Brenda Nanjala Mukungu
Brenda Nanjala Mukungu is joining PANDFUND as a doctoral researcher at Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo (UiO). Her interests span pandemic preparedness and response, institutional and governance afterlives, digital health governance, and community health workers experiences. Her PhD project will examine the afterlives of pandemic preparedness financing within Kenya’s national and county health systems. Brenda has a background in development anthropology.
Hawi Getnet Degu
Hawi Getnet Degu is a PhD candidate based at the Centre for Sustainable Development, Addis Ababa University. She holds master’s in public health. Within the PANDFUND Project, her PhD research will examine health diplomacy and power asymmetries in emerging pandemic financing arrangements, focusing on Ethiopia’s engagement with the Pandemic Fund and the role of African institutions in shaping financing and governance. Her previous research explored Global health diplomacy during COVID-19, particularly Ethiopia’s efforts to acquire critical health resources. Hawi is interested in how global public goods financing shape national and African agency, ownership, and power relations.
Muluken Seyoum Kebede
Muluken Seyoum Kebede is joining the project as a PhD student and will be based at the Centre for Human Rights, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. His doctoral research will focus on governing pandemic preparedness in Ethiopia and the realization of the right to health. Muluken has a background in development studies and history. He also has professional experience as an instructor at Union Health Science College.
Paul Keda
Paul Keda is a master’s student in Medical Anthropology at Maseno University and based at KEMRI. He is joining the project as a research assistant. He has experience in conducting qualitative research, providing community health education, training field assistants, and project coordination. His interests focus on understanding health and social issues through community and cultural perspectives. His long-term career goal is to become a social scientist.