While women form the backbone of the global health workforce—holding over 80% of nursing and 90% of midwifery roles, and delivering the vast majority of unpaid care—they occupy only 25% of leadership positions in health. Bridging this gap is critical to developing equitable, resilient, and effective public health systems worldwide.
For early-to-mid career women in the healthcare sector, advancing into leadership and policy-making roles requires more than just clinical excellence; it demands specialized training, mentorship, and a platform for advocacy. The Women in Global Health Leadership Fellowship offers precisely this. Created in collaboration between the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Moi University (Kenya), the University of Cape Town (South Africa), and the Mastercard Foundation, this 12-month program is designed to transform talented professionals into influential global health leaders.
At MedOpportunities, we highlight pathways that elevate clinical and public health careers. Whether you are deeply involved in health systems research, managing clinical teams, or driving public health policy, this fellowship provides the training, financial support, and international network needed to accelerate your impact.
Quick Summary Box
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Fellowship Name | Women in Global Health Leadership Fellowship |
| Partner Institutions | Univ. of Toronto, Moi Univ., Univ. of Cape Town, Mastercard Foundation |
| Target Audience | Early-mid career (5–15 years) African women in public health/health sciences. |
| Location Requirement | Must reside and work in Kenya or South Africa. |
| Duration | 12 months (Hybrid: Online and 1-week in-person in Kenya). |
| Funding Type | Fully Funded (Includes living/family stipend, travel, accommodation). |
| Current Cohort | 2026/27 |
| EOI Deadline | May 22, 2026 |
Opportunity Overview
The Women in Global Health Leadership Fellowship is a comprehensive, year-long hybrid program. It aims to create safe spaces for women to share experiences, engage with gender-transformative leadership tools, and collaborate with like-minded peers to push forward equitable health policies.
The curriculum is structured around four core competencies:
- Gender Equity and Intersectional Analysis: Applying equity lenses to health systems.
- Global Health Policy and Advocacy: Navigating political environments to develop cohesive policies.
- Leadership: Empowering teams, challenging inequity, and guiding decision-making.
- Mentorship: Maximizing institutional resources and realizing personal leadership potential.
The 12-month journey is divided into three distinct phases:
- Phase 1 (Online): Core learning sessions covering global health, gender equity, policy, and knowledge translation.
- Phase 2 (Hybrid): An intensive one-week in-person training academy in early 2027 in Kenya, combined with mentor matching.
- Phase 3 (Online): One-on-one mentorship, development, and presentation of a customized leadership project.
Benefits
The fellowship removes financial barriers to ensure participants can fully commit to their professional development without sacrificing their livelihood or family responsibilities.
- Financial Stipend: A unique living and family support stipend is provided to cover lost wages, child or elder care, or other expenses necessary to support full participation.
- Fully Funded In-Person Training: Complete coverage for transportation, accommodation, and meals for the one-week leadership academy in Kenya.
- World-Class Curriculum: Training and workshops delivered by leading global health experts and academics.
- Personalized Mentorship: Direct pairing with senior global health leaders.
- Project Guidance: Structured support in designing and implementing a tangible leadership project within your organization or community.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the 2026/27 cohort, applicants must meet the following strict criteria:
- Gender Identity: Identify as a woman.
- Nationality & Residency: Be an African national currently residing and working in either Kenya or South Africa.
- Experience: Be an early-to-mid career professional with 5 to 15 years of experience in local, regional, or global health work.
- Education: Possess post-graduate education in Public Health, Health Policy, Health Sciences, or related fields (this includes a postgraduate diploma, certificate, Master's, or PhD).
- Current Role: Work in a role focused on public health policy, practice, teaching, and/or research.
- Demonstrated Leadership: Show existing leadership qualities through work, education, or community service.
- Logistics: Be fluent in English, possess a valid passport, and secure an employer-approved leave of absence for the one-week in-person training in early 2027.
Eligible Healthcare Professions
This fellowship is highly multidisciplinary. Healthcare professionals who meet the educational and experiential criteria are strongly encouraged to apply:
- Public Health Physicians and Clinicians: Doctors involved in health systems management, epidemiology, or clinical leadership.
- Advanced Practice Nurses & Midwives: Nursing leaders overseeing maternal health programs, community clinics, or systemic health interventions.
- Health Policy Analysts & Researchers: Professionals working in government health departments, NGOs, or academic institutions focusing on health equity.
- Global Health Managers: Those directing immunization services, infectious disease control programs, or nutrition initiatives.
IMG/International Applicant Considerations
For internationally trained healthcare professionals, leadership and policy expertise are becoming increasingly important in today’s interconnected healthcare environment. Beyond clinical practice, healthcare systems increasingly need professionals who can advocate for equitable workforce policies, strengthen public health institutions, and contribute to regional and international health initiatives.
Participating in a fellowship focused on leadership, mentorship, and policy development can help healthcare professionals broaden their career pathways beyond direct clinical work. Skills in advocacy, systems leadership, and health equity are increasingly valuable for professionals working with NGOs, ministries of health, academic institutions, and international health organizations.
For women already involved in health systems strengthening, maternal health, infectious disease programs, or healthcare administration, this fellowship provides an opportunity to build strategic leadership capacity while expanding professional networks across Africa.
Required Documents
While the initial stage is brief, you must prepare foundational documentation to prove your eligibility:
- Expression of Interest (EOI) Form: The mandatory initial online screening document.
- Proof of Education: Transcripts or certificates verifying your post-graduate degree in a health-related field.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Highlighting your 5–15 years of relevant public health experience.
- Employer Support Documentation: A formal letter or agreement from your current employer endorsing your participation and guaranteeing leave for the in-person academy (required for the full application stage).
- Valid Passport: Necessary for international travel to Kenya for Phase 2.
Application Process
The selection process is highly competitive and divided into two distinct steps:
- Step 1: Expression of Interest (EOI). Candidates must register via the online EOI form. This acts as a screening phase and takes approximately 15–20 minutes to complete. You must download the EOI Instructions Form from the official website before starting.
- Step 2: Full Application (By Invitation Only). Candidates whose EOIs meet or exceed the selection criteria will be invited to submit a comprehensive full application. From this pool, the final 18 fellows for the 2026/27 cohort will be selected.
Tips to Increase Your Chances
- Highlight Intersectional Impact: When detailing your public health experience, emphasize times you have addressed healthcare challenges using a gender equity or intersectional lens.
- Clarify Your Policy Focus: Be specific about the type of health policy or practice you wish to reform. Vague desires for "better healthcare" are less compelling than targeted goals, such as "improving mental health clinical service delivery in urban slums" or "advancing data collection for maternal mortality."
- Demonstrate Mentorship Readiness: Show not only that you have leadership potential, but that you are eager to be mentored and willing to mentor others in the future.
- Secure Early Employer Buy-In: Because the fellowship requires time commitments during work hours and an in-person travel week, having clear, documented support from your employer makes you a lower-risk, highly viable candidate for the selection committee.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing the Narrow Geographic Criteria: Applying if you do not actively reside and work in Kenya or South Africa, even if you are an African national.
- Underestimating the Experience Bracket: The fellowship strictly requires 5 to 15 years of experience. Applicants who are too junior (under 5 years) or too senior (over 15 years) will be disqualified.
- Ignoring the Stipend Parameters: Misunderstanding the financial support. The stipend is designed for living/family support and childcare, ensuring you can participate. It is not a limitless grant for independent medical research.
Application Timeline
- May 22, 2026: Expression of Interest (EOI) Deadline.
- End of June / Early July 2026: Deadline for Full Applications (for invited candidates).
- Late 2026: Phase 1 (Online learning sessions begin).
- Early 2027: Phase 2 (One-week intensive in-person training in Kenya).
- Mid-to-Late 2027: Phase 3 (Mentorship and leadership project presentation).
Deadline
URGENT: The deadline for the initial Expression of Interest (EOI) is May 22, 2026. With the deadline rapidly approaching, prospective applicants should complete the 15-minute form immediately to ensure they are considered for the full application round.
FAQs
1. I have a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS/MBChB). Does this count as post-graduate education?
Typically, clinical degrees must be supplemented with a post-graduate qualification (such as an MPH, Master's in Health Policy, or a post-graduate diploma) to meet the strict public health academic criteria of this specific fellowship. Check with the program coordinators for specific equivalency queries.
2. I am a citizen of South Africa but currently work in the UK. Am I eligible?
No. You must both be an African national and actively reside and work in either Kenya or South Africa to be eligible for this cohort.
3. What kind of leadership project is expected in Phase 3?
The project should be practical and actionable within your current organization or local health system. It could range from developing a new gender-inclusive clinical guideline to launching an advocacy campaign for better healthcare worker protections.
Official Link(s)
- Official Fellowship Page & EOI Instructions: Women in Global Health Leadership Fellowship - Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Final Thoughts
The Women in Global Health Leadership Fellowship represents a critical shift toward empowering the individuals who actually deliver the majority of global healthcare. For female professionals in Kenya and South Africa, this is an unparalleled opportunity to transition from executing health policies to actively designing them.
With the EOI deadline of May 22, 2026, fast approaching, we strongly encourage eligible candidates to act quickly. By securing a place in this cohort, you are not just advancing your own career; you are taking a vital step toward creating a more equitable, responsive, and robust global health system.
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