Global Health Introductory Fellowship

A 6-week seminar programme by Health Progress Hub, organised by Effective Altruism South Africa and Effective Altruism Nigeria

At a Glance

About the Programme

Over the past century, we have made remarkable progress in global health - eliminating smallpox, developing vaccines that saved millions of lives, improving nutrition, and removing lead from petrol. Yet enormous challenges persist, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Preventable diseases still claim millions of lives annually. Micronutrient deficiencies affect hundreds of millions of children. Diarrhoea kills hundreds of thousands of children each year. One in two children in LMICs suffers from lead exposure.

We often have the tools to address these problems. Progress remains slow because the global health ecosystem faces critical gaps: insufficient funding for proven interventions, limited advocacy for neglected diseases, and fragmented coordination between organisations. Making real progress requires more people who combine deep concern for these challenges with clear, evidence-based thinking about solutions.

The Global Health Introductory Fellowship is a structured introduction to global health through the lens of policy and advocacy. Over six weeks of seminar discussions, you will explore how global health actually changes: how evidence becomes policy, what makes advocacy work, and why some interventions succeed while others fail. The programme focuses on building your analytical toolkit for understanding complex health problems - it is a starting point, not a destination.

We focus on policy because well-designed policies can create population-level change - a single regulatory change can improve health outcomes for millions. The cross-cutting skills you develop here (understanding disease burden, evaluating evidence, navigating policy processes, and translating research into action) apply across cause areas, from antimicrobial resistance to micronutrient deficiencies.

Who Should Apply

We welcome participants from a wide range of backgrounds, but some experience in either global health or policy (advocacy) is highly desired. The ideal candidate has a high level of autonomy in their work and is determined to have an impact on pressing global health and health policy issues.

You are a strong fit if you:

• Are genuinely motivated to work on global health challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries
• Have some background in global health, public health, policy, or advocacy - or are actively building one
• Are willing to engage critically with evidence and question assumptions, including your own
• Can commit approximately 4 hours per week ( $1.5-2$ hours of preparatory reading and worksheets, plus a 2-hour seminar)
• Are based in Africa or have strong connections to the continent (though all are welcome)

If you are unsure whether you fit the requirements, please err on the side of applying anyway.

Programme Structure

The fellowship runs over six weeks. Each week, you complete worksheets with readings and reflection questions before attending a two-hour seminar. The worksheets typically require $1.5-2$ hours of preparation and ensure everyone arrives ready to contribute.

The seminars are collaborative peer discussions, not lectures. Facilitators frame the topic, guide discussion through strategic questions, and connect frameworks to real-world applications. Discussions blend conceptual analysis with real cases - from smallpox eradication to modern lead-reduction campaigns.

Week 0: Orientation and Context

Self-paced prerequisite materials on why global health matters and major success stories. This week builds familiarity with fundamental concepts for those newer to the field, covering key data sources, the scope of global health challenges, and the case for action.

Week 1: Foundations of Global Health

Disease burden metrics, key institutions, and governance structures. You will learn how we measure health problems globally, who the major actors are, and how the global health architecture is organised.

Week 2: Prioritisation and Evidence

Cost-effectiveness analysis, evidence hierarchies, and research-to-policy translation. This session explores how to compare interventions, what counts as strong evidence, and how research findings make their way into policy decisions.

Week 3: Policy Advocacy

Building political priority, framing health issues, and stakeholder engagement. You will examine what makes advocacy effective, how health issues get onto political agendas, and strategies for engaging decision-makers.

Week 4: Implementation

Understanding why policies succeed or fail, state capacity, and scaling interventions. This session moves from policy design to the realities of making things work on the ground - the practical and political challenges of turning good ideas into health outcomes.

Week 5: Career Pathways in Global Health

Self-paced materials on career development, skill-building, and pathways into impactful global health work. This week includes optional readings for continued learning and, where capacity allows, group discussion or one-on-one advising.

What to Expect

We maintain an environment of respectful, curious discussion. Disagreements are valuable learning opportunities when approached constructively. We expect participants to engage thoughtfully with challenging topics, question assumptions, and support peers in their learning journey.

This programme is unpaid. We aim to close applications by 21 June 2026, and applicants will hear from us before 26 June if they are invited for a short interview, which is the final step of the application process. The first session will take place in the last week of June.

About the Organisers

Health Progress Hub

This programme was designed by Health Progress Hub (HPH). HPH aims to solve critical talent and infrastructure gaps in global health policy advocacy and research. It helps impactful organisations find and hire local talent, identify reliable partners, and access the contextual knowledge they need to expand with confidence.

Effective Altruism South Africa

EA South Africa supports people who want to maximise the impact of their careers and resources by providing career and donation advising, courses, and building communities. Since 2024, EASA has had more than 160 programme completions and supported community members in accepting approximately 24 high-impact roles and launching approximately 5 high-impact initiatives.

Effective Altruism Nigeria

EA Nigeria supports people in Nigeria and across West Africa who want to use evidence and reason to do the most good. They co-organise this programme, bringing regional context and connections to the fellowship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need prior experience in global health?

Some experience in global health or policy is desired but not strictly required. We have included a self-paced orientation week (Week 0) to help those newer to the field build foundational knowledge before the seminars begin. If you are unsure, apply anyway.

Is this programme only for people based in Africa?

We particularly welcome applicants based in Africa or with strong connections to the continent, but participants from all countries are welcome.

What is the time commitment?

Approximately 4 hours per week: $1.5-2$ hours of preparatory reading and worksheets, plus a 2 -hour seminar. The programme should be compatible with full-time education or employment.

Is there a certificate?

Yes. Participants who meet the attendance and completion requirements will receive a certificate.

What is the application process?

Applications close on 21 June 2026. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted before 26 June for a brief interview. The first session takes place in the last week of June.

Is there a cost?

No. The programme is entirely free.

Can I participate if I have already studied global health?

Yes. The programme is designed as an introduction, but the policy and advocacy lens and the peer-discussion format offer value even for those with existing knowledge. The programme emphasises analytical frameworks and critical thinking rather than basic content.

Stay Connected

In addition to our courses, EA South Africa hosts bi-weekly reading groups, socials, and a range of other events. Follow us to stay in the loop:

• Website: effectivealtruism.co.za
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/effective-altruism-south-africa
• Instagram: @ea_southafrica
• YouTube: youtube.com/@effectivealtruismsouthafrica
• Join our Slack, WhatsApp, or mailing list via the links on our website

Questions? Email hello@effectivealtruism.co.za

Appendix: Optional Prerequisite Readings

The readings below are entirely optional. They provide useful background for those who want to build familiarity with key concepts before the programme begins.

Understanding Global Health Fundamentals

• “Global Health” — Our World in Data (ourworldindata.org/health-meta)
• “Towards a common definition of global health” - The Lancet
• “The data that shapes global health” - Saloni Dattani, EAG London 2025 (YouTube)
• “Inside the Global Burden of Disease Study” — Think Global Health

Policy and Politics of Global Health

• Erikson, Susan. “Getting Political: Fighting for Global Health” - The Lancet, 371: 1229
• “Big Aid Is Over” - Stanford Social Innovation Review
• “Helping NGOs and Funders Make the ‘Big Shift’ to Working With Government” - SSIR
• “The High Cost of Pausing Life-Saving Aid” - Center for Global Development
• “Cost-Effectiveness is Not Enough. Aid Must Be Transformational.” - CGDev

Selected Problems We Can Solve

• “More than half a million children die from diarrhea each year” - Our World in Data
• “Oral rehydration therapy: a low-tech solution that has saved millions” — OWID
• “Around one-in-three children globally suffer from lead poisoning” — OWID
• “Micronutrient Deficiency” — Our World in Data

Progress, Possibility, and Innovation

• “About Exemplars in Global Health” - exemplars.health
• “The End of Lead” — Works in Progress -“Why we didn’t get a malaria vaccine sooner” — Works in Progress, Saloni Dattani
• “The golden age of vaccine development” - Works in Progress, Dattani

Contemporary Issues

• “Visualizing Nutrition Deficits After USAID’s Overhaul” — Think Global Health
• “Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance” - Our World in Data