The Kofi Annan Fellowship in Global Health Leadership is a flagship leadership programme run by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in partnership with the African Union and global partners. It is designed to strengthen public health leadership across Africa by equipping senior health professionals with advanced strategic, managerial, and leadership skills to lead complex public health programmes, shape policy, and contribute to continental health security and sovereignty agendas.
Originally named in honour of the late Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General, the fellowship has graduated fellows from over 34 African nations who now occupy senior roles in government, global health institutions, academia, and civil society.
The programme is continental, intended for professionals based in Africa and who are citizens of African Union Member States.
Activities include digital/online leadership learning modules and in-person residential sessions in Africa (locations vary by session, typically at training venues selected by Africa CDC).
The fellowship is fully funded by Africa CDC and partners. Coverage includes:
1. Travel costs associated with required in-person residential sessions.
2. Daily allowances during residential training periods.
3. Insurance for travel and residential stays.
4. Learning materials, digital tools, and software support for online components of the programme.
5. There is no tuition or participation fee for selected fellows.
To qualify for Cohort 6, applicants must meet all of the following:
1. Citizenship: Must be a citizen of an African Union Member State.
2. Education: Hold a postgraduate degree in a public health–related field (fields include but are not limited to One Health, human medicine, epidemiology, sexual and reproductive health, public mental health, animal health, health economics, health policy, and environmental health).
3. Experience: Have at least 10 years of professional experience after completing a master’s degree.
4. Employment: Be in full-time employment in a public health-related role in a public or private institution in Africa.
5. Leadership Capacity: Demonstrate current or potential capacity for impactful public health leadership that can improve health outcomes in Africa.
Employer support letter guaranteeing time release for fellowship activities.
Two professional letters of recommendation.
Personal statement (max 400 words) describing leadership experience, vision for public health leadership, and commitment to Africa’s health agenda.
Leadership challenge project proposal (max 400 words) outlining a real public health issue, proposed intervention strategy and expected impact.
The call for applications for Cohort 6 was published in December 2025.
30 January 2026 (applications must be submitted online by this date).
The next cohort (Cohort 6) starts on 1 June 2026.
While exact end dates or full programme length are not always explicitly specified in the call text, the fellowship typically runs for several months and includes multiple phases of online modules and residential leadership workshops spread across 2026. (In previous cycles, residential sessions and online learning span much of the year.)
1. Prepare required documentation: employer support letter, two referees’ letters, a personal statement and a leadership challenge project proposal.
2. Submit the application online via the official Africa CDC/African Union online portal — incomplete or emailed applications will not be accepted.
3. A selection committee comprising experts from the African Union Commission, Africa CDC and global partners evaluates applications.
4. Shortlisted candidates may be notified and confirmed before the programme start date.
Official application portal: The African Union/Africa CDC jobs portal lists the fellowship posting (e.g., Kofi Annan Fellow – Global Health Leadership (Cohort 6)).
🔗 Online application form: https://jobs.au.int/job/Kofi-Annan-Fellow-Global-Health-Leadership-%28Cohort-6%29/2898-en_US
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