Dr. Fatou Baldeh, Ph.D. Student at Canterbury Christ Church University (UK) and one of TIME's Women of the Year 2025.
Dr. Fatou Baldeh's journey is one of resilience and unwavering commitment to women's rights. Having undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) in childhood, she transformed her personal experience into a lifelong mission to eradicate this harmful practice. Her academic pursuits led her to the UK, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Health from the University of Wolverhampton and a Master's degree in Sexual and Reproductive Health from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. She is currently enrolled on a Ph.D. in Global Public Health at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), in Canterbury, UK.
In 2018, Dr. Fatou Baldeh returned to The Gambia and founded Women in Liberation and Leadership (WILL), an organisation dedicated to transforming and protecting the lives and rights of women in the region. Her relentless advocacy has not only raised awareness about the health consequences of FGM but also played a pivotal role in influencing policy decisions to uphold the dignity and human rights of African women and girls.
Her remarkable contributions have been recognised globally. In 2020, Dr Baldeh was honoured as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her outstanding service to migrant women in Scotland. In 2024, she received the U.S. State Department’s International Women of Courage Award, followed by the Geneva Summit Women’s Rights Award, acknowledging her extraordinary leadership and courage in fighting for the human dignity of women and girls in The Gambia and worldwide.
As a Ph.D. candidate at CCCU and a Research Fellow at the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fatou is part of the NIHR Global Health Research Group on Digital Diagnostics for African Health Systems, our large research consortium comprising 15 institutes across the UK, Europe and Africa. She is part of the extended Ph.D. student cohort, contributing to key stakeholder engagement meetings in The Gambia and to the wider mission of the group.
During one of these meetings in The Gambia in June last year, she received the exciting news of being awarded an honorary Ph.D. from the University of Wolverhampton, another exceptional achievement in recognition of her outstanding contribution to women’s rights.
At CCCU Dr. Fatou Baldeh is supervised by Professor Julie Balen, Professor of Health Systems and Global Change, and Dr. Anna Afferri, Senior Research Fellow in Global Public Health.
Reflecting on Fatou’s journey, Professor Julie Balen and Dr. Anna Afferri shared:
"We are absolutely delighted to supervise and support Fatou on this exciting Doctoral research programme at CCCU, in collaboration with our international partners. Fatou is an inspiration to all of us as she continues to drive her Ph.D. forward alongside her incredible activism"
Fatou’s research is supported by the prestigious "Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the LSHTM Doctoral Training Programme Scholarship" and complemented by local supervision from Dr. Annette Erhart at MRC Unit The Gambia (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) and Dr. Rosemond Hiadzi at the University of Ghana. Furthermore, Professor Julie Balen is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at MRC Gambia at the LSHTM, and Dr. Anna Afferri is also an Honorary Research Fellow there, strengthening the collaborative support surrounding Fatou’s research.
Dr. Fatou Baldeh's recognition as one of TIME's Women of the Year for 2025 is a testament to her resilience, dedication, and the profound impact of her work. At the 2025 TIME Women of the Year Gala in Los Angeles, she delivered a powerful speech highlighting her personal journey and the critical role of education in combating harmful practices like female genital mutilation (FGM). She recounted undergoing FGM at the age of eight, a traumatic experience that she only fully understood during her university studies in reproductive health in the UK. This educational experience was pivotal, transforming her personal trauma into a mission to eradicate FGM and challenge deeply entrenched gender inequalities.
Interview with Dr Fatou Baldeh: Reflecting on a Extraordinary Year and Lessons for Other PhD Students
Question (Q): Your first year as a Ph.D. student has been nothing short of remarkable, with multiple international awards and high-profile invitations. How does it feel to receive such recognition alongside starting this new academic journey?
Dr. Fatou Baldeh (FB): I feel honoured and at the same time motivated by the awards and recognition. Whilst these awards are in recognition of my work against FGM and other issues affecting Gambian women and girls such as sexual and gender-based violence, these issues all fall under the umbrella of Sexual and Reproductive health and Rights (SRHR). I consider myself very lucky to be able to pursue Ph.D. research around infertility which is another SRHR component that I am very passionate about. So, I am very excited about my academic journey, which will no doubt enhance my professional development.
Q: Looking back at the past year, what has been the most unexpected or surreal moment for you? The past year was full of unexpected, pleasant surprises.
FB: The most surreal moment must be standing next to the former First Lady of the United States of America, Dr. Gill Biden, when I received my International Woman of the Year Award at the White House. When I started campaigning for women’s rights and specifically against the bill which sought to legalise Female Genital Mutilation in The Gambia, my focus was on protecting the lives of young girls. Never had I imagined that my actions would put me on the world stage at the White House.
Q: What were your motivations for choosing postgraduate studies at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) and at this particular time?
FB: Canterbury Christ Church University offered me the unique opportunity to pursue academic excellence in an area that I have always been curious, and very passionate, about. My Ph.D. research allows me to explore and interrogate the nexus between gender dynamics, socio-cultural norms, and expectations and how they may affect access to infertility care seeking, especially among men. I am confident that the excellent support and guidance I am receiving from the university, particularly my supervisors will help me to achieve my academic goal and enhance the quality of my work.
Q: How has being a Ph.D. student at CCCU helped you navigate these extraordinary experiences?
FB: Being accepted for a fully funded Ph.D. research program on a topic of great interest provided a sense of privilege and purpose. The Ph.D. award was my first accomplishment in the past year. It put me on an extraordinary journey of knowledge-seeking and inspiration, and I had to anchor myself mentally and spiritually for this new chapter of my life’s journey.
Q: Coming to your Ph.D., what are you investigating and which approach is driving your research?
FB: Much like my work addressing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), my passion for studying and understanding infertility stems from my personal journey and struggles with fertility, as well as the stories of other couples, particularly women, facing infertility challenges. My personal experience, combined with my grassroots work with women and men across The Gambia, has revealed the intersectionality between socio-cultural norms and infertility. This, along with the stigma and discrimination faced by couples struggling with infertility and the taboo surrounding male infertility, has inspired my research on male infertility. Using qualitative research approaches, my Ph.D. aims to explore and understand how Gender Transformative Approaches (GTA) can influence infertility care, including beliefs, perceptions, and perspectives on the participation (or lack thereof) of men in fertility care.
Q: How have you managed to balance the demands of your Ph.D. research with your advocacy work and global engagements? Are there any specific ways in which your institute and your supervisory team have supported this? Is there anything that hindered it?
FB: Balancing my Ph.D. research with advocacy and global engagement has been quite challenging. When I established WILL, my aim was to create a sustainable Women's Rights Organisation within five years, regardless of my presence. By 2023, I had accomplished this and was in a strong position to pursue my long-term goal of obtaining a Ph.D. With a strong team at WILL, I felt confident in their ability to continue the work in my absence. The recognition and awards I received during my first year are a testament to years of advocacy against inequalities and discrimination faced by women and girls in The Gambia. My energy and inspiration come from realizing that I'm not just chasing a goal but fulfilling a calling to contribute to the empowerment and welfare of women and girls in societies where their access to opportunities and choices about their bodies and lives is hindered by unfavourable socio-cultural and gender norms. My supervisory team has been incredibly supportive and encouraging. Without their support and understanding, I wouldn't have been able to balance my Ph.D. research with global engagements and advocacy.
Q: Have there been moments when you felt overwhelmed, and if so, how did you navigate them? What did you learn from these moments?
FB: It has been an exciting, eventful, and sometimes an overwhelming year. There have been moment where I have contemplated choosing between my advocacy work and my academic career. However, in spite of these moments of doubt, my desire and commitment to pursue academic research has always been strong enough to overcome these doubts. Although I have experienced moments of feeling overwhelmed, I remind myself that I represent the hopes and aspirations of many young girls and women who lack my privileges. This understanding reinforces the belief that knowledge indeed empowers. So, I set myself to prioritising and planning everything I do, taking one step at a time, juggling, and multitasking with each step I take.
Q: What kind of support systems have been most valuable in helping you manage your multiple responsibilities?
FB: I am very lucky to have a very supportive family and circle of great friends. My husband is my strongest support system. He is always there to remind me why I am on this journey and to help in raising our four very energetic boys who continue to inspire and help me focus. My board members and team at Women In Liberation and Leadership (WILL) have made it so easy for me to transition into my Ph.D. role by supporting the WILL team continue delivering impactful advocacy work even in my absence. Having the support of these different people in my life has helped me manage my responsibilities.
Q: Are there any other ways in which your experience at CCCU helped support your extra-curricular work?
FB: The Ph.D. is strongly enhancing my research skills and I am also very privileged to be in the company of renowned academics and researchers from CCCU. This has enhanced my research, report writings and presentation skills. These skills have all been very instrumental in my advocacy efforts. For example, when parliamentarians were debating whether to lift a ban on FGM in The Gambia, they requested for evidence on the impact of the practice on women’s and girls’ health. I utilised my research skills to gather and compile evidence and submitted a report and made a presentation to The National Assembly Members. After the ban was maintained, MPs reported that the evidence presented to them was a major contributing factor in their vote to maintain the ban on the practice. In my global engagements, I have also observed that people tend to take notice when they realise that I am doing a Ph.D. in addition to advocacy work.
Q: Many PhD students face challenges in their first year — what are some strategies, approaches or habits that have helped you stay focused and organised despite your busy schedule?
FB: I think a Ph.D. research is a journey. The first year takes a lot of navigating through the literature and though processes to develop a solid foundation. It requires focus and perseverance. It can be frustrating, as the direction and theme of the research itself takes time to evolve and consolidate. As a mother, wife and activist, I have had to set myself goals for my Ph.D. research and try to achieve small milestones at a time, while juggling different demands on my time. What kept me motivated throughout has been my deep interest in the field of infertility and the believe that my research will make meaningful contributions to field.
Q: Have your experiences outside of academia influenced the way you approach your Ph.D. research? If so, what would be some of your lessons for others who are considering a PhD at CCCU or elsewhere?
FB: Whilst the Ph.D. research is on fertility, my advocacy has mainly been on SRHR. My hands-on experiences in community work influenced the way I approached the Ph.D. in that I tried to find a way to inject community intervention aspects in my research. This has helped me to structure my research goals to align with my advocacy experience. The main lesson I have drawn from this is that it is possible to marry academic interest with personal interest. If successful, this will be a significant motivational factor in the Ph.D. journey.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to fellow Ph.D. students about balancing academic work and personal or professional commitments, what would it be?
FB: I have always had to ask myself “what is my priority now?”, at any given time. Some priorities are time-bound and goal driven, but some are not. Being flexible and agile is important, and it is essential to remember that life encompasses more than just academic and professional achievements.
Q: Your work highlights the power of education in challenging harmful practices like FGM. How has pursuing a Ph.D. and your previous education deepened, or changed your perspective on the role of education, advocacy and social justice?
FB: Education unlocks the mind and exposes it to new horizons. Like most young girls and women, I did not question harmful practice like FGM. They were normalised in the communities I grew up in. It was the norm to trivialise and explain away the harm caused by FGM using unscientific logic. I only began to understand the link between FGM and health complications caused by it during my MSc course at university. The more I learnt, through research and advocacy, the more I understood and the louder the call to action became. My Ph.D. research further highlights the intricate link between socio-cultural practices, gender norms and gender inequalities. It has been an exciting, eventful, and sometimes an overwhelming year. There have been moment where I have contemplated choosing between my advocacy work and my academic career. However, in spite of these moments of doubt, my desire and commitment to academic pursuit has always been strong enough to overcome these doubts.
Q: After such a whirlwind first year, what are your hopes for the next stages of your PhD journey?
FB: The recognition I have received during my first year has only strengthened my hunger for knowledge and focus on the next stages of my Ph.D. journey. I hope that my Ph.D. research will add to the body of knowledge that speaks to a shared system of values, which gives women choices and opportunities in decision making and rebalancing socio-cultural norms in favour of gender equality and equity. If anything, I am more committed now than ever about achieving my long tern goal of completing a Ph.D. So for this year I am re-directing my focus and energy on my academic journey.
Q: Education is a powerful tool, but access remains a challenge, especially for marginalised or vulnerable groups, but also where access is less challenging learning may not always follow a linear path. Furthermore, with transforming the way we work, lifelong learning is becoming more critical than ever. How do you think future education models should adapt to keep up with these shifts?
FB: The internet, and now AI, have revolutionised access to data, information and knowledge. However, marginalised and vulnerable groups and societies are yet to fully benefit from this revolution, and whilst AI can be a force for good, studies have shown that it can also be harmful. Future education models should adapt to address inequality and propagation of unblemished information and knowledge. Specifically, in the context of my work on gender, there is an urgent need to bridge the gender gap in relation to access to education and literacy rates between men and women, to increase opportunities for girls and women in marginalised societies.
Q: How should universities and research institutions adapt to support extraordinary people like yourself—who are making real-world impact beyond academia?
FB: Universities and research institutions should create opportunities and encourage people who are engaging in impactful work beyond academia to take part in academic research, by promoting models that are flexible and adaptive, to generate knowledge and academic value from their impactful work.
Q: How do you see yourself continuing to bridge academia and activism in the years ahead?
FB: I believe that academia and activism can mutually enrich each other. Activism that is guided by knowledge is likely to be more impactful. If built around a knowledge management framework, it can generate knowledge that can in turn refine and fine tune its strategic direction and impetus, to make it more effective. It is my wish to combine academia with thought leadership and action for a better and more equitable world beyond my Ph.D. research.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Fatou Baldeh for sharing her incredible journey, insights, and experiences with us. Her dedication to advocacy, academia, and women’s rights is truly inspiring, and we are honoured to have had this opportunity to reflect on her impact – Happy Women's International Day!
Authors & Contributors
Dr. Fatou Baldeh, PhD Student at CCCU, Founder of Women in Liberation and Leadership (WILL)
Francesca Piffer (NIHR Global Health Research Group on Digital Diagnostics for African Health Systems, Imperial College London)
Emma Grafton-Williams (Canterbury Christ Church University)
Professor Julie Balen (Canterbury Christ Church University)
Dr. Anna Afferri (Canterbury Christ Church University)
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