Biography

Jacqueline Kabambe is a seasoned public health specialist with over three decades of experience in HIV/AIDS programming, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Gender, Adolescent and Youth Development, and Child Protection. She has led major evidence informed initiatives across sub Saharan Africa, with work spanning Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

Her expertise covers policy development, program scale up, and capacity strengthening, with a strong track record in translating research into practical and scalable solutions. She has worked across the UN, bilateral agencies, and civil society, including UNICEF, UNAIDS, USAID, and ActionAid, bringing a uniquely comprehensive perspective to adolescent health and HIV response.

Jacqueline holds a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Essex and an MSc in Development and Project Planning from the University of Bradford. Her MPH research focused on adolescent mental health in sub Saharan Africa, assessing the effectiveness of school based interventions for adolescents aged 10–19. In 2023, she led a joint UNICEF–UNFPA–UNESCO study with CeSHHAR in Zimbabwe, generating critical evidence on the drivers and magnitude of adolescent pregnancy in the context of COVID 19.

She currently serves as the Health Specialist for Adolescents and HIV with UNICEF’s Global Programme Division in Nairobi, supporting low HIV burden countries worldwide. Jacqueline is deeply committed to advancing the health and wellbeing of adolescent girls and young women, with a focus on preventing adolescent pregnancies, reducing HIV risk among pregnant and breastfeeding adolescents, and addressing HIV vulnerabilities among young key populations.