Capacity Building
MNCH strengthens maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health through workforce development, digital health innovation, research, and community empowerment.
The MNCH Centre at Makerere University advances RMNCAH research and capacity building across Uganda, Sub-Saharan Africa, and globally. Supported 50+ graduate beneficiaries in maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health.
The Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Centre at Makerere University is a leading hub for advancing evidence generation, capacity strengthening, and policy influence in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH). The Centre contributes to improving health outcomes for women, newborns, children, and adolescents through high-quality research, training, and knowledge translation.
Beneficiaries
Supported in maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health care initiatives.
- The Centre plays a strategic role in strengthening RMNCAH research capacity in Uganda, across Sub-Saharan Africa, and within the broader global health community through partnerships, training programs, and collaborative research initiatives.
- A key focus is the development of a strong pipeline of highly trained graduate researchers at master’s and doctoral levels, who contribute to RMNCAH research, health systems strengthening, and evidence-informed policy and programming at national, regional, continental, and global levels.
- Over the years, more than 50 graduate beneficiaries have been supported through various capacity-strengthening initiatives, fellowships, and research training opportunities linked to RMNCAH-focused programs and partnerships.
Key Capacity Strengthening Pathways Supporting RMNCAH at MNCH Centre
Doctoral Training and Collaborative Research Programs
The MNCH Centre supports structured doctoral training that builds advanced research capacity in maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, enabling scholars to generate high-quality, policy-relevant evidence applicable in Uganda, Sub-Saharan Africa, and globally.
RMNCAH+N Analytical and Research Capacity Initiatives
Specialized training programs strengthen skills in data analysis, health systems research, and equity-focused RMNCAH assessments, supporting decision-making at local, regional, and global health system levels.
Postgraduate Research Fellowships
These fellowships provide early-career researchers with opportunities to deepen expertise in maternal and child health, reproductive health systems, and implementation science, contributing to peer-reviewed publications and policy briefs with both regional and global relevance.
Research Internships and Early Career Training
The Centre offers practical research experience in epidemiology, health economics, population health, and RMNCAH programming, preparing graduates to contribute to real-world health interventions across Africa and beyond.
Graduate Beneficiaries in RMNCAH and Public Health
The MNCH Centre supports and collaborates with a diverse pool of graduate beneficiaries and early-career researchers contributing to RMNCAH and public health research across Uganda, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the global health landscape.
Academic Focus
Beneficiaries typically hold or pursue Master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral training in public health, epidemiology, health economics, bioinformatics, population studies, reproductive health, and implementation science.
Geographic Representation
They are drawn from Uganda, Sub-Saharan Africa, and other regions through global academic and research collaborations focused on strengthening health systems and RMNCAH outcomes.
Gender and Inclusion
The Centre supports inclusive participation, with emphasis on strengthening opportunities for female researchers and early-career scientists, contributing to gender equity in global health research leadership.
Core Skills
Graduates are equipped with advanced competencies in:
- Data science and statistical analysis
- Health systems and policy research
- Implementation science
- Epidemiology and disease surveillance
- Research communication and evidence translation
Career Pathways and Impact
Graduates progress into leadership roles such as:
- Academic and research positions globally
- Public health and health systems experts
- Policy advisors in national and international institutions
- Principal investigators in RMNCAH research
- Leaders in maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health programs
Explore the Work Behind the Impact
See how MNCH turns tested innovations into practical initiatives, active projects, and research partnerships that strengthen health systems.