Stella Aswani

||COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST||
Don't compare your chapter 1 to someone else's chapter 20

[Juliet Ratemo-Okumu @RatemoJuliet]

🙌🏾🙌🏾 One of the most amazing leaders I have not only met but had the privilege to work with. Always oozing wisdom👌🏾

[Stella Aswani @AswaniStella]

@CKyobutungi Congratulations ##BossLady 🎊 👏

"Feedback is a gift; Take it"...

[Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi Muzukulu wa Bityo @CKyobutungi]

Nine years already 🎉🥳

Nine years ago, I became Executive Director of @aphrc with a full head of dark hair (that’s not my real hair lol). Today I have a few grey hairs and visibly less hair and nine years of memories!
I began the journey hesitant, a little anxious, facing the daunting task of keeping a great institution afloat. Nine years on, and a few kilos heavier, the anxiety and trepidation are gone. In their place? The sense that we are unstoppable!.

[APHRC @aphrc]

📢🥁🔊🎉The latest #IamAPHRC newsletter is out!

This edition features stories of collaboration and innovation from across the continent, showing what we can do when stakeholders come together.

📖 Read the latest APHRC newsletter: https://t.co/GUGV1FTHua

#Collaborations

[APHRC @aphrc]

#IamAPHRC is seeking an Education and Technology Researcher to contribute to research on the responsible use and scaling of AI and other digital technologies in African basic education.

🔗Apply here: https://t.co/KxPwXeeUzu

📍 Location: Nairobi, Kenya

#Ikokazi #APHRCJobs

[APHRC @aphrc]

#IamAPHRC hosted Prof. Dr. @r_sauerborn and Dr. @sandrabarteit from the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), alongside Prof. Iwuji Collins of the APCC African Cohort Consortium, for a conversation on potential areas of collaboration.

#IamAPHRC #WeAreAfrica

[Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi Muzukulu wa Bityo @CKyobutungi]

One of my favourite parts of the job…? Meeting our new staff during orientation and welcoming them into the APHRC family.

This week I had the privilege of sitting down with our newest team members to share our journey, what drives our work, what is takes to thrive at the Center and the role each person plays in advancing APHRC's mission. What's special about this group is that most either joined as interns or as temporary staff and have now been issued with regular contracts, with the exception of two.
To our new colleagues: Welcome. I'm excited to see the fresh insights, energy and ideas you'll bring to the Center.

#IamAPHRC #WeAreAfrica #APHRCResearch

[APHRC @aphrc]

We recently asked some of our staff to take us back to their first days at the Center and share what stood out when they first joined APHRC.

From first impressions to lasting experiences, hear what they had to say. 🎥

#IamAPHRC #WeAreAfrica #APHRCResearch

[Shav Ngah ★ @shavnyuyngah]

Ulwazi Place is what happens when a hotel is designed to remind people why they're doing the work, not just where they're sleeping.

Built by the African Population and Health Research Center, Ulwazi (Zulu for "knowledge") serves as APHRC's training center and guest hotel in Nairobi, hosting researchers who fly in from across the continent to study Africa's health and wellbeing. Image Three Sixty Designs built the whole interior around a theme called Tembea Africa, "travel across Africa" in Swahili, so researchers deep in data and policy work still get to feel the continent they're serving every time they walk through a hallway.

Each floor carries one of Africa's four biomes. Savanna floors run in straw, taupe, and sage. Tropics floors go forest green, charcoal, and cedar. Desert floors sit in ochre, saffron, and tan. Coastal floors carry teal, ivory, and turquoise. Nothing generic ties it together, a sisal ceiling handwoven by Kenyan artisans covers the reception lounge, raffia and banana fiber baskets from Rwandan and Ugandan craftsmen line the walls, a hand-stitched cowhide backs the booth seating, and Malian mudcloth shows up on cushions throughout.

This is what an African institution looks like when it refuses to import someone else's aesthetic for its own people. Every material, every pattern, sourced from the region it represents.

If your work ever brings you through Nairobi, Ulwazi Place is worth the stay, not just for the comfort, but for a hotel that actually knows what continent it's on.

Design: Image Three Sixty Designs. Photography: Mutahi Chiira. Location: Nairobi, Kenya.

[APHRC @aphrc]

#APHRCis25! 🎉

In this episode of the APHRC 25th Journey Stories, we spotlight @podero , whose 13-year journey at APHRC reflects growth, adaptability, and the opportunities that come with embracing new possibilities.

Paul joined the Center in Policy Engagement and Communications before transitioning to Information Technology (IT), a shift that opened a new chapter in his career.

He now leads the ICT department, supporting the Center’s digital infrastructure and enabling our people and work to thrive in an increasingly digital environment.

🎥 Watch Paul’s journey and hear how his APHRC experience has shaped his career: https://t.co/ZMLx1mnc2Y

#IamAPHRC #APHRCis25 #WeAreAfrica

@ckyobutungi | @Amveyange | @DMDiarafa | @RatemoJuliet | @DorcasOdhiambo | @njerimbuthia | @Hope_shete | @CharityWaweru | @DavidWa1ganjo | @mickarkey | @maloba_david93 | @Chris_Maero | @williamsila | @FlorahKarimi | @Liz_Kimani | @agnes_kiragga | @MosesNgware | @Aijayi | @PaulOdero | @dia_diama | @gody_adero | @SokhnaT37994755 | @EneTira | @weberaicha | @MalickS97 | @NDEYEAWAFALL9 | @SyllaElHadjiMa1 | @aidara_dienaba | @kadzomudzo | @isabelmutuku1 | @AswaniStella | @lamechmutava | @deekagwii | @Stevewainainax | @DaisyKoome

[APHRC @aphrc]

In Junda Ward, @MombasaCountyKe , improving hand hygiene was not simply about introducing new practices. It was about understanding the realities of everyday life and working with communities to find solutions that could truly work for them.

With support from the Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute (@RGHIHygiene4All ), APHRC brought together community members, local leaders, and county government stakeholders to co-design practical, community-driven interventions to strengthen hand hygiene.

The journey, which started with listening to communities, co-designs solutions, implements interventions, and measures their impact, offered an important lesson: when people are at the heart of public health solutions, change becomes more relevant, practical, and sustainable.

🎥 Watch the video to follow the journey: https://t.co/Tvi5SG6Dbk #IamAPHRC #PublicHealth #HandHygiene

@Shyillah | @phylis_busienei | @ckyobutungi | @Amveyange | @DMDiarafa | @RatemoJuliet | @DorcasOdhiambo | @njerimbuthia | @Hope_shete | @CharityWaweru | @DavidWa1ganjo | @mickarkey | @maloba_david93 | @Chris_Maero | @williamsila | @FlorahKarimi | @Liz_Kimani | @agnes_kiragga | @MosesNgware | @Aijayi | @PaulOdero | @dia_diama | @gody_adero | @SokhnaT37994755 | @EneTira | @weberaicha | @MalickS97 | @NDEYEAWAFALL9 | @SyllaElHadjiMa1 | @aidara_dienaba | @kadzomudzo | @isabelmutuku1 | @AswaniStella | @lamechmutava | @deekagwii | @Stevewainainax |

[APHRC @aphrc]

Across Kenya, gaps in access to accurate information and quality reproductive health services continue to affect people differently, particularly those in underserved and vulnerable communities.

To improve access, there is a need for accurate information, responsive health systems, youth-friendly services, informed decision-making, and policies that address the barriers people face in their everyday lives.

But beyond availability, what barriers continue to shape access to and use of reproductive health information and services in Kenya?

Read the full story on the @NationAfrica : https://t.co/qad9KaGtyg

#IamAPHRC #ReproductiveHealth #SRHR #HealthEquity #PublicHealth

@ckyobutungi | @Amveyange | @DMDiarafa | @RatemoJuliet | @DorcasOdhiambo | @njerimbuthia | @Hope_shete | @CharityWaweru | @DavidWa1ganjo | @mickarkey | @maloba_david93 | @Chris_Maero | @williamsila | @FlorahKarimi | @Liz_Kimani | @agnes_kiragga | @MosesNgware | @Aijayi | @PaulOdero | @dia_diama | @gody_adero | @SokhnaT37994755 | @EneTira | @weberaicha | @MalickS97 | @NDEYEAWAFALL9 | @SyllaElHadjiMa1 | @aidara_dienaba | @kadzomudzo | @isabelmutuku1 | @AswaniStella | @lamechmutava | @deekagwii | @Stevewainainax |

[APHRC @aphrc]

#IamAPHRC is participating in the 20th edition of the Africa Food Systems (AFS) Forum 2026, which kicked off today, August 31, and will run through September 4 in Kigali, Rwanda.

Representing APHRC, Fabian Oriri and Gladys Mbai will contribute to conversations on building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems across Africa.

Through its participation, APHRC is bringing evidence, policy expertise, and research-driven insights to conversations shaping more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems across Africa.

#AFSForum2026 #IamAPHRC #WeAreAfrica #APHRCResearch

@Zero_Hunger_Ke | @TheAGRF | @ILRI | @AGRA_Africa | @WFP | @GAINalliance

@Kathina_Mwalia | @ckyobutungi | @Amveyange | @DMDiarafa | @RatemoJuliet | @DorcasOdhiambo | @njerimbuthia | @Hope_shete | @CharityWaweru | @DavidWa1ganjo | @mickarkey | @maloba_david93 | @Chris_Maero | @williamsila | @FlorahKarimi | @Liz_Kimani | @agnes_kiragga | @MosesNgware | @Aijayi | @PaulOdero | @dia_diama | @gody_adero | @SokhnaT37994755 | @EneTira | @weberaicha | @MalickS97 | @NDEYEAWAFALL9 | @SyllaElHadjiMa1 | @aidara_dienaba | @kadzomudzo | @isabelmutuku1 | @AswaniStella | @lamechmutava | @deekagwii | @Stevewainainax |

[APHRC @aphrc]

This week, the #IamAPHRC team is attending the 2nd EAC Regional Conference on Education!

Tomorrow, Wendyjoy Gitari will present on “𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗩𝗘𝗧 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗩𝗘𝗧, 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.”

This session will contribute evidence and insights to conversations on inclusive education, skills development, and empowering young people for the future of work.

#IamAPHRC #WeAreAfrica #APHRCResearch #EACREC2026

@EACREC2026 | @ReliAfrica | @jumuiya | @EducationUNESCO | @EduMinKenya | @eacgiz

@ckyobutungi | @Amveyange | @DMDiarafa | @RatemoJuliet | @DorcasOdhiambo | @njerimbuthia | @Hope_shete | @CharityWaweru | @DavidWa1ganjo | @mickarkey | @maloba_david93 | @Chris_Maero | @williamsila | @FlorahKarimi | @Liz_Kimani | @agnes_kiragga | @MosesNgware | @Aijayi | @PaulOdero | @dia_diama | @gody_adero | @SokhnaT37994755 | @EneTira | @weberaicha | @MalickS97 | @NDEYEAWAFALL9 | @SyllaElHadjiMa1 | @aidara_dienaba | @kadzomudzo | @isabelmutuku1 | @AswaniStella | @lamechmutava | @deekagwii | @Stevewainainax

[APHRC @aphrc]

💧 Water is not just a resource; it is the foundation of life, health, and human progress.

On this #WorldWaterWeek, themed "Water for People and Progress," APHRC reaffirms its commitment to generating evidence that places water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) at the center of Africa's development agenda.

Across the continent, millions of people continue to face inadequate access to safe water and sanitation. #IamAPHRC believes that closing this gap requires more than goodwill. Rigorous and locally grounded evidence that informs policy, guides investment, and drives systemic change is needed.

#IamAPHRC advocates for water as a right for all, not a privilege!

@ckyobutungi | @Amveyange | @DMDiarafa | @RatemoJuliet | @DorcasOdhiambo | @njerimbuthia | @Hope_shete | @CharityWaweru | @DavidWa1ganjo | @mickarkey | @maloba_david93 | @Chris_Maero | @williamsila | @FlorahKarimi | @Liz_Kimani | @agnes_kiragga | @MosesNgware | @Aijayi | @PaulOdero | @dia_diama | @gody_adero | @SokhnaT37994755 | @EneTira | @weberaicha | @MalickS97 | @NDEYEAWAFALL9 | @SyllaElHadjiMa1 | @aidara_dienaba | @kadzomudzo | @isabelmutuku1 | @AswaniStella | @lamechmutava | @deekagwii | @Stevewainainax

[APHRC @aphrc]

In this episode of Take 5, #IamAPHRC’s @CARTAfrica Program Coordinator, @CavensK , reflects on his work at the intersection of capacity building and strengthening institutions to conduct better research.

Cavens shares what being part of #IamAPHRC means to him, the experiences that have shaped his work, and what continues to inspire him.

One of his key highlights? Seeing CARTA Program interventions adopted by partner institutions and witnessing their impact beyond the Program itself.

🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://t.co/fO9UUhXePE

#IamAPHRC #WeAreAfrica #APHRCResearch

@ckyobutungi @GichuruJw @Amveyange @bunmimakinwa @DMDiarafa @RatemoJuliet @DorcasOdhiambo @NjeriMbuthia @Hope_shete @njerimbuthia @CharityWaweru @DavidWa1ganjo @mickarkey @maloba_david93 @Chris_Maero @williamsila @FlorahKarimi @Liz_Kimani @agnes_kiragga @MosesNgware @Aijayi @PaulOdero @dia_diama @gody_adero @SokhnaT37994755 @EneTira @weberaicha @MalickS97 @NDEYEAWAFALL9 @SyllaElHadjiMa1 @aidara_dienaba @kadzomudzo @isabelmutuku1 @AswaniStella @lamechmutava @deekagwii @Stevewainainax

[APHRC @aphrc]

What will it take to scale nutritious and locally sourced school meals across Kenya?

Evidence from #IamAPHRC and its partners recommends;

✅ Strengthening procurement systems.
✅ Procuring from smallholder farmers and local businesses.
✅ Implementing Policies and approaches that shape school meal choices.

Scaling healthy school meals will improve children’s nutrition and learning outcomes, strengthen local livelihoods, and build resilient food systems.

🔗 Read more: https://t.co/lQVfBb3NSH

#APHRCResearch #SchoolMeals #Nutrition #FoodSystems #HealthySchools #WeAreAfrica

@ckyobutungi @Amveyange @DMDiarafa @RatemoJuliet @DorcasOdhiambo @NjeriMbuthia @Hope_shete @njerimbuthia @CharityWaweru @DavidWa1ganjo @mickarkey @maloba_david93 @Chris_Maero @williamsila @FlorahKarimi @Liz_Kimani @agnes_kiragga @MosesNgware @Aijayi @PaulOdero @dia_diama @gody_adero @SokhnaT37994755 @EneTira @weberaicha @MalickS97 @NDEYEAWAFALL9 @SyllaElHadjiMa1 @aidara_dienaba @kadzomudzo @isabelmutuku1 @AswaniStella @lamechmutava @deekagwii @Stevewainainax @Kathina_Mwalia @JKKungu

[APHRC @aphrc]

#APHRCis25!

What should the next generation do to help APHRC thrive for the next 25 years and more?

From being at the table where policy issues are discussed, to embracing innovation, investing in people, and staying committed to evidence that drives change, our team shares their hopes and ideas for APHRC’s future.

🎥 Take a look at what they had to say.

#APHRCis25 #25YearsOfImpact #IamAPHRC #WeAreAfrica

@atiabu | @wanjirumurigi | @DuncanGato75467

@ckyobutungi | @GichuruJw | @Amveyange @bunmimakinwa | @DMDiarafa | @RatemoJuliet | @DorcasOdhiambo | @NjeriMbuthia | @Hope_shete | @njerimbuthia | @CharityWaweru | @DavidWa1ganjo | @mickarkey | @maloba_david93 | @Chris_Maero | @williamsila | @FlorahKarimi | @Liz_Kimani | @agnes_kiragga | @MosesNgware | @Aijayi | @PaulOdero | @dia_diama | @gody_adero | @SokhnaT37994755 | @EneTira | @weberaicha | @MalickS97 | @NDEYEAWAFALL9 | @SyllaElHadjiMa1 | @aidara_dienaba @kadzomudzo @isabelmutuku1 @AswaniStella | @lamechmutava | @deekagwii | @Stevewainainax

[APHRC @aphrc]

Join us today as #IamAPHRC’s @SofiaJomo joins a panel of experts in the Africa Food Systems (AFS) Forum, "Women in Food Systems" Webinar Series. She will be discussing "Equality and Inclusion in Food System Policies: Perspectives from Eastern Africa."

Drawing from her recently published research, "Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Food Systems Transformation Pathways: Evidence from Eastern Africa," She will also highlight how inclusive policies can accelerate food systems transformation and contribute to achieving regional development commitments.

📅 Date: August 13, 2026
🕒 Time: 2:00 PM (EAT)
📍 Platform: Zoom

🔗 Register for the webinar: https://t.co/Ciz1ZtmQOs

#AFSForum2026 #APHRCResearch #GenderEquality #FoodSystems #EasternAfrica #FoodSystemsTransformation #Nutrition

@CIMMYT | @IDRC_ESARO | @EcoAgriMedia | @CGIAR | @IFAD | @AWARDFellowship | @AGRA_Africa | @ILRI | @unwomenafrica | @Zero_Hunger_Ke

@Liz_Kimani | @JKKungu | @Kathina_Mwalia | @CKyobutungi | @amveyange | @RatemoJuliet | @dorcas_odhiambo | @AginaAg | @FlorahKarimi | @Stevewainainax | @maloba_david93 | @dia_diama | @Chris_Maero | @DMdiarafa | @deborahndlovu | @MangwanaVJ | @ChristineGer22 | @Hope_Shete | @aiajayi | @deekagwii | @mickarkey | @njerimbuthia | @lamechmutava | @Waithaka_KE | @AswaniStella | @CharityWaweru | @MargaretNa90870 | @atiabu | @Sidze_APHRC | @AntoninaNamaem1 |

[APHRC @aphrc]

What happens when adolescents and caregivers struggle to talk about SRHR? The answers are often shaped by culture, gender, trust, and access to information.

Under the CONNECT Project, #IamAPHRC will host a virtual learning session as we unpack new evidence from refugee and host communities in Southwestern and Northern Uganda.

🔎 The session will  explore:
• What the baseline and formative research reveals.
• The barriers shaping caregiver–adolescent SRHR conversations.
• How communities helped shape the intervention.
• What the evidence means for policy and programming.

🗓 August 19, 2026
🕒 15:00–17:00 EAT
💻 Virtual

Let’s turn evidence into better conversations and better SRHR outcomes for adolescents.

🔗 Register to join the conversation: https://t.co/HvoIj9ypr1

#IamAPHRC #WeAreAfrica #APHRCResearch

@IDRC_ESARO @ErickMuge1 @aiajayi @AfHEA_Africa @CwKabiru @ViolaNyakato @CKyobutungi @amveyange