Dr. Léa Paré Toé elevated to the rank of Knight of the Academic Palms
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Dr. Léa Paré Toé, a socio-anthropologist at the Health Sciences Research Institute (IRSS) and stakeholder engagement lead for Target Malaria Burkina Faso, was elevated to the rank of Knight of the Academic Palms during the country’s Independence Day celebrations in December 2024.
As the stakeholder engagement lead for Target Malaria Burkina Faso, Dr. Paré Toé promotes a community-centered research approach, paving the way for a mutually beneficial relationship between stakeholders and scientists.
Dr. Paré Toé developed a dynamic community engagement approach based on diverse participatory methods: leading community meetings, educational workshops, and platforms like the video series “Voices from the field“. This approach uses adapted terminology, visual aids, creative tools such as community theater, and educational resources in local languages to transmit advanced scientific concepts to communities with low literacy rates. Her objective is to empower communities to make informed decisions and influence how research is conducted.
A stakeholder engagement officer at Target Malaria Burkina Faso meeting with a women’s association
A pioneer in studying genetic technologies from local community perspectives, Dr Léa Paré Toé received the “Women in Vector Control” excellence award in 2022, marking the first step in recognising her exceptional work. She believes in the transformative and lasting impact women could have in the fight against malaria, as community prescribers and facilitators.
Dr Paré’s Academic Palms distinction confirms the pioneering and significant nature of her research and commitment.
