Welcome to the April 2026 newsletter!
Table of Contents:
- World Malaria Day 2026
- Small Event Award Winners Q1 2026
- Upcoming Events
- Volunteering
- Funding Opportunities
- Job Opportunities
- Subgroups, Working Groups, and Regional Activities
- Seminar Recap and Recordings
- AMMnet Board Meeting Summary
Please contact info@ammnet.org if you would like to contribute any items to next month’s newsletter.
AMMnet World Malaria Day Member & Leadership Spotlight Series
In April, AMMnet marked the lead-up to World Malaria Day with a Member Spotlight Series on LinkedIn, highlighting the strength of our community and our shared commitment to learning and collaboration.
Over two weeks, we featured members across regions and career stages, sharing their work, perspectives, and experiences within AMMnet. On World Malaria Day, we closed the series with a Leadership Spotlight—a conversation between Board Chair Hannah Slater and Executive Director Jaline Gerardin—highlighting the importance of community, collaboration, and the growing role of local chapters in advancing data-informed malaria decision-making.
Together, these spotlights showcase how AMMnet members are learning from one another and applying data and evidence in the fight against malaria.
➡️ Visit and follow AMMnet on LinkedIn to explore the series and stay connected with the community.
Small Event Award
Look for the 5 awardees to be announced soon!
Our sincere thanks to the Small Event Award Task Force for the time, dedication, and thoughtful effort devoted to reviewing 76 applications. We greatly appreciate the care taken to provide constructive and thorough feedback to each applicant.
Register for the AMMnet Monthly Seminar
May 5, 15 hr UTC
Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) in
Mozambique
Presenter 1 : Dr. Sónia Maria Enosse
An overview of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) from implementation studies to scale-up.
About the Presentation
Malaria in Mozambique continues to be highly endemic especially in the north and along the coast where the prevalence is highest. Malaria transmission is perennial in much of the country, with seasonal peaks in the north and north-west between December and April/May. Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) was first introduced in Mozambique in 2020/21 as part of an implementation study in Nampula province. Following the demonstration of its feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness, in 2022/23 the intervention was scaled to all 23 districts of Nampula province in Northern Mozambique and after in 2024/25 was extended to other provinces following its inclusion in the Mozambique National Malaria strategic plan as one of the malaria prevention strategy. In 2024, SMC transitioned from paper-based to digital data collection using the DIGIT Health Campaign Management platform. This presentation shares lessons learned from the scale-up of seasonal malaria chemoprevention implemented in Nampula province, Mozambique.
About the Presenter:
Sonia Enosse, Ph.D. in Molecular Epidemiology from the University of Copenhagen, joined in 1999 the Mozambique National Institute of Health (INS) as a researcher, making significant contributions to the field of Malaria epidemiology and drug resistance. From 2001-2006 worked as a research associate at the Mozambique Manhiça Health Research Center(CISM). Member of the country Malaria Scientific Committee and the Mozambique Academy of Science. In 2022, joined Malaria Consortium (MC) as the Country Technical Coordinator, overseeing projects implemented by MC in Mozambique in the field of Malaria and associated health inequities. Investigator in research studies to evaluate the effectiveness and viability of implementing Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in Mozambique and coordinate the implementation of the strategy at MC; and interested in surveillance to ensure data quality and data use to inform strategies.
Presenter 2 : Timóteo A. Sambo
Assessing the effectiveness of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in northern Mozambique with routine surveillance data
About the Presentation
Malaria remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Mozambique, particularly among children under five years of age. While Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) has demonstrated high efficacy in randomized trials, evidence of its impact under routine programmatic conditions remains limited.
In this talk, we present a retrospective impact evaluation of SMC in northern Mozambique using routinely collected health facility data. A controlled interrupted time series approach was applied to assess changes in malaria incidence following phased SMC implementation, accounting for underlying trends, seasonality, and key confounding factors, including climate variability and concurrent interventions. Results suggest a measurable reduction in malaria cases following SMC implementation, with notable heterogeneity across districts and implementation rounds. These findings highlight both the value and the limitations of routine data for impact evaluation and support their use in informing malaria control strategies.
About the Presenter:
Timóteo A. Sambo is a MaModAfrica PhD candidate in Malaria Modelling, registered at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Tanzania. His research focuses on the use of routine surveillance data and mathematical modelling to evaluate and optimize SMC deployment in Mozambique.
Real-time interpretation from Portuguese to English will be available; French speakers can activate the CAPTIONS feature on Zoom
Register Here for the Seminar Series
Save the Date for the next AMMnet Francophone Hackathon! May 26, 15hr UTC
Look for more information to come soon.
Get Involved: Join an AMMnet Task Force!
AMMnet is seeking motivated volunteers to join two active Task Forces: the Social Media Task Force and Gender Balance Task Force. Task Forces are where AMMnet’s ideas turn into action—small, focused teams that deliver concrete outputs aligned with our mission.
- The Social Media Task Force is a group of volunteers under the Committee’s guidance who design, direct, and oversee social media strategy for AMMnet, including management of brand image, platform strategy, content sourcing, and content alignment, and monitor and evaluate Secretariat execution of social media activity.
- The Gender Balance Task Force aims to develop and implement initiatives that help to bridge the gender gap in mathematical modeling and empower women to excel in this dynamic field.
Commitment is approximately 1–2 hours per month.
We strongly encourage expressions of interest from individuals with diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and expertise. Whether you are interested in amplifying AMMnet’s voice through social media, shaping a meaningful mentorship program, or advancing gender balance across the network, your contribution can make a direct difference.
If you are ready to engage in a focused, collaborative effort with clear goals and outcomes, we invite you to volunteer and be part of this important work. Send your interest by email to info@ammnet.org.
Find more about AMMnet Committees & Task Forces
Meet-the-Modelers: Call for Volunteers!
Thanks to all past presenters for sharing your backgrounds and professional experience!
Want to introduce yourself with a quick 2-minute lightning talk at an upcoming AMMnet monthly seminar?
A great opportunity to:
- Showcase your work
- Gain visibility
- Connect with peers
- Get a certificate of participation
Interested? Send your interest by email to info@ammnet.org.
Funding Opportunities
Dovetail Acceleration Program 2026: Grants from $10,000 to $30,000 + Venture Support
The Dovetail Acceleration Program invests in early-stage, locally-led African organizations. We pair unrestricted funding with structured coaching and capacity support designed to strengthen the foundations required for long-term growth.
Our focus is on helping organizations build the clarity, systems, and leadership capacity that support funder readiness and healthy scale.
Since launching in 2021, we have disbursed approximately $6M in grants to more than 130 organizations across Africa.
National Institutes of Health Funding Opportunity Available
The NIH Common Fund Data Ecosystem (NIH CFDE) invites applications for an R03 Funding Opportunity supporting biomedical research that proposes the use of two or more NIH Common Fund program datasets.
Job Opportunities
Senior Research Scientist, Global Health Modeling (*2-year LTE) at Gates Foundation
As part of the Gates Foundation (GF), the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) mission is to support global efforts to eradicate infectious diseases and achieve permanent improvements in health by developing, using, and sharing computational modeling tools and promoting quantitative decision-making.
In this role, we seek a full-time Senior Research Scientist to join IDM’s Gender, Vulnerability and Health Equity (GVHE) research team with deep expertise in applied statistics for population health research. This role is ideal for a statistician who excels at applying advanced statistical methods to demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related questions, with a strong emphasis on forecasting and time-series analysis. The successful candidate will focus on generating practical, interpretable insights from complex data to inform public health strategy and policy. Candidates whose primary background is in theoretical statistics, biological systems modeling, or clinical trials–focused biostatistics are unlikely to be a good fit.
This position is a limited-term position for 2 years. Relocation will be provided.
Senior Scientific Specialist within Data Science and AI at Novo Nordisk Foundation
Do you wish to enable the development of cutting-edge data science including AI and accelerate the digital transformation within health and sustainability?
We are looking for a new colleague with a strong scientific background in data science, who is motivated to contribute to the realization of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s mission to benefit society and the planet.
You will join the Technical Science Department and contribute to our activities within data science and AI across the strategic focus areas of the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF), which include health, sustainability (including agriculture and food systems) and the life science ecosystem. You will provide expert knowledge both on fundamental and emerging data science methods anchored in the department as well as the deployment of data science and AI in our interdisciplinary initiatives.
Application Deadline 18 May 2026
Senior Lecturer in Mathematical Modelling of Global Health
The Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Programme (MLW) is a world-class health research institution committed to improving health through research, capacity building, and strong partnerships.
The Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme (MLW) is seeking to hire a senior mathematical modeller to establish and lead a team of mathematical modellers in the recently formed Data Science and Computational Modelling Unit (DSCMU).
The post is a collaboration between the DSCMU at MLW and the Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL), University of Liverpool. The appointee will be a member of CHIL and the Department of Health Data Science at the University of Liverpool. Both CHIL and the Department of Health Data Science sit within the University’s Institute of Population Health. CHIL is an interdisciplinary research centre, with the University of Liverpool being a strategic partner of MLW.
The position is tenable at MLW head offices in Blantyre.
Application Deadline 30 May 2026
Research Data Analyst Position Available at the University of Virginia
The Research Data Analyst will serve in a key leadership role on Plan-EO, advancing cutting-edge research on climate-sensitive infectious diseasesin the tropics and sub-tropics. This position requires a highly dynamic and motivated individual who is invested in the project’s vision and capable of representing the initiative at international forums.
The role includes significant leadership responsibility and autonomy in supervising scientific and operational activities, supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, and contributing to grant development. The successful candidate will gain hands-on exposure to managing complex research initiatives and funding submissions. This position will not sponsor applicants requiring visa support.
Project Manager – Country Engagement & Malaria Data Use (Local Position, 6 months renewable)
Bluesquare is supporting the development and rollout of the SNT Digital Toolbox, a strategic data platform designed to strengthen malaria risk stratification, intervention planning and resource allocation across multiple high-burden countries. The project is implemented in close collaboration with national malaria programs (NMPs), global technical partners, and Bluesquare’s product and technical teams.
We are recruiting a Project Manager to support the coordination and expansion of Subnational Tailoring for malaria (SNT) activities across countries. The Project Manager will report to the main SNT Project Manager and the Project Management (PM) Team Lead, and will work closely with the SNT product team and relevant practice leads.
The overarching mission of the role is to contribute to the establishment of a scalable and country-owned SNT platform, enabling NMPs to independently manage the full SNT cycle by the time of Global Fund GC9.
Start Date: As soon as possible, ideally May 2026
Assistant Research and Technical Officer based in Kenya
Applied Health Analytics for Delivery & Innovation (AHADI) is looking foryoung and talented quantitative people who are eager to learn about public health analytics through an intensive and hands-on experience. We are looking to hire two in this role and are flexible on background experience: those with experience in GIS, data science, software engineering, (bio)statistics, or econometrics are all welcome to apply.
ARTOs will be based in our Nairobi office to benefit from mentorship by AHADI senior staff and peer learning. Applicants must be reside in Kenya with work permit.
Application Deadline 22 May 2026
Subgroups, Working Groups, and Regional Activities
AMMnet has 7 established local chapters.
Congratulations to our newest established local chapter – AMMnet Benin Chapter!
If you would like to be connected with local chapters in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Tanzania, Liberia, Uganda, Zambia or Benin, you may send email using the respective addresses below or reach out to info@ammnet.org and the Secretariat will connect you to the chapter leadership.
- AMMnet Uganda Chapter, ammnetuganda@gmail.com
- Applied Malaria Modeling Network Zambia, ammnetzambia@gmail.com
- AMMnet Liberia Chapter, ammnet.liberia@gmail.com
- AMMnet Cameroon Chapter, ammnetcameroon@gmail.com
- AMMnet Tanzania Chapter, ammnettz@gmail.com
- AMMnet Burkina Faso Chapter, ammnetburkina@gmail.com
- AMMnet Benin, ammnetbeninchapter@gmail.com
Seminar Recap and Recordings
AMMnet Seminar Series
April 07, 2026, 15 hr UTC
Machine Learning Based modeling of Malaria: A Systematic Review
Presenter: Marwan Vaphy Sesay
This seminar explored how machine learning techniques are being used to improve the prediction and detection of malaria outbreaks. Drawing on a systematic review of research published between 2013 and 2023, the session highlighted how models such as artificial neural networks, decision trees, random forests, and support vector machines are applied to analyze environmental and socio-economic factors including temperature, rainfall, and population density.
AMMnet Board Meeting Summary
April 21, 2026, 16 hr UTC
Board Members Present: Shakira, Luc, Caitlin, Hannah, Nadege, Justin, Emilie, Mor and Antonio
Secretariat Present: Jaline, Shannon and Selen
DISCUSSION
The below main agenda items were discussed:
Benin Local Chapter establishment
- The Board approved establishment of the AMMnet Benin Local Chapter
ToR amendment: Local Chapters Leadership Recommendation
- Board voted to amend Terms of Reference to include the following:
- While there is no leadership or technical prerequisite for establishing an AMMnet local chapter, chapters are encouraged to include technical expertise within their governance structure and to demonstrate efforts toward developing a chapter that can ultimately support analysis and modeling needs of malaria programs. During the annual review process, and as reflected in their annual report, local chapters should demonstrate progress toward this best practice/ideal.
ToR amendment: Objectives Committees: Operations and Evaluation
- Board voted to amend Terms of Reference to include the following in order to allow more flexibility with the structure of the committees
- Establishment, Modification, and Dissolution of Objectives Committees
- The Board may establish, merge, restructure, or dissolve Objectives Committees as deemed necessary to advance AMMnet’s strategic priorities and operational needs. Proposals for the creation, consolidation, or discontinuation of an Objectives Committee may be submitted to the Governance Committee for review and recommendation to the Board. Final authority for approval rests with the Board.
- Upon Board approval of a new or restructured Objectives Committee, the Committee shall develop or revise its statement of purpose and scope of work in accordance with the process outlined in these Terms of Reference.
AMMnet’s Global Annual Work Plan
- Board voted and approved the 2026 work plan
Board Member Terms and Cycling
- Board Member Terms and Cycling
- Best practice = no more than ⅓ turnover annually
- With the 2-year + 2-year renewal term structure, we will always cycle more than ⅓ annually, which puts us in a critical position
- Most global professional associations have 2 consecutive 3-year terms because they balance continuity with turnover. (Mercadien NonProfit Standards; Global Banking & Finance)
- Recommendation: Move toward a 3-year term + 3-year renewal
- More discussion to continue
