APHRC LogoMental Health Data Prize Africa

Who are we

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a leading Africa-based, African-led, international research institution headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. APHRC conducts policy-relevant research on population, health, education, urbanization, and related development issues in sub-Saharan Africa.

Our vision is to transform African lives through research and we highly engage in evidence generation, strengthening research and related capacity in the African R&D ecosystem, and informing policy to action on health and development. Informed by global and continental development priorities, APHRC’s teams orient their research agendas, driven by the belief that Africa and African-generated evidence must be at the forefront of decisions supporting improved growth and development. Key to the Centre’s strength as a collaborator as well as an independent evidence generator is its commitment to excellence in the design and implementation of projects.

What We Do

Capacity Building

The initiative runs training and mentorship programmes to strengthen skills in data science, advanced analytics, machine learning, evidence- based decision-making, and implementation science for researchers and practitioners working on mental health issues.

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Community and Research Engagement

MHDPA fosters collaboration across disciplines and sectors, bringing together researchers, data experts, clinicians, policymakers, and people with lived experience to ensure research is relevant, ethically grounded, and impactful.

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Data Access and Use

The project supports the identification, curation, and responsible use of existing African mental health datasets, enabling teams to generate powerful evidence and tools for policy, diagnosis, treatment, and care.

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Prize Support

MHDPA awards funding, mentorship, and technical support to multidisciplinary African teams innovating with existing mental health data to better understand and address anxiety, depression, and psychosis.

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Media Center

  • African-Led Mental Health Innovations Take Center Stage as the Mental Health Data Prize Concludes

      Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi, Executive Director of the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), addresses the media during the Mental Health Data Prize – Africa (MHDP-A) Initiative Convening at Bamburi Hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, on June 2, 2026 Mombasa, Kenya | June 2, 2026: The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), in partnership with Wellcome, has showcased ten African-led prize innovations designed to strengthen mental health prevention, care, and recovery across diverse settings. The solutions included digital and community-based screening tools for ear..

  • Mental Health Data Prize - Africa Final Convening 2026

      The Mental Health Data Prize – Africa (MHDP-A) Final Convening 2026 will bring together researchers, innovators, policymakers, clinicians, funders, and people with lived experience to reflect on the initiative's impact and achievements. Under the theme, “Reflecting on Impact: Transforming Mental Health Data Insights in Africa,” the convening will showcase how data-driven innovations are advancing mental health research, policy, and practice across the continent. Taking place from June 2–4, 2026 in Mombasa, Kenya, the event will provide a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and..

  • Nothing About Us, Without Us: Rethinking Mental Health Data in Africa

    By Benta Wambui - Counseling Psychologist, and Onyango Otieno - Mental Health Advocate, with contributions from Christine Ger Ochola - Communications Officer (APHRC)  and  Ann Waithaka - Senior Communications Officer (APHRC) Millions of people across Africa experience anxiety, depression, and psychosis, yet much of the data and research addressing these challenges has historically excluded the perspectives of those with lived experience. In 2024, the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), in partnership with Wellcome, launched the Mental Health Data Prize Africa (MHDPA), a..

  • Healing Through Connection in Hoima

    By Barbara Kemigisha & Etheldreda Nakimli Mpungu In Hoima, Barbara, one of our team members, noticed something that did not sit right with her. Health centers were organizing support groups for people living with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). They offered transport allowances and refreshments, yet the rooms stayed half-empty. Almost no one came or spoke. The sessions felt forced, like ticking a box rather than touching lives. Barbara, who herself lives with HIV, decided to try something different. Through her foundation, she invited all young people, not just those living with HIV,..

Upcoming Events

  • Mental Health Data Prize - Africa Final Convening 2026

      The Mental Health Data Prize – Africa (MHDP-A) Final Convening 2026 will bring together researchers, innovators, policymakers, clinicians, funders, and people with lived experience to reflect on the initiative's impact and achievements. Under the theme, “Reflecting on Impact: Transforming Mental Health Data Insights in Africa,” the convening will showcase how data-driven innovations are advancing mental health research, policy, and practice across the continent. Taking place from June 2–4, 2026 in Mombasa, Kenya, the event will provide a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and..