Diarra is a lecturer and researcher in Health Geography at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD), and a former postdoctoral fellow at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC). Her work lies at the intersection of scientific inquiry and social impact, with a particular focus on spatial inequalities in healthcare access and the well-being of vulnerable populations.

She holds a PhD in Health Geography from Gaston Berger University, where her dissertation examined access to care for people with disabilities in the city of Saint-Louis, highlighting the social and territorial dimensions of health inequities. Her academic path, including a Master’s in Health-Territories-Environment, has equipped her with a strong interdisciplinary approach to addressing complex urban health challenges.

At APHRC, she contributed to major initiatives such as Countdown 2030 and the IDRC-SRADC project, engaging in participatory action research to improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health and reduce gender-based violence. Her work integrates field coordination, stakeholder engagement, and community-centered analysis, alongside efforts to strengthen research dissemination and policy advocacy.

As a lecturer, she mentors students, facilitates knowledge translation, and teaches modules on migration, environment, and non-governmental organizations. She is also involved in local outreach and policy engagement, particularly around health systems and adolescent well-being in peri-urban Dakar.

Her overarching vision is to help build an inclusive, African-led research ecosystem that advances sustainable health solutions through equity-driven data, collaborative methodologies, and meaningful dialogue between research, policy, and communities.