Amanuel Abajobir

ABOUT Amanuel Abajobir

Amanuel Abajobir is an Associate Research Scientist working with Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Unit of the Health and Wellbeing Research Theme. He manages and leads large-scale research projects that leverage innovations (e.g., digital interventions, community co-design of interventions) to improve access and utilization of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) services among marginalized, low-income women from low-income families and settings. These interventions enhance Universal Health Coverage by increasing access to basic RMNCH services and improving quality of care in Africa.

Amanuel holds a Ph.D. in Public Health and Health Services from The University of Queensland (Australia) and a Master of Public Health in Reproductive and Family Health from Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia). He previously worked as an Assistant Professor of Public Health in Ethiopian higher institutions and as a Research Assistant at The University of Queensland.

He is inspired by generating impactful evidence for inclusive societal wellbeing in Africa.

In 2018, Amanuel received Dean’s award for Ph.D. thesis excellence and two Young Public Health Researcher Medal Awards by EPHA and EPHOA and their affiliates in 2019. Some of his publications are available on ResearchGate and ORCID.

Amanuel pursues a career development fellowship with European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership program (EDCTP), undertaking cutting-edge research that investigates the negative effect of maternal mental health (perinatal depression) on child health and development outcomes and investigates whether digital (mhealth) intervention can improve these outcomes. Using digital technologies, the study supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3–‘ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages’. It is particularly important to achieve SGD goals related to maternal and child health (i.e., SGDs 3.1 and 3.2). Moreover, as a Career Development Fellowship, it provides a unique opportunity to delve deeper into career development, build professional networks, and enrich research experiences on a regional and global scale. This project has received funding from the EDCTP2 programme (TMA2020CDF-3101), supported by the European Union and the Fondation Botnar.