Emerging Voices for Global Health Training Program

EV4GH coaches Emerging Voices (EVs) to participate in global health platforms, raise their voices in scientific and policy debates, and contribute to solving global health problems and improving health conditions.

The EV4GH program is managed by an internationally representative governance committee consisting of EV alumni elected by previous EV4GH participants and several invited (liaison) members from EV partner institutes.

The global EV alumni and facilitator network provides opportunities for networking and learning across contexts and regions. After the training program, EVs become members of the EV4GH thematic working group and can then join other thematic working groups of HSG.

What does the EV2024 venture offer to participants?

• Develop writing and presentation skills, boost networking opportunities and skills, technical training and use of social media and other communication methods for disseminating evidence and policy advocacy.
• Introduce and boost knowledge about global health governance, health policy and systems research and other topics related to the theme of the 8th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, including via interaction with senior global health experts during the face to-face phase and symposium attendance.
• Introduce and initiate participants into Health System Global (HSG), a network that brings together health policy and systems researchers and practitioners worldwide, including a two year (from 2024 venture to the next venture) membership to HSG.
• Present and engage in a pre-conference with invited senior researchers and policymakers.
• Facilitate participation and networking of EVs with other emerging and senior health systems professionals, senior researchers, policymakers and experts in health systems and global health.
• Become part of the EV4GH network: a global network of members that, among other activities, provides curated information on workshops, courses and conferences.
• Opportunity to engage further as EV alumni towards capacity building, mentorship opportunities, research collaborations and national & international partnerships.
• Facilitate skills to publish in journals, global health blogs, or on social media and communicate more effectively on the global stage.

Expected outcomes

• Expected outcomes EV2024 participants:
  • Oral and poster presentations, and writing policy briefs skills.
  • Improved knowledge of tools and strategies to become a more effective health systems and policy change agent.
  • Oral and Poster presentations/policy briefs presentations during pre-conference (in an innovative format) in Nagasaki, Japan.
  • Individual/joint blogs at the International Health Policies (IHP) platform, hosted by the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp (ITM), either in the months before the EV venture, during the symposium in Nagasaki or in the year after.
  • Participation in the 8th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Nagasaki, Japan.
  • Scientific and other innovative forms of disseminating key messages.

Who is eligible to apply?

• EV2024 applicants can apply for two tracks. All applicants must have been born on or after 1st January 1984.
• Track 1: Researchers’ track
  • This track aims to attract applications from emerging researchers involved in health policy and systems research. Applicants must also submit an abstract for the 8th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Nagasaki, Japan and have at least two of the following:
    • A Master’s degree in health or a health-related field
    • Be enrolled in a doctoral-level program in health or a health-related field
    • Have at least two years of work or research experience in public health or development
    • Experience and/or knowledge of working in low- and middle-income countries
• Track 2: Other health system actors’ track
  • This track aims at other emerging health professionals, activists, policymakers, knowledge brokers, health journalists, and other health systems actors. Applicants must fulfill one of the following:
    • Be involved in a decision-making, implementation or practitioner role within health services or a health system in a low- or middle-income country.
    • Be a passionate voice for strengthening health systems within their local/national health systems as an activist, health journalist, or patient advocate or otherwise be involved in advancing health equity and social justice in their setting.
• Tracks 1 & 2:
  • The EV4GH venture is in English. Participants need to have a reasonable command of the English language (written and spoken) to participate. All documents needed for the application should be in English (and/or have English translation).
  • For both tracks, special consideration will be given to those who explicitly include the planetary and political dimension of health systems and services in their work and challenge power in whatever form, based on good evidence.
  • Focus will be on applicants from the Global South, but candidates from the Global North can apply as well, if they have some relevant (long-term) experience in the Global South, and/or are currently working on health policy and systems research issues in the Global South.
  • Accepted participants should be able to participate in the training program in full. This includes participation and presence in both the distance e-learning phase and the face-to face phase in-person in Japan from 5 – 23 November 2024. Applicants who cannot participate in full and can undertake only part of the program will not be eligible to participate in the program.

For more information, visit HSG.