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𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗙 ! 

Today, 𝟮𝟲 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆, marks the 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺, also known as 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆, designated by 
#UNESCO to raise awareness about this unique and vital ecosystem. It's also the perfect moment for us to look back: it is now 𝟭𝟬 years that the 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲́𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗲𝘁 𝗱’𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗲̀𝗿𝗲𝘀 (𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗙-𝗙𝗦𝗔-𝗨𝗔𝗖) has been working on mangroves.

Over this decade, we have substantially contributed to generating evidence and advancing knowledge and practices on mangroves in Benin and West Africa — through more than 𝟮𝟱 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 covering: 

¤ mangrove diversity, regeneration and restoration;
¤ climate-change impacts and future distribution;
¤ forest structure, biomass and blue-carbon stocks;
¤ local livelihoods, ecosystem services and resource-use patterns;
¤ co-management, traditional institutions and legal frameworks;
¤ economic valuation and social–ecological resilience.

From experimental studies on mangrove species to the development of the new 𝗠𝗮𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗔 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹–𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, LABEF’s work illustrates the importance of combining ecological science, quantitative modelling and community knowledge.

These achievements have been possible through the commitment of our students, researchers, local communities and national and international partners.

We have trained 𝟱 𝗣𝗵𝗗 and more than 𝟯𝟬 𝗠𝗦𝗰 and 𝗕.𝗦𝗰. that are now supporting either research centres or working with NGOs to conserve and sustainably manage mangroves.

On this International Mangrove Day, we reaffirm our commitment to producing evidence that supports the 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻, 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱.

We are deeply grateful to our funders —#ifs, #waemu #HumboldtFoundation, #IUCN-#papbio, #PRCM, and #FAO; our research partners — #WASCAL, 
#Una, #unamur, #ULiège, #vub, #ACECOR, and #epomex; and the #NGOs who have walked this journey with us —#cordeong, #ActionPlus, #ecobénin, and #ridben.

Let's bring together our knowledge and experience to advance the conservation and sustainable use of mangroves! 

Explore our full list of publications on mangroves on our website : 
https://lnkd.in/e3KTtPX6

Below are the DOI links:
https://lnkd.in/eyze5mVS

#WorldMangroveDay #Mangroves #Conservation#Research #WestAfrica 
#Benin #SocioEcologicalResilience #LABEF #ClimateAction #BlueEconomy

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱

𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘆 𝗢𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼 describes #LABEF as a model of excellence, where visionary leadership, innovation, and rigorous training shape the next generation of world-class scientists.

I am Mercy Ogero from Kenya, a Master's 2 student in Biostatistics at LABEF, University of Abomey-Calavi.

Driven by a passion for data-driven public health solutions, my research focuses on:

"Predicting Malaria Incidence in Kenya: A Machine Learning Approach Integrating Temporal Cluster Analysis."

Through this work, I aim to strengthen malaria surveillance and support evidence-based public health decision-making in Kenya while advancing the application of AI and statistics to infectious disease epidemiology in Africa.

My sincere gratitude goes to Professor Romain Glèlè Kakaï, Director of #LABEF, and the entire LABEF team for their visionary leadership, unwavering support, and commitment to academic excellence. I also deeply thank #DAAD for making this academic journey possible.

Stay tuned for updates!

#LABEF #UniversityOfAbomeyCalavi #Biostatistics #PublicHealth #MachineLearning #Research #ResearchExcellence #DAAD #WomenInScience #Africa

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱: 𝗥𝗲́𝗰𝗲̀𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗙.

"𝗥𝗲́𝗰𝗲̀𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗻 exprime son ambition de mettre la #Biostatistique au service de la santé publique, tout en saluant la rigueur scientifique, l'excellence académique et la qualité de la formation dispensée au #labef."

I am 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗚𝗕𝗔 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗥𝗲́𝗰𝗲̀𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗻, from 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻. I am currently a 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝟮 student in 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀, specializing in 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 at the #labef, 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘆-𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗶.

I have chosen to pursue my studies at the #labef, particularly in the field of #Biostatistics, due to my strong interest in applying statistical methods to public health, as well as the program's emphasis on rigorous training.

My research project focuses on assessing the impact of insecticide-treated nets on malaria burden in sub-Saharan Africa, with an emphasis on applying statistical to synthesize existing evidence and support public health decision-making. Malaria remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among vulnerable populations in the regions, which motivates my interest in producing rigorous, evidence-based findings capable of informing more effective prevention strategies.

My research work will focus on the following topic :

"𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲-𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗯-𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 : 𝗔 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮-𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀."

Through this study, I want to contribute meaningfully to the effort to reduce malaria burden and strengthen public health policy in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ultimately, I aim to pursue a career as a #Biostatistician specializing in #InfectiousDiseaseEpidemiology in #SubSaharanAfrica.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Director of the #labef, Professor 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗹𝗲̀𝗹𝗲̀ 𝗞𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗶̈, and his team for their support, leadership, innovative initiatives, and unwavering commitment to academic excellence and coordination of the program.

#LABEF #UAC #UniversityOfAbomeyCalavi #Biostatistics #Statistics #PublicHealth #Epidemiology #InfectiousDiseases #Malaria #SystematicReview #MetaAnalysis #EvidenceBasedResearch #Research #Africa #SubSaharanAfrica #HigherEducation #AcademicExcellence #ScientificResearch #FutureScientists #GlobalHealth

𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: LABEF Celebrates the Doctoral Success of Dr. Romuald BEH MBA LABEF proudly celebrates the successful PhD defense of Dr. Romuald BEH MBA, held on July 17, 2026, at the University of Abomey-Calavi. His dissertation, "Bayesian Geostatistical Modeling for Point-Referenced Spatial Data: Computational Efficiency, Non-Stationarity, and Applications to Disease Mapping," makes significant contributions to Bayesian spatial statistics and quantitative epidemiology.

The research introduces innovative Bayesian geostatistical methods that address key challenges related to computational efficiency, spatial non-stationarity, and covariate misalignment. These methodological advances improve spatial risk assessment and provide robust statistical tools to support evidence-based public health decision-making and the geographic targeting of disease control interventions.

This achievement reflects Dr. BEH MBA's outstanding scientific contribution while reinforcing LABEF's commitment to research excellence and capacity building in Africa. It also strengthens scientific expertise in Gabon in the fields of spatial statistics and public health.

Dr. BEH MBA expressed his sincere gratitude to his supervisor, Prof. Romain Glèlè Kakaï, the members of the jury, and the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) for their invaluable scientific and financial support.

LABEF warmly congratulates Dr. Romuald BEH MBA and wishes him continued success in his academic and research career.

𝗣𝗵𝗗 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘆

The Laboratoire de Biomathématiques et d'Estimations Forestières (𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗙) 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗗 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳:

𝗥𝗼𝗺𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗘𝗛 𝗠𝗕𝗔,

who will defend his doctoral research entitled:

"𝗕𝗮𝘆𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁-𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴."

This research advances the field of Bayesian geostatistics by developing innovative methodologies for analyzing complex spatial data and improving disease mapping. 

Its findings are expected to strengthen evidence-based decision-making and support public health research through more accurate spatial statistical models.

The 𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗙 warmly congratulates the candidate and wishes him every success in this important milestone of his academic and scientific career.
......................................................

𝗔𝘃𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲̀𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗲́𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲

Le Laboratoire de Biomathématiques et d'Estimations Forestières (𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗙) a le plaisir d'annoncer la soutenance de thèse de doctorat en Biométrie de :

𝗥𝗼𝗺𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗘𝗛 𝗠𝗕𝗔,

qui présentera ses travaux de recherche intitulés :

« 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲́𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗲́𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘆𝗲́𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲́𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮̀ 𝗿𝗲́𝗳𝗲́𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 : 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲́ 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲, 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲́ 𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮̀ 𝗹𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀.»

Cette recherche contribue à faire progresser le domaine de la géostatistique bayésienne en développant des approches méthodologiques innovantes pour l'analyse de données spatiales complexes et l'amélioration de la cartographie des maladies.

Les résultats attendus de ces travaux visent à renforcer la prise de décision fondée sur les données probantes et à soutenir la recherche en santé publique grâce à des modèles statistiques spatiaux plus performants, plus précis et mieux adaptés à l'analyse des phénomènes sanitaires.

Le 𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗙 adresse ses chaleureuses félicitations au candidat et lui souhaite plein succès pour cette étape majeure de son parcours académique et scientifique

#LABEF #PhDDefense #Biometry #BayesianStatistics #Geostatistics 
#SpatialStatistics #DiseaseMapping hashtag#ResearchExcellence #PublicHealth 
#EvidenceBasedResearch #UAC #Science #Africa