MSc fellow Cyprian Masvikeni is actively testing and refining a homegrown AI solution designed to improve access to sexual and reproductive health information for young people in Zimbabwe. One year ago, he presented the idea for a WhatsApp-based chatbot at the AI Health Innovation Workshop at the University of Zimbabwe, held in partnership with Imperial College London. Since then, the focus has been on building, deploying, and learning from real-world use. The result is Shand

SOFAR Monitoring & Evaluation co-leads Prof. Virginia Bond and Dr. Musonda Simwinga recently attended a three-day meeting coordinated by the Ministry of Health and the National AIDS Council (NAC) to review the National AIDS Strategic Framework (NASF) 2023–2027, which aims to control and eventually end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Zambia. The meeting was attended by various stakeholders including civil society organisations, implementing partners, multilateral organisations and go

To strengthen research capacity across Southern Africa Southern Africa Research Capacity Network (SOFAR) recently concluded an intensive Health Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Training, which took place from 8–11 June 2026, at Zambart. Funded by the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP3) and the European Union, SOFAR supports emerging researchers through mentorship, fellowships, training opportunities, and collaborative learning platforms. B

The Health Reserch Unit hosted a three-day Introduction to Machine Learning for Healthcare course, bringing together clinicians, researchers, and data enthusiasts from across Zimbabwe. For SOFAR Fellow Cyprian Masvikeni, the workshop underscored the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing real-world health challenges. “The diversity in the room was incredible,” Cyprian shared. “Bringing together different perspectives made the learning experience richer and hig

On 27 May, the Biomedical Research and Training Institute proudly unveiled its new Parent & Baby Room at the Health Research Unit offices—marking a meaningful step toward a more inclusive, supportive, and forward-thinking workplace. Designed with both care and practicality in mind, the space offers a warm, child-friendly environment where little ones can play safely while parents remain connected to their work—whether attending meetings or collaborating with colleagues. The r

The City of Maputo hosted, on 19 and 20 May 2026, a workshop dedicated to the training of student supervisors and mentors, bringing together lecturers, researchers and academic advisors. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen postgraduate education and the development of scientific research in Africa, promoted by the SOFAR (Southern Africa Research Capacity Network) initiative. The main objective of the meeting was to strengthen academic supervision and me

Meet Dr. Celso Khosa SOFAR’s Fellowship Management Lead and a champion for TB/HIV research and public health across Southern Africa. Dr. Celso Khosa combines clinical training, scientific rigor, and a passion for capacity building — qualities that uniquely position him to lead and grow SOFAR’s Fellowship programme. Based at Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), in Mozambigue Dr. Khosa has led multiple clinical and operational research studies on TB, HIV, and related comorbiditie

Dr. Silumbwe, a SOFAR postdoctoral researcher, recently traveled to Ndola alongside TB Reach Wave 11 Plus Principal Investigator, Dr. Amofa-Sekyi, to support the next phase of tuberculosis (TB) innovation in Zambia. As the project’s social scientist, Dr. Silumbwe will play a key role in shaping research and implementation strategies. The TB Reach Wave 11 Plus project builds on the success of the “Ubumi Bwandi” (“My Health, My Choice”) initiative—an integrated wellness screeni

On 31 March–1 April 2026, SOFAR Zimbabwe Principal Investigator, Constance Mackworth-Young, participated in a high-level meeting in Kadoma organised by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care as part of the development of the National Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Implementation Plan. Together with BRTI colleague Farirai Nzvere, she presented findings from the EMPOWA, Y-Check, and CHIEDZA studies to approximately 60 adolescent health focal points representing six nat

During this Women’s Month, The SOFAR community is pleased to welcome Sesaltina Monteiro as Co-Principal Investigator for SOFAR based at the Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS) in Mozambique. An accomplished public health leader and researcher, her expertise will further strengthen our shared mission to advance research capacity in Mozambique and the SADC region. Sesaltina currently serves as the National Director of Public Health Training at INS, where she plays a key role i

Zambart hosted the SOFAR Supervisor Training from 4–5 March 2026 at its Lusaka offices, bringing together academic supervisors committed to strengthening postgraduate research mentorship in Zambia and across Southern Africa. SOFAR, funded by European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) , is a regional network that supports early-career researchers through fellowships, mentorship, and targeted skills development. The initiative aims to build sustainable

Strong health systems are built on strong research — and for Lina Mulhanga Muhate, an MSc fellow from I nstituto Nacional de Saúde - Moçambique INS, witnessing research in action offered a powerful reminder of what is possible when infrastructure, collaboration, and innovation come together. As part of the SOFAR Annual Meeting 2025 at Chaminuka Nature Reserve, fellows stepped beyond conference sessions to experience Zambia’s research ecosystem firsthand. Visits to Zambart a

With support from the Global Health European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership 3 (Global Health EDCTP3 , SOFAR Scientific Leadership Lead Dr. Constance Mackworth-Young and Mentorship Lead Dr. Rudo Chingono, joined by PhD Fellow Rumbi Gumbie, participated in dedicated writing retreats. The first retreat took place during the week of 29 September 2025 at Miombo Mountain Lodge, providing a focused environment for deep thinking, writing, and scholarly collabora

This International Day of Women and Girls in Science , the Southern Africa Research Capacity Network (SOFAR ) celebrates the remarkable women strengthening research capacity across Southern Africa. Our network is shaped by the leadership and expertise of Professor Katharina Kranzer , Dr Rashida Ferrand , Professor Virginia Bond , Dr Constance Mackworth-Young , Dr Rudo Chingono , Dr Mikaela Coleman , Dr Sesaltina Nora Monteiro and Dr Kwame Shanaube and many other dedicated c

The Southern Africa Research Capacity Network began 2026 with a series of strategic meetings bringing together program leads and PhD, MSc and Postdoctoral Fellows from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique. These meetings created a valuable platform to support fellows’ academic progression, training, and professional growth, while also aligning program activities for the year ahead. Program leads and fellows jointly reviewed research milestones, training needs, mentorship plans, an

Emilia Juceline Eugénio de Carvalho Fumane is a SOFAR Fellow from Mozambique begins her PhD in Epidemiology and Population Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). During her stay in London, Emilia participated in the university’s induction and doctoral skills training programmes and met with her academic supervisors as she launched her doctoral research. Her PhD project aims to evaluate patient outcomes within Mozambique’s integrated tuberculosis

The Southern Africa Research Capacity Network (SOFAR) has released the second issue of its newsletter , showcasing key milestones, achievements, and collaborations across its growing regional network. This issue highlights SOFAR’s inaugural Annual Meeting in Zambia , regional PhD supervisor and GIS trainings , and the continued progress of MSc, PhD, and postdoctoral fellows across Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique. It also features fellows’ research achievements, international

Dr Richard Mwape, a PhD fellow at Zambart, presented findings from a pragmatic cluster randomized trial on the diagnosis performance of novel TB infection tests (Cy-Tb and TB-Feron FIA) for the initiation of TB preventive treatment (TPT) in Zambia at the Union Conference in Copenhagen in November 2025. His study explored how well these tests perform compared to the current gold standard and whether they can improve decisions about who should receive preventive TB treatment (

Dr Sombo Fwoloshi, a SOFAR PhD Fellow, infectious diseases physician, and epidemiologist, delivered a compelling presentation titled “Optimisation of Management of Bloodstream Infections: Contextual Issues for the Frontlines” during the 15th Zambia College of Physicians Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting held on 29 November in Lusaka, Zambia. In her presentation, Dr Fwoloshi underscored the serious consequences of untreated bloodstream infections, noting that th

SOFAR MSc student Dr Emmanuel Mukambo was awarded a travel grant to attend and present at the 5th African Stroke Organization Conference, held from 3–5 November 2025. At the conference, he delivered an oral presentation titled “Premature Atherosclerosis as a Risk Factor for Ischemic Stroke in Young People with HIV in Lusaka, Zambia.” His presentation earned him the Best Oral Abstract Presenter Award, recognizing the significance and quality of his research. He is also one of