WHO Regional Office for Africa · ESPEN · Mentorship Programme
The Mwele Malecela Mentorship Programme
Cohort IV — Call for Applications
Purpose
The Mwele Malecela Mentorship (MMM) Programme for Women in Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) supports mid-career African women to become leaders and champions in NTD elimination at national, regional and global levels.
Named in honour of the late Dr Mwele Ntuli Malecela, an outstanding African scientist and global advocate for the elimination of neglected tropical diseases, the programme seeks to advance women's leadership in public health by providing mentorship, leadership development opportunities, networking platforms and professional support.
The MMM Programme is led by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa through the Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN), in collaboration with The END Fund and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). Aligned with the WHO NTD Roadmap 2021–2030 and the ESPEN Strategy 2026–2030, the programme contributes to strengthening leadership capacity and fostering gender equity within NTD programmes across the African Region.
The programme provides a structured two-year mentorship journey designed to equip participants with the skills, networks and confidence needed to become influential leaders and agents of change in NTD elimination and public health.
Call for Applications — Cohort IV
Join the next cohort of women leading the fight against NTDs in Africa.
For Mentees
Eligibility criteria
- Identify as a woman.
- Work in a role that focuses on Neglected Tropical Diseases, including public health policy, research or programme interventions at sub-national, national or international levels.
- Possess 10 to 20 years of professional experience in public health, with at least 10 years specifically in Neglected Tropical Diseases.
- Reside and work within the WHO African Region.
- Be a national of one of the WHO African Region countries.
Stage I — Eligibility assessment: background information and CV.
Stage II — Exploration of interests and experience: after completion of Stage I, eligible candidates will be notified and invited to participate in the second stage of the selection process.
Deadline: Tuesday, 11 August 2026, 23:59 (GMT+1)
For Mentors
Share your experience
The programme recruits diverse mentors who can serve as role models for participants — not only accomplished and influential leaders in the NTD community, but also women and men who are strong and experienced leaders working closer to the community level, in marginalised communities, or on issues that receive less attention, including NTDs and many gender equity issues.
As a mentor, you will guide a mid-career African woman through a structured two-year mentorship journey, sharing your networks, insights and leadership experience.
Deadline: 22 September 2026, 23:59 (UTC+1)
Objectives
A gender-sensitive and gender-intentional approach across every component of the programme.
Using an innovative gender-sensitive and gender-intentional approach, the MMM Programme aims to increase the overall coverage, effectiveness and impact of NTD interventions by enabling women to overcome gender barriers to leadership while acquiring the skills and resources needed to become influential leaders and agents of change.
a
Programme Design & Selection of Mentees
Outreach and recruitment strategies that avoid reinforcing the marginalisation of groups facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination — based on socio-economic status, location, ethnicity or disability. Outreach is tailored to reach women with less access to mainstream social or professional networks, and targets mid-career women working on NTDs in Africa for optimal long-term impact on global NTD goals.
b
Programme Implementation
A gender-intentional approach to mentorship that prioritises addressing gender barriers to advancing in leadership roles and aims to increase gender equality in representation and decision-making positions. Representatives from Women's Rights Organisations and organisations focused on gender equality participate in the Programme Steering and Selection Committees.
c
Management, Review & Evaluation
Gender-intentional measurement, learning and evaluation. The programme's long timeframe and annual cycles, with multiple cohorts over time, provide an excellent opportunity to capture learning on how to design and implement a mentorship programme that advances women into leadership — allowing course corrections and continuous improvement over time.