Deadline: 01-Aug-2026
The Equity Initiative Fellowship Program, also known as the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity in Southeast Asia (AFHESEA), is accepting applications to develop leaders working to advance health equity across Southeast Asia and China. The programme supports professionals addressing the social, economic, political, and structural drivers of health inequality through systems change, leadership development, and regional collaboration.
The fellowship is part of the global Atlantic Fellows network and is implemented by the CMB Foundation, focusing on long-term impact in health equity and social justice.
About the Programme
- The fellowship is part of the Atlantic Fellows global network.
- It is implemented by the CMB Foundation.
- It focuses on advancing health equity across Southeast Asia and China.
- The programme develops leadership for systems change and social justice.
- It supports professionals addressing structural drivers of inequality.
- It promotes regional and cross-sector collaboration.
- It integrates experiential learning with applied leadership development.
- It builds long-term peer networks across the region.
Programme Objectives
- Develop leadership capacity in health equity.
- Address social determinants of health.
- Strengthen systems thinking and systems change approaches.
- Promote social justice in health and development.
- Improve policy and governance for equitable systems.
- Support better financing and service delivery models.
- Amplify community voice and participation.
- Foster environmental and cross-sector collaboration.
- Build regional networks of equity-focused leaders.
Key Focus Areas
- Health equity leadership development.
- Social determinants of health.
- Systems thinking and systems change.
- Social justice and equity-focused leadership.
- Health policy and governance.
- Financing and service delivery systems.
- Community participation and empowerment.
- Environmental justice and sustainability.
- Cross-sector collaboration.
- Regional leadership networking and learning.
Programme Structure
The fellowship follows a blended learning model:
- Fully funded induction year experience.
- Six weeks of in-person learning sessions.
- Continuous online learning engagement.
- Regional-to-global-to-regional learning journey.
- Peer learning and collaborative engagement.
- Leadership development through experiential learning.
- Group project design and co-creation.
- Application of learning to real-world health equity challenges.
Funding Information
- The fellowship is fully funded.
- Covers all programme-related learning activities.
- Includes in-person learning sessions and participation costs.
- Provides structured learning support over the induction year.
- Enables participation in global and regional sessions.
- No direct cash grant is provided to Fellows.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants must:
- Demonstrate leadership experience and commitment to equity and social justice.
- Have at least 6 years of professional experience.
- Work in fields such as:
- Health, or
- Social development, or
- Governance and law, or
- Environmental justice, or
- Related sectors.
- Be a citizen and resident of a Southeast Asian country or China.
- Have strong spoken and written English proficiency.
- Show a track record of impact in relevant fields.
- Demonstrate commitment to addressing health inequities.
Who Can Benefit?
The programme supports professionals working in:
- Public health and healthcare systems.
- Social development and community work.
- Governance, law, and policy development.
- Environmental justice and sustainability.
- NGOs and civil society organisations.
- Academic and research institutions.
- Regional and international development sectors.
Expected Outcomes
Fellows and the programme are expected to achieve:
- Stronger leadership in health equity.
- Improved systems thinking and policy influence.
- Enhanced regional collaboration networks.
- Increased capacity for systems change.
- Development of collaborative equity-focused projects.
- Greater community engagement and participation.
- Improved understanding of social determinants of health.
- Long-term impact on health equity systems.
Why This Programme Matters
- Health inequities are driven by structural and systemic factors.
- Leadership development is essential for sustainable systems change.
- Regional collaboration strengthens shared learning and impact.
- Community voice improves policy relevance and effectiveness.
- Cross-sector approaches are needed for complex health challenges.
- Investing in leaders accelerates progress toward equity.
- Evidence-based systems thinking improves long-term outcomes.
Application Tips
- Demonstrate strong leadership experience in relevant sectors.
- Highlight clear commitment to equity and social justice.
- Provide examples of systems-level impact or initiatives.
- Show engagement with community-driven or policy work.
- Emphasise regional or cross-sector collaboration experience.
- Clearly outline motivation for joining the fellowship.
- Demonstrate ability to contribute to group learning projects.
- Ensure strong English communication skills.
- Highlight long-term commitment to health equity goals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Equity Initiative Fellowship (AFHESEA)?
- It is a fully funded leadership programme under the Atlantic Fellows network focused on advancing health equity across Southeast Asia and China.
Who can apply?
- Professionals with at least 6 years of experience in health, social development, governance, environmental justice, or related fields who are citizens and residents of Southeast Asia or China.
Is the fellowship fully funded?
- Yes, it is fully funded and covers all learning activities and programme participation costs.
What is the duration of the programme?
- The induction year includes six weeks of in-person learning combined with ongoing online engagement.
What is the main goal of the programme?
- To develop leaders who can address structural causes of health inequities and drive systems change.
Conclusion
The Equity Initiative Fellowship (AFHESEA) supports experienced professionals committed to advancing health equity across Southeast Asia and China. Through fully funded leadership development, experiential learning, and regional collaboration, the programme builds a strong network of leaders driving systemic change toward more just and equitable health systems.
For more information, visit The Equity Initiative.