In Benin’s scientific community, Clémence Metonnou’s selection as the first woman from the country to receive a Canadian International Development Scholarship 2030 (BCDI 2030) marked an important step forward for women’s leadership in research and higher education. A nutritionist and public health researcher, she described the recognition as both a personal and professional milestone, sharing, “I am very grateful for this selection as a woman. It makes me proud, and I hope it encourages other women to follow in my footsteps.”
“I am very grateful for this selection as a woman. It makes me proud, and I hope it encourages other women to follow in my footsteps.”
Clémence Metonnou
— BCDI 2030 Fellow, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine
During the four-week program, Clémence experienced immediate benefits, noting that “the added value of this training was enormous,” as the experience expanded her knowledge and strengthened her professional perspective. Her participation represents not only a personal accomplishment, but also a meaningful contribution to the growing presence of women scientists shaping research, education, and public health systems in Benin.
This achievement reflects a rigorous academic journey shaped by her sustained commitment to public health. After beginning her studies in Biomedical Analysis Engineering at the University of Abomey-Calavi, Clémence pursued advanced training at the Regional Institute of Public Health Comlan Alfred Quenum, earning a Master’s degree in Public Health specializing in Nutrition and Population Health in 2011. She later completed a PhD in Public Health with a specialization in Health Promotion in 2021. Her research focuses on preventing non-communicable diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes, an increasingly urgent public health challenge in Benin and across the region. Since 2012, she has devoted her career to teaching, research, and academic supervision, helping train future generations of public health professionals.
“Women’s leadership will, in time, strengthen and influence decision-making and take the health promotion team in my institute and beyond even further.”
Clémence Metonnou
— BCDI 2030 Fellow, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine
Following her participation in the BCDI 2030 scholarship, Clémence emphasized the importance of sharing information about international training opportunities, noting that increased awareness among colleagues is essential to ensuring more researchers can benefit from programs like BCDI 2030. She also expressed optimism about the future of women’s leadership in public health, stating that “women’s leadership will, in time, strengthen and influence decision-making and take the health promotion team in my institute and beyond even further.”
Learn more about the BCDI Program on the Canadian International Development Scholarships 2030 (BCDI 2030) website.