Ms. Esperanza Esteban Serna | Cross-Cultural Leadership | Best Researcher Award

Vall d’Hebron Research Institute | Spain

Esperanza Esteban Serna is a public health researcher with more than fifteen years of experience in global health, EU-funded cooperation, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Market Research and Techniques, a master’s degree in Planning and Design of Health Services, postgraduate training in R&D management, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Medicine focused on SRHR inequalities in Angola. Her professional trajectory spans research, project leadership, and policy translation across Spain, Africa, and Latin America, where she has coordinated major international initiatives such as CHANCE, INFOHEALTHSEX, FUTURO, CRESCER, MyHealth, and BERENICE. She has contributed to peer-reviewed publications on adolescent SRHR, migrant health, and infectious diseases, while also teaching global health, maternal health, and health systems at multiple universities. Her research interests include adolescent SRHR, gender and social norms, youth empowerment, STI prevention, community-based approaches, global health inequalities, and evidence-based health policy. Through her work, she has strengthened youth-focused interventions, informed SRHR policy reforms, and advanced equity-driven global health strategies. Recognized for her leadership in EU-funded research consortia, she continues to contribute to transformative, rights-based, and context-sensitive public health solutions globally.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Esteban, E., Larrea, O., Irrazabal, M. G., Sánchez, A., Zacarias, F., Oliveira, P. R., Vita, D., Ceita, J., Pacatolo, C., Aznar, M. L., et al. (2025). Unintended pregnancy and attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health among young people in Benguela Province, Angola. Reproductive Health.

Aixut, S., Esteban, E., Martínez-Campreciós, J., Oliveira, P. R., Gómez-Martínez, F., Martín-García, D., Luwawa, D., Canõma, E., Neves, E., Chinjengue, N., et al. (2025). Sexual and reproductive health knowledge and behaviors and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among adolescents and young adults from Angola. Journal of Public Health.

Salvador, F., Serres, X., Goterris, L., Martínez-Campreciós, J., Espinosa-Pereiro, J., Esteban, E., & Molina, I. (2025). Acute fascioliasis in a returning traveller from Ethiopia. Journal of Travel Medicine.

Serre-Delcor, N., Oliveira, I., Moreno, R., Treviño, B., Hajdók, E., Esteban, E., Murias-Closas, A., Denial, A., & Evangelidou, S. (2021). A cross-sectional survey on professionals to assess health needs of newly arrived migrants in Spain. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, 667251.

Dr. Amon Exavery | Longitudinal impact evaluation methods for non-experimental interventions | Best Researcher Award

Pact Tanzania

Dr. Amon Exavery is a distinguished statistician and public health researcher with over 15 years of professional experience in research, evaluation, and learning. He holds a Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Dodoma, an MSc in Population-based Field Epidemiology from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, and a BA in Statistics from the University of Dar es Salaam. Currently serving as the Senior Research and Learning Advisor at Pact Tanzania, he has led large-scale health and social service research projects, including the ACHIEVE and Kizazi Kipya programs—the largest OVC initiatives in Africa. His expertise spans quantitative and qualitative methodologies, impact evaluation, statistical modeling, and capacity building for data-driven decision-making. Dr. Exavery’s research interests include HIV/AIDS, OVC programming, WASH, malaria, nutrition, family planning, gender inclusion, reproductive and child health, and sustainable livelihoods. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and presented at numerous international conferences. His analytical leadership has influenced public health strategies and policies across sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Exavery has also provided consultancy services to WHO, Columbia University, NAS, and other institutions, reflecting his global contribution to evidence-based health programming. His career exemplifies excellence in applying data science to advance public health and social development outcomes.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Exavery, A., Kirigiti, P. J., Balan, R. T., & Charles, J. (2026, February). Enhancing longitudinal impact evaluation of non-experimental interventions: A comparative analysis of generalized estimating equations and multilevel models based on empirical evaluation of temporal change in food security following an economic empowerment intervention. Evaluation and Program Planning, 107, 102722.

Exavery, A., Kirigiti, P. J., Balan, R. T., & Charles, J. (2025). Determinants of participation in WORTH Yetu economic empowerment intervention among caregivers of orphaned and vulnerable children in Tanzania: A longitudinal multivariable logistic regression analysis. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 15, 101959.

Exavery, A., Kirigiti, P. J., Balan, R. T., & Charles, J. (2024, August). Longitudinal evaluation of the influence of WORTH Yetu on household economic status based on the count of non-asset resources for orphaned and vulnerable children’s well-being in Tanzania. Child Indicators Research, 17, 10133–10145.

Exavery, A., Katbi, M., Kirigiti, P. J., Balan, R. T., & Charles, J. (2024, April 16). Multivariate mixed-effects ordinal logistic regression models with difference-in-differences estimator of the impact of WORTH Yetu on household hunger and socioeconomic status among OVC caregivers in Tanzania. PLOS ONE, 19(4), e0301578.

Exavery, A., Alam, K., Charles, J., Barankena, A., Bajaria, S., Minja, E., Mulikuza, J., Mbwambo, T., Ally, A., Mseya, R., & others. (2022, February 25). Impact of household economic strengthening intervention on food security among caregivers of orphans and vulnerable children in Tanzania. PLOS ONE, 17(2), e0264315.

Ms. Esperanza Esteban Serna | Cross-Cultural Leadership | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Esperanza Esteban Serna | Cross-Cultural Leadership | Best Researcher Award

Vall d’Hebron Research Institute | Spain

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications