Lotus McDougal, PhD, MPH, is a social epidemiologist with 15 years’ experience researching issues of reproductive and maternal health, agency, gender equity, gender-based violence, nutrition, and HIV across South Asia, South-East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. She has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, conducted research on grants funded by multilateral, government and foundation sources, led multi-country monitoring and evaluation portfolios, coordinated community health education programs in humanitarian settings, and served as a consultant for UNICEF and UNAIDS.