Lebogang Ramalepe

I am a public health researcher with expertise in sexual and gender minority health, gender-based violence (GBV), substance use, and psychosocial wellbeing in African contexts. My work is grounded in interdisciplinary and community-engaged approaches that integrate psychology, public health, and social justice perspectives to address structural inequalities affecting marginalised populations. A significant component of my research focuses on understanding the drivers, impacts, and psychosocial consequences of GBV, particularly among women, adolescents, and vulnerable communities in Southern and Eastern Africa. Through this work, I have contributed to strengthening survivor-centred approaches, informing interventions, and advancing evidence-based responses to violence, trauma, stigma, and social exclusion.

I have managed and contributed to multi-country and multi-site research projects across the globe, with particular experience in project coordination, research implementation, qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and stakeholder engagement. My research has focused extensively on the health outcomes of sexual and gender minority populations, including HIV vulnerability, minority stress, discrimination, substance use, access to psychosocial support services, and the intersections between GBV, mental health, and inequality.

I have supervised honours and master’s students in psychology and have contributed to academic training through lecturing, mentorship, and curriculum development. My scholarly contributions include peer-reviewed journal publications, book chapters, conference presentations, and peer-review activities in the fields of gender, sexuality, GBV, and public health. My academic and

professional achievements have been recognised through several national and international awards, including the Universitas 21 Scholarship, which enabled me to pursue advanced studies in sexuality, culture, and society at the University of Amsterdam. My expertise lies in producing socially responsive research that informs policy, strengthens community-based and survivor-centred interventions, and advances health equity and gender justice for vulnerable populations in Africa.