Researcher Janaína Calu Costa, from the International Center for Equity in Health (ICEH), is participating as an instructor in the international training on health equity held in Senegal as part of the Countdown to 2030 Fellowship Program. Targeting early-career researchers from 14 African countries, the intensive training aims to strengthen analytical capacities in the field of women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health, with a focus on equity.

Over the course of three weeks, participants develop skills in statistical analysis, scientific writing, geospatial tools, and equity-oriented approaches. The program is delivered in a bilingual format (English–French), combining theoretical sessions, practical workshops, and structured mentorship to support the generation of evidence with the potential to inform public policies.

Janaína led the session “Why does equity in health matter? Equity analyses applied to RMNCH+N,” in which she shared analytical tools used by ICEH to investigate health inequalities, along with insights into technical capacities and leadership in global public health.

Coordinated by the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and the technical team of Countdown to 2030, the program fosters leadership in low- and middle-income countries through mentoring, project development, and capacity-building activities focused on knowledge translation into tangible actions for advancing equity.

As part of a parallel track of the initiative, ICEH researchers Cauane Blumenberg and Fernando Wehrmeister will serve as supervisors for two fellows, while Aluisio Barros and Leonardo Ferreira will co-supervise two others. This support encompasses all stages of the fellows’ research projects — from formulating research questions and methods, through data analysis and interpretation of results, to manuscript writing and dissemination.