Advancing women’s global health leadership: lessons from a Tripartite Model

Abstract

Background: Women in the Global South remain underrepresented in high-level leadership positions in global health. Three academic institutions developed the Women in Global Health Leadership Fellowship (WGHLF) to build and strengthen the capacity of emerging women leaders in global health in Kenya and South Africa. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate how well the program met its intended outcomes in its first two years of operation. Methods: Twenty-eight participants (12 in 2024 and 16 in 2025) were evaluated. Participants included early- to mid-career women working in health policy, practice, and academia. We analyzed pre- and post-assessment data, mid-year surveys, and focus group responses. Results: Participants reported considerable knowledge and skill gains in global health policy, gender equity, leadership, and mentorship as well as increased confidence in their ability to succeed in higher-level leadership roles. Participants also noted an increased ability to lead gender equity projects at their workplace. Reported program strengths include high participant engagement, collaborative teaching approaches, growth in participant self-awareness, and the practical application of knowledge through their required leadership projects. Conclusions: The WGHLF improved participants’ confidence in advancing gender equity practices in local, regional, and global health. This type of fellowship training, offered in partnership between institutions in the Global North and Global South, can serve as a collaborative model for others seeking ways to help qualified women prepare for higher-level leadership positions, which are crucially needed to advance gender equity and local health systems