How the Funded Harvard LEAD Fellowship Empowers Women in Global Health

The Harvard Global Health Institute is now accepting applications for its 2026-2027 LEAD Fellowship. This prestigious program aims to promote women leaders from low and middle-income countries. The deadline for submissions is November 30, 2025.

This initiative directly addresses the significant gender gap in global health leadership. It provides a transformative year-long curriculum designed to empower the next generation of female experts.

Fellowship Structure and Elite Components

The Harvard LEAD fellowship is a highly personalized executive program. It combines world-class academic resources with practical leadership training. Fellows gain access to Harvard faculty and exclusive courses.

The core curriculum includes intensive executive leadership coaching. Each fellow works one-on-one with an executive coach. They also receive a comprehensive 360-degree leadership assessment.

Participants are matched with Harvard faculty mentors for ongoing career guidance. These relationships help expand professional networks and spark collaborations. Mentors have included renowned experts like Dr. Rifat Atun and Dr. Margaret Kruk.

Fellows attend private leadership masterclasses on key skills. These sessions cover negotiation, public speaking, and crisis management. The program also includes a dedicated executive education course, such as the Women and Power course at Harvard Kennedy School.

Eligibility Requirements and Global Impact

Applicants must have a minimum of a master’s degree and a decade of professional experience in global health. They need the full support of their home institution for a six-week leave of absence. The program requires fellows to reside in Boston during the in-residence component.

The fellowship has already drawn participants from 18 countries across Africa, Asia, and South America. Their work spans critical areas from HIV/AIDS to national health policy. This diversity strengthens the global health community.

The program seeks to create a ripple effect of mentorship and leadership. Fellows commit to mentoring future female leaders in their home countries. This multiplies the program’s long-term impact on health systems worldwide.

The Harvard LEAD Fellowship represents a critical investment in closing the gender leadership gap in global health. This unique program equips accomplished professionals with the tools to drive systemic change. Successful applicants will join an elite network dedicated to transforming health outcomes globally.

Info at your fingertips

Who is eligible for the Harvard LEAD Fellowship?

Applicants must be from low or middle-income countries with a master’s degree and ten years of professional global health experience. They must have full institutional support and be able to obtain a J-1 visa for the U.S. residency period.

What financial support does the fellowship provide?

The fellowship covers all costs for the six-week in-residence period at Harvard. This includes flights, housing, course fees, and a daily living stipend. Fellows are only required to take a leave of absence from their regular employment.

What is the time commitment for the program?

The fellowship lasts one year but requires a full-time, six-week residential period in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This intensive residency is scheduled for April 2027. The remainder involves virtual coaching and mentorship.

How does the program support women in global health?

It addresses the gender gap by providing exclusive leadership training, executive coaching, and high-level networking. The curriculum specifically tackles challenges like navigating bias and self-promotion that women leaders often face.

What kind of projects do fellows work on?

Fellows develop projects that create impact in their home countries and organizations. These often focus on mentoring future female leaders and implementing systemic improvements in their local health systems.