Lana Chikhungu

Dr. Lana Chikhungu is a Senior Lecturer in International Development Studies at the University of Portsmouth, affiliated with the School of Area Studies, Sociology, History, Politics, and Literature within the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. She serves as UoA Coordinator (Area Studies) and leads the MSc International Development program. Her research focuses on public health, gender, demography, and international development, with a strong emphasis on maternal and child health in the Global South. She has conducted impactful studies on topics like HIV/AIDS transmission, female genital mutilation, and violence against women, collaborating with organizations such as WHO and UNICEF.

• Education: PhD in International Development Studies (2013), MSc in Economics/Demography
• Awards: CODESRIA Diaspora Fellowship (2023), University Strategic Funding (2022)
• Editorial Roles: Associate Editor of International Journal for Equity in Health and Academic Editor of PLOS Global Public Health

Recent research highlights include analyzing the ODA-HDI nexus in sub-Saharan Africa (2025), studying pandemic-related sexual abuse in Malawi (2023), and reviewing violence against women in Zimbabwe (2024). Her work bridges academic research with policy impact, addressing critical global health and development challenges.