Pharmacist – Expert in Public Health, Health Financing, and Health Systems Governance
Dr. Djénéba Ouattara is a distinguished Ivorian pharmacist and public health expert, widely recognized for her strategic leadership in health policy development, sustainable financing, and multisectoral governance of health systems. With over 15 years of experience spanning national coordination and international consultancy, she has partnered with governments, development agencies, and civil society to advance impactful and sustainable health sector reforms.
Dr. Ouattara currently serves as Health Advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office of Côte d’Ivoire, where she leads major health initiatives and represents the government on global platforms. Since 2018, she has been the official liaison for the Global Financing Facility (GFF) and serves as national lead for the One Health Platform for Global Health Security, championing integrated, cross-sectoral approaches to public health threats.
Her career reflects a deep commitment to transforming health systems. She has led major national reforms in universal health coverage, community health, pharmaceutical regulation, and multi-stakeholder coordination. As former Chair of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) for Global Fund grants in Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Ouattara oversaw the strategic mobilization and management of international funding for priority programs targeting HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and community health.
Alongside her policy and advisory roles, Dr. Ouattara has a solid academic and research background. She previously served as Head of Research in the Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences at Felix Houphouët-Boigny University and spent nine years as an epidemiology researcher at the Institut Pasteur of Côte d’Ivoire. Her early career includes work as a hospital pharmacist at the University Hospital of Treichville in Abidjan.
Dr. Ouattara holds both a Doctorate in Pharmacy and a PhD in Public Health from Felix Houphouët-Boigny University in Abidjan. She remains a leading voice in Côte d’Ivoire’s health sector, committed to advancing innovation, equity, and resilience in health service delivery.