deep sympathies to David’s family and to everyone who like me is surprised, shocked and sad at this news. Fresh from Nepal, David and Susie swung by our field-work base in Coimbatore in 1980 - and in David we met someone who was endlessly curious, with no respect for the borders of academic disciplines. Soon after that, I was teaching alongside him in the Department of Human Nutrition at LSHTM. With Philip Payne as HoD, they were lively, innovative years. David was fascinated by new teaching tech and new forms of learning, was always pushing boundaries, always available to students, always wanting to argue, always worldly wise and unshockable – a visionary with a line in dark medical humour. Looking back, you could see the seeds of his later work building global networks and alliances, operating in the WHO and inside the UN system on a wide range of levels and sure that policies needed not just good reasoning but also public dialogue. He was remarkably at ease with people from all walks of life, all over the world. Unlike many medics he had time for non-medical doctors (‘people not in white coats’) because he saw that public health – indeed all kinds of health - needed finance and political muscle and energy. I saw less of David when he left UK shores though more recent zoom meetings brought together people separated in space. You could see how David had receptive audiences over zoonotic diseases and differences between vets and medics; you could see his leadership at work over crisis responses to epidemics and pandemics, to disasters and conflicts. And you could see his diplomatic skills at work in dialogues to make a reform agenda for the world’s food systems. A charismatic communicator, he was a one-off and I am so sorry that he’s gone ..

David was an inspiration to so many. For me it was in the recent years of his work where he set about reframing how we work with the food system. Not only did his work shine a light on the food system, it also took a completely different methodology - where people are at the heart of it in the Dialogues he facilitated and created. He had the amazing ability to give everyone a chance to be heard and a voice. He listened to everyone and made them know that. Personally, he supported me with my food systems work in New Zealand and guided me with that. A lot of people work in the food system but not many work ON the food system, so to have his guidance was so important. I'll miss his leadership but also will continue the work in his honour. We have a Māori whakatauki | expression in New Zealand "Kua hinga te tōtara i Te Waonui-a-Tāne," which translates to "A tōtara has fallen in the great forest of Tāne". A tōtara being a mighty tree, Tāne being the atua | god of the forest. Now as sapplings we must rise to that legacy.

I am very sorry to hear of David's passing. I had the honour of working with him on the Ebola response and we would travel to meet ministers and officials to persuade them to fund the UN's work. David was a brilliant communicator, persuasive and ever the diplomat. He was fun and funny and full of energy.

He had a ring tone that blasted music his son had picked for him which he delighted in.

He was an inspiration in his energy and his commitment to the causes he worked on.
Next time I go to New York I will go to St. John's diner for coffee and think of him.

It is so sad to hear about the sudden demise of David. His immense contributions to sustainable Food Systems can never be forgotten. Indeed, a large vacuum has been created.
May his gentle soul rest in peace amen

My deepest condolences to Florence, his family, loved ones and all who had the privilege of working alongside him.

I first met David in 2010 and first worked together in 2014. He impressed me because he always made space at the table for women and treated them with respect. Unlike a lot of people in the international arena, he genuinely embraced diverse views and listened. David had such a sharp mind. He had a rare talent for making people feel seen & valued & checking in.

Beyond him being a truly great person, he lived an impactful lift. Leading on global health, equity, implementation of the SDGs and sustainable food systems. His legacy will live on and his loss will be felt. His influence improved lives, strengthened systems, sparked change / action and helped tackle global health crises (from Ebola to COVID). He was courageous, inspiring, humble, impactful, irreverent & irreplaceable.

Thank you David for everything you did and being the person you were.

Although I had the chance to meet David only twice, through Paul Newnham, I was genuinely struck by his warmth, passion, and the clarity with which he understood the complexities of health, food systems and nutrition. His faith in people. His rare combination of global insight and genuine humanity grounded in real people.

It was humbling when he told me during our first meeting at COP28 that he had visited Malawi during my childhood, but it was proof of just how far-reaching and impactful his work was, even then.

When we met again in Kigali, we had a powerful conversation about the role of dialogue in uplifting those facing hunger and malnutrition.

It was a meaningful moment for me, as a communicator in development, this is at the heart of what we strive to do: to create space for those directly impacted by our work to speak, to be heard, and to lead the narrative of change. Thank you for these moments and for all you've done for the world, David.

Rest in power!

A Tribute to Sir Dr. David Nabarro

I never knew, nor could I have anticipated, the heartbreaking news I read early Sunday morning—that Sir Dr. David Nabarro was no more.

It was only on Friday, about 1500hrs July 25th, 2025, that you and Florence graciously and generously gave your time for a virtual meeting, where we spoke passionately about skilling young people for food systems transformation—a cause so close to your heart.

You were full of life, enthusiastic, and once again ready to do what you did best: bringing people together, bridging divides, and inspiring hope. You may not have made it to Addis in person, but your spirit certainly did.

David, you inspired me to hold firm to the belief that skills are vital for transforming food systems. You reaffirmed that truth to me, and I will carry this mission forward—not only for my own sake but also in honor of your legacy.

To Florence and the entire family, I am deeply sorry for this profound loss.

May the peace of the Lord be with you, and may the soul of Sir David rest in eternal peace.

With heartfelt condolences,
Shadrack Agaki- Nairobi Kenya.