Dr. Halima Twabi becomes first Malawian to receive OWSD-Elsevier Foundation award

The University of Malawi continues to shine and excel, as its students and staff members are consistently recognized and awarded by various international and local institutions. Recently, on 3rd March 2025, a University of Malawi staff member, Dr. Halima Twabi, was announced as one of the five exceptional female researchers awarded the 2025 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World for their contributions to research in inclusive health, advancing UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being.

Since its inception in 2013, Dr. Halima Twabi has become the first Malawian to receive this award. The OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award has recognized the groundbreaking work of 69 women scientists from over 30 Global South countries. These awards are one way the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation celebrates the incredible women scientists leading health research in regions that need it most. Apart from Malawi, other winners of the 2025 award have also been selected from Syria, Nepal, Palestine, and Guatemala.

“The award is very important to me as it is giving me a chance to share my research work and its impact on a global platform. Beyond personal recognition, it represents an opportunity to inspire and empower other women scientists,” she said. “It also puts the University of Malawi on the map and testifies to the excellence of the research work that is produced at UNIMA.”

The award includes a cash prize of USD 5,000 for each winner, along with a travel grant to attend a relevant conference in their field, providing essential networking opportunities. Through these awards, the foundation aims to inspire the next generation of women scientists and underscore the critical need for innovative changemakers to advance health research for sustainable development.

Dr. Halima Twabi is a Malawian biostatistician using advanced statistical methods to study health disparities among vulnerable populations. Her research addresses maternal HIV effects, childhood overweight and other health issues in disadvantaged communities. Her research has also utilized innovative statistical methods to investigate the influence of unhealthy food consumption on childhood overweight, a growing challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Recognized with prestigious awards, including the 2020 L’Oréal-UNESCO Young Talent Award for Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. Twabi is involved in initiatives to strengthen women’s research capacity and serves in leadership roles with various scientific organizations. She is also the Malawi country lead of the 'Strengthening Women’s Research Network and Capacity to Address Women’s Health in Sub-Saharan Africa’ project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Grand Challenges.