Background 

The Center for Gender Equity is now accepting applications for the fourth cohort of the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)’s Mentorship Program.

The one-year mentorship program is one of the activities that came out of the 2019 Women Leaders in Global Health Conference (WLGH19) hosted by UGHE. During a leadership training that took place alongside the conference, 100 young participants received training on career management and people and leadership skills, and expressed the need for a program that provides vital guidance beyond that of short-term training.

As such, UGHE launched its Mentorship Program in May 2020, which uses 1-on-1, formal and/or informal mentoring approaches to connect mentors that are looking to share their time, knowledge, skills and resources with the next generation of global health leaders. The program – whose 3 cohorts represent 20 African countries and 6 continents, with 73% and 67% female mentees and mentors respectively – aims to empower mentees towards their leadership goals, with the hope that they will in time develop into mentors themselves and pay it forward. For a look at the three past cohorts’ mentors and mentees, click here. 

Eligibility  

• Commitment to formally partake in the program for one year, 
• Mentees must have a background or strong interest in global health, and/or gender equity in Africa or elsewhere,
• Mentors must have a minimum of 5 years leadership experience in global health and/or gender equity in Africa or elsewhere, 
• Mentee candidates who have implemented innovative leadership projects, at any level, will be strongly considered 

Roles & Responsibilities 

Mentees 

• Take ownership of process and set goals for desired career growth, 
• Drive communication and subsequent meetings: establish meeting agenda and next steps, share notes from the meetings …  
• Be open to, and willing to implement feedback, 
• Promote global health and gender equity to help improve the professional and personal lives of vulnerable gender minorities where they live. 

Mentors 

• Willingness to share from wealth of knowledge and experience, 
• Availability to meet and communicate with mentee on a pre-agreed basis, 
• Provide candid feedback on identified professional goals, projects…  
• Share resources and opportunities, 
• Promote equitable values and approaches to mentoring and career development. 

Application Process 

Mentees 

Applicants interested in participating as mentees can e-mail their CV and a motivation letter (no more than 250 words) to genderequity@157.245.250.106 by October 20th, 2023. The letter should answer the following questions:

1. How do you think you will benefit from this mentorship program? 
2. Have you led, implemented, or been part of an innovative leadership initiative within your community? Please describe your involvement, role and experience.  

Mentors 

Applicants in the global health field, interested in participating in this mentorship as mentors can use e-mail their expression of interest and CV to genderequity@157.245.250.106 by Oct 20th, 2023. You can also share any recommendations for mentors through this short form.