Fifteen promising early-career researchers from across Africa have been selected for the 2025 cohort of the Countdown to 2030 (CD2030) Fellowship Program. Over the coming year, the fellows will engage in collaborative training, mentorship, and research to advance work on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) through data-driven approaches and equity-focused inquiry.

Fellows

Congratulations to all the awarded fellows!

Congratulations to all the awarded fellows!

This year’s fellows represent a diverse range of institutions and countries, and their projects address urgent and context-specific health priorities across the continent. Below is the list of selected fellows and their proposed research topics:

• Fatoumata Sidibe (Mali): Modélisation Dynamique Spatio-Temporelle et Facteurs Déterminants les Grossesses Précoces des Adolescentes au Mali 2006-2018 (Spatio-Temporal Dynamic Modeling and Determinants of Teenage Pregnancy in Mali 2006-2018)

• Fatoumata Bintou Traore (Mali): Predictive model and spatial-temporal dynamics of interventions to reduce neonatal mortality in Mali by 2030. 

• Maggie Ashaba Ssekitto (Uganda): Trend Analysis of Anxiety Disorder Among Adolescents Aged 15-19 Years in Uganda: Prevalence, Regional Variations, and Associated Health Indicators (2020-2024)

• Chisomo Lungu Chilupsya (Malawi): Trends and Determinants of Delayed Care-Seeking for Maternal and Newborn Health: A DHS-Based Analysis in Malawi 

• Anna Lauzi Mwamuye (Kenya): An assessment on utilisation of antenatal clinic data on anaemia in pregnancy to improve maternal outcomes in Kenya, Malindi sub-county

• Mabou Mbongtot Prudence (Cameroon): Comprendre le faible recours aux soins prénatals par les femmes enceintes au Cameroun : Analyse dynamique des déterminants entre 2018 et 2022 (Understanding low uptake of antenatal care by pregnant women in Cameroon: Dynamic analysis of determinants between 2018 and 2022)

• Nassone Nelita (Mozambique): The Impact of Terrorism on Maternal and Child Health Indicators in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique

• Ouattara Karim (Burkina Faso): Accès aux services de santé maternelle en contexte d’insécurité : niveaux, tendances et inégalités au Burkina Faso (Access to maternal health services in a context of insecurity: levels, trends and inequalities in Burkina Faso)

• Fikreselassie Getachew Aynalem (Ethiopia): Spatial Distribution of Child Health Services Quality in Ethiopia: Evidence from SPA 2021/22

• Mory Toure (Senegal): Extreme Heat and Health in Senegal: Development of an Early Warning Index to Strengthen Resilience in RMNCAH+N

• Jean Shonganye (Democratic Republic of Congo): Zero dose children’s catch-up activities monitoring missionProvinces of Maniema, Mongala, Tshopo and Kasaï-Oriental Democratic Republic of Congo

• Gbeminiyi Oyinloye (Nigeria): The Interface Between Child Marriage and Maternal Health Outcomes: A Comparative Analysis of Healthcare Utilization and Pregnancy Outcomes Among Adolescent Mothers in Nigeria

• Mutsindashyaka Theoneste (Rwanda): Facility-Level Predictors and Geographic Disparities in Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) Readiness in Rwanda: A Multivariable and Predictive Spatial Analysis Using HHFA 2023 Data

• Ahmed Mohamud Hussein (Somalia): Sub-national trends and inequities of zero-dose, dropout and under-immunization among children aged 0-23 Months in Somalia

• Oumar Abdel-aziz Mahamat (Chad): Facteurs socio-économiques et culturels affectant la santé maternelle et infantile (Socio-economic and cultural factors affecting maternal and child health)

The 2025 application round received 396 applications from across 22 countries. Fellows were selected through a multi-step process involving pre-screening, expert review of proposed research topics, and final selection by a committee of Countdown and African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) collaborators. Fellows were selected based on the strength of their research proposals, alignment with RMNCAH+N priorities, and potential for impact within their national contexts. The final cohort reflects a balance of geographic representation, gender equity, and linguistic diversity.

• Read about the application process

Now in its third year, the  fellowship program supports capacity strengthening in data analysis and policy translation for RMNCAH+N across Countdown partner countries. The fellowship is coordinated by the APHRC, with support from partner institutions including Johns Hopkins University, the International Center for Equity in Health at Pelotas University, the University of Manitoba, the Global Financing Facility, and the University of Southampton.

Stay tuned to learn more about each fellow’s research journey over the coming year.