WomenLift Health Opens Applications for the 2027 Eastern Africa Leadership Journey

Applications are now open for the 2027 WomenLift Health Eastern Africa Leadership Journey, a fully funded leadership development program designed for mid- to senior-career women working in health across Eastern Africa.

The 12-month program will run from March 2027 to February 2028 and will combine virtual learning with in-person experiential sessions. Participants will have the opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills, expand their professional networks and develop practical approaches to complex health challenges.

Program at a Glance

• Program: WomenLift Health 2027 Eastern Africa Leadership Journey
• Duration: March 2027 – February 2028
• Format: Hybrid, combining virtual and in-person activities
• Cost: Free of charge, with program costs, travel and accommodation covered
• Time commitment: Approximately 4–8 hours per month
• Total learning: Approximately 87 hours
• Application deadline: September 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EAT
• Participants: 35 women leaders working in health across Eastern Africa

Apply for the 2027 Eastern Africa Leadership Journey

A 12-Month Leadership Development Experience

The WomenLift Health Leadership Journey is designed to give women leaders a supportive environment in which to explore their leadership style, strengthen their voice and influence, and reflect on the challenges they encounter in their professional lives.

Participants will become part of a diverse community supported by peers, mentors, coaches and health-sector experts. The program focuses on practical leadership tools and frameworks that can help participants address individual, institutional and wider health-sector challenges.

The program includes two major in-person learning experiences, virtual learning sessions, group mentoring, one-on-one coaching and an independently developed Health Leadership Project.

Participants who successfully complete the program become Global Fellows, joining a lifelong network of women leaders and allies working at local, regional and global levels.

Important Program Dates

The 2027 Eastern Africa Leadership Journey is scheduled to take place from March 16, 2027, through February 10, 2028.

All program sessions and in-person residencies are mandatory, so applicants are encouraged to review the full program calendar before submitting an application.

The two major in-person residencies are:

Immersion

May 25–27, 2027

Travel days are scheduled for May 24 and May 28, 2027.

Lift-Off

February 8–10, 2028

Travel days are scheduled for February 7 and February 11, 2028.

The locations of the in-person residencies will be announced to selected cohort members closer to the event dates.

Applicants can review the official schedules through the Cohort A and Cohort B calendars:

Cohort A Program Calendar

Cohort B Program Calendar

Beyond Traditional Healthcare: The Health++ Approach

The 2027 Eastern Africa cohort will bring together 35 women leaders working across Health++.

This concept recognizes that improving health outcomes requires collaboration beyond traditional healthcare institutions. Areas such as climate change, agriculture, food systems, water and sanitation, education, economic policy, gender equality and technology can all have a major impact on health.

WomenLift Health aims to develop leaders who can work across these different sectors, understand interconnected challenges and build partnerships capable of producing lasting change.

Why Health++ Matters

Health and Climate: Rising temperatures, extreme weather events and pollution can influence disease patterns, nutrition and access to healthcare.

Health and Agriculture: Agricultural and food systems affect nutrition, food security, obesity and the livelihoods of communities, particularly in rural areas.

Health and Gender: Gender-related power structures can influence access to healthcare, health-related decision-making and opportunities for women to take leadership positions.

Health and Technology: Digital technologies are transforming healthcare delivery, diagnostics and efforts to improve health equity.

Supporting Diverse Women Leaders

WomenLift Health emphasizes inclusion throughout its leadership programs and encourages applications from women with diverse lived experiences.

The organization specifically welcomes women from minority, historically marginalized and underrepresented communities in the countries served by the program.

The Leadership Journey is designed to create a safe environment for independent and collaborative learning while helping participants balance professional responsibilities with personal well-being.

What Participants Can Gain

Those selected for the program will have opportunities to:

• Develop a stronger and more authentic leadership approach
• Improve their voice, presence and influence
• Learn practical strategies for addressing complex health challenges
• Build relationships with peers across Eastern Africa
• Receive mentoring and individual coaching
• Work with experts from different areas of the health sector
• Develop a Health Leadership Project
• Become part of an international network of women leaders

The program also promotes systems thinking and encourages participants to identify opportunities where leadership and collaboration can generate wider impact.

A Network That Continues Beyond the Program

WomenLift Health views the Leadership Journey as more than a one-year training program. Participants who complete the experience become part of a long-term community of Global Fellows.

This network is intended to provide continued professional support, collaboration and opportunities for women leaders while also encouraging fellows to support future cohorts and advocate for stronger representation of women in health leadership.

For women working in health across Eastern Africa, the 2027 Leadership Journey offers a fully funded opportunity to develop leadership skills, build regional connections and contribute to solutions for some of the most complex health challenges facing communities today.

Applications close on September 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EAT. Applicants should review the official eligibility requirements and program calendar before applying.

Official WomenLift Health – 2027 Eastern Africa Leadership Journey