Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health 2027-2028 (Funded)
Overview
The Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health is a one-year fellowship designed to advance leadership skills among individuals from low- and middle-income countries. It is offered by the Harvard Global Health Institute in collaboration with the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The 2027-2028 programme combines a 12-month virtual curriculum with a six-week in-person experience in Spring 2028.
Fellows receive one-on-one leadership coaching, mentorship, an executive education course, speaking events, private masterclasses led by Harvard faculty and networking opportunities. The programme is highly customised: each fellow builds their own leadership development curriculum around personal interests, goals and areas for growth, supported by faculty and senior mentors. Fellows also train as a cohort and can pursue independent project work. The fellowship runs from September 1, 2027 to August 31, 2028.
What you get
The month on campus is financially covered by the fellowship award. Fellows receive a stipend for logistical expenses, including housing, flights to and from Cambridge, MA, course fees and a daily allowance for food and transportation. Visa fees are also covered.
Who can apply
Applicants need at least a Master's degree in a relevant field, must work full-time in global health, and must have at least 10 years of professional experience beyond their education. They must have substantial leadership experience and further leadership potential, and must be eligible for a J-1 visa and available to live in Cambridge, MA for six weeks in April 2028. They must take a leave of absence from their home institution for that period. In the two years before the fellowship, candidates may not have taken part in a full-time fellowship lasting four months or longer.
How to apply
Materials include a CV or resume, a letter of intent of up to 1.5 pages, four essays of up to 2000 characters each covering career development, a project plan, a mentoring plan and the fellowship's impact, a Letter of Institutional Commitment, a Letter of Mentor Commitment, and two further reference letters. At least one reference must come from the current or most recent professional engagement and differ from the mentor letter.
Key dates
All materials are due by 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, November 15, 2026. Applicants are notified in spring 2027.