WomenLift Health Southern Africa Leadership Journey 2027 (Fully-funded)

WomenLift Health’s fully-funded Southern Africa Leadership Journey 2027 is a 12-month hybrid program for mid-career women leaders in health++ who want to deepen their leadership impact while balancing work and life.

What it offers

• Cost: Free (all program costs, including travel and lodging, are covered)
• Format: Hybrid (virtual and in-person)
• Duration: February 2026 – March 2027
• Effort: Approximately 4–8 hours each month
• Total learning hours: Approximately 87 hours (including all touchpoints and a Health Leadership Project)
• In-person residencies:
  • Three-day Immersion (13–16 April 2027, with travel days 12 and 17 April)
  • Two-day Lift-Off (14–15 March 2028, with travel days 13 and 16 March)
• Location: Southern Africa (exact venue communicated later)
• Participants: 35 women leaders selected annually

Who can apply

• Identify as a woman
• Demonstrate fluency and confidence in written and verbal English, including reflective dialogue and complex conversations
• Be a citizen who resides and works in: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, eSwatili, Zambia, or Zimbabwe
• Live in CAT (+/-1 hour) time zones for at least 75% of the program
• Have 10–25 years of work experience in health++, defined as leadership in interconnected fields shaping health (e.g., climate change, food systems, gender equity, technology)

What you'll do

• Participate in live, small-group virtual learning touchpoints
• Attend two in-person residencies (Immersion and Lift-Off)
• Engage in virtual group mentoring and one-on-one coaching
• Complete a self-directed Health Leadership Project
• Join a lifelong network of allies for ongoing support and advocacy

How to apply

• Submit a letter of recommendation from your supervisor (or a senior leader/health community leader if unavailable)
• The letter should address:
  • Your leadership contributions
  • Your strongest personal quality qualifying you for the Journey
  • How the Journey will enhance your leadership skills
• Upload the letter as part of your application by 18 September 2026 11:59pm CAT
• Applications are open now

Good to know

• The program is highly competitive, with only 30–35 women selected per cohort
• Accepting a place means committing to full participation in all mandatory sessions
• Applications should reflect your own thinking and experience—avoid generic or AI-generated content
• Women from minorities, historically marginalized, and underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply