Countdown to 2030 Fellows

The Countdown to 2030 Fellowship Program is a multilateral collaboration to strengthen analytical capacities for monitoring and tracking the progress of life-saving interventions for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH+N) in Africa. Every year beginning in 2023, Countdown to 2030 selects 10 fellows from countries with an ongoing Countdown collaboration. During the 12-month fellowship, the selected researchers to work on a specific research project related to RMNCAH+N with mentorship from other Countdown researchers.

Fellowship activities include:

  • Contributing to country collaboration activities by leading the drafting of reports or other technical and communication products.
  • Attending two training workshops at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC).
  • Attending virtual and face-to-face meetings with mentors and technical facilitators.
  • Drafting and submitting at least one article to an international peer-reviewed journal.
  • Submitting a progress report every three months.

In 2023, the applications were due on April 30. The selection criteria were:

  • Be based at a Countdown collaboration institution in a country with an ongoing Countdown collaboration.
  • Have at least a master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, global health, demography, biostatistics or any related field with a specialization in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health.
  • Be less than 45 years old at the time of application.
  • Have research experience.

Learn more about the 2023 selection process here.

 

 

Fellows Selected in 2023

Below are the list of 10 fellows selected in 2023 and short videos of them describing their research projects.

 

Misrak Getnet

Misrak Getnet is from Ethiopia and is assessing the trends, determinants related to effective coverage of maternal child health services.

Francis Kabasubabo

Francis Kabasubabo is from D. R. Congo and is an analyzing the prevalence  of unintended pregnancies and contraceptive use during 2014-2022.

Sophia Kagoye

Sophia Kagoye is from Tanzania and is researching mortality trends and patterns among children and adolescents mortality age 5-19 years at the subnational level.

Absolom Mbinda

Absolom Mbinda is from Zimbabwe and is using machine learning approaches model of neonatal mortality using survey data.

Mwiche Msukuma

Mwiche Msukuma is from Zambia and is researching referral times for mothers and neonates associated with births in CEmONC facilities .

Rose Muthee

Rose Muthee is from Kenya and is researching maternal mortality ratio estimation at both the national and county levels using various data sources.

Douba Nabié

Douba Nabié is from Burkina Faso and is researching the trends and inequalities related to the 2025 targets for family planning at both the national and subnational levels.

Akua Amponsaa Obeng

Akua Amponsaa Obeng is from Ghana and is modeling correlates of modern contraceptive use among urban poor communities.

Moussa Souaibou

Moussa Souaibou is from Cameroon and is analyzing of the trends, explanatory factors and inequalities related to use of maternal health services.

Ronald Wasswa

Ronald Wasswa is from Uganda and is researching subnational trends and inequities of zero-dose, dropout and under-immunization among children aged 0-23 months.

Playlist of all Video Interviews

The playlist of all interviews below is with our 2023 fellows is available here.