Melanie Picolo is a nutritionist with more than 15 years of experience in public health and international development. She currently leads PATH’s team in Mozambique, overseeing a diverse portfolio of programs implemented in close collaboration with the Government of Mozambique, international donors and civil society organizations.
The work of PATH Mozambique was recognized with a GLIDE Falcon Award: The Climate Edit in 2023, celebrating innovative approaches at the climate–health nexus developed in partnership with the Mozambique Ministry of Health (MISAU) and National Institute of Health (INS). The results were published in The Journal of Climate Change and Health: Integration and use of climate data by the national health system in Mozambique – ScienceDirect.
Her program portfolio spans maternal, neonatal and child health and nutrition, early childhood development, malaria, noncommunicable diseases and immunization, with a strong emphasis on health systems strengthening, cost‑effective interventions and evidence‑based decision-making.
Melanie is an active member of the MISAU’s Climate and Health Technical Working Group and the Resilience and Adaptation Working Group (ReAdap), contributing to national efforts to build climate‑resilient, equitable and people‑centered health systems. She holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Nutrition from King’s College London and has extensive experience in programmatic leadership, intersectoral coordination and the management of complex partnerships in low- and middle-income country settings.