Dr. Mulatu Biru Shargie, a Capacity Building Specialist at UNU-IIGH, provides technical leadership and managerial support for the Institute's Capacity Building portfolio, focusing on strategy development in collaboration with government, civil society, and university partners.
Dr Mulatu leads the creation of flagship courses and training resources tailored for researchers, policymakers and program implementers in low- and middle-income settings. He builds strategic partnerships with UN agencies and various stakeholders, conducts research on best practices, and ensures that the capacity building program meets quality standards within budget and timeline constraints. He is the focal person for the UNU IIGH at the West Pacific Regional Training Center.
Before joining UNU, he held various key roles, including Research Director for a USAID TB elimination project by KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation in Ethiopia, Director of Knowledge Management at Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), and leadership positions in HIV/AIDS and pediatric HIV programs at ICAP and IntraHealth International.
Dr. Mulatu Biru is a seasoned public health specialist with 20+ years of experience, holding a PhD in medical science and a master’s in international public health from Lund University, Sweden. Proficient in program management, strategic planning, and research, he excels in HIV/AIDS, TB, ART/PMTCT, Gender and Health, and maternal/child health. Driven by collaboration, he's contributed to key national guidelines and policies, showcasing expertise in data access, HIV case management, and information systems security.
His research centers on implementation strategies promoting evidence-based decision making within healthcare systems to enhance health outcomes and mitigate disparities. He applies this focus to projects in Maternal and Child health, with a special emphasis on HIV/AIDS, its impact on adolescent girls and young women, Tuberculosis elimination, and improving surgical practices' quality and safety. Moreover, he explores leveraging digital health practices and governance to ensure equitable, high-quality healthcare, particularly in resource-constrained global regions.