GirlsLift Health Southern Africa Leadership Journey 2027

WomenLift Health’s Southern Africa Leadership Journey is a fully funded, 12-month program designed to support mid-career women leaders in health++ by providing mentoring, coaching, assessments, and both virtual and in-person learning experiences at no cost.

What it offers

• Cost: Free (all program costs, including travel and lodging, are covered)
• Duration: February 2026 – March 2027
• Format: Hybrid (virtual and in-person elements)
• Effort: Approximately 4–8 hours each month
• Total learning hours: Approximately 87 hours (inclusive of all learning touchpoints and work on a Health Leadership Project)
• In-person residencies:
  • Immersion: 3-day residency (13–16 April 2027, with travel days 12 and 17 April)
  • Lift-Off: 2-day residency (14–15 March 2028, with travel days 13 and 16 March)
• Location: In-person residencies will be in Southern Africa (exact location to be communicated to cohort members closer to the event)
• Cohort size: 35 women leaders in health++
• Post-program: Lifelong network of allies at local, regional, and global levels

Who can apply

• Identify as a woman
• Demonstrate fluency and confidence in written and verbal English communication
• Be a citizen who resides and works in: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, eSwatini, Zambia, or Zimbabwe
• Live in CAT (+/-1 hour) time zones for at least 75% of the program
• Be a mid-career leader with 10–25 years of work experience in health++

What you'll do

• Participate in two in-person experiential learning residencies (Immersion and Lift-Off)
• Engage in virtual learning touchpoints, virtual group mentoring, and virtual one-on-one coaching sessions
• Complete a self-directed Health Leadership Project
• Join a diverse cohort representing different sectors (public, private, academia, NGO, philanthropy), disciplines, and cultural backgrounds

How to apply

• Include a letter of recommendation from your supervisor (or a senior leader in your organization or health community if unable to obtain one from your direct supervisor)
• The letter should address:
  • Your significant contributions to your professional field
  • Your strongest personal quality that qualifies you for selection
  • How the Leadership Journey will enhance your leadership knowledge and skills
• Deadline: 18 September 2026 11:59pm CAT
• Apply via the program’s application portal

Good to know

• The program is designed for full participation—accepting a place means committing to attending all touchpoints and in-person residencies.
• Applications are highly competitive, with only 35 women selected each year.
• The program is supported by the Gates Foundation and facilitated by the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL).