Africa Women Health Champions to improve health and gender equality

African countries and WHO are redoubling their efforts to strengthen people’s health and well-being in a region with some of the highest rates of disease in the world. With the Africa Women Health Champions, UNV and WHO will recruit early-career women professionals to promote health across the 47 countries where WHO is present on the continent.

“Together, we are opening the doors for 100 women professionals to join WHO offices across Africa as UN Volunteers. And these new colleagues will be the agents of change and champions of Africa’s healthy future,” said Toily Kurbanov, UNV Deputy Executive Coordinator.

Change is about small actions that can have a real impact and create a better world. This partnership is one of these actions.” - Toily Kurbanov, UNV Deputy Executive Coordinator

UNV will recruit professionals from around the world who have at least two years of professional experience related to public health, epidemiology, health research, health emergency management, data management, statistics or other health related fields, as well as information management, innovation, communications or external relations.

In the coming months we will recruit 100 national and international UN volunteers in the African Region, and we will be targeting young women from the global south to boost equity and empowerment,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa

“We want people who are passionate about making a difference for the people we serve,” she added.

At a time when we mark the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration for women’s rights and celebrate International Women’s Day, many obstacles remain in the path towards an equal world. This initiative will be one step forward in advancing gender equality in Africa and beyond.

Since 1973, WHO has been partnering with UNV to provide basic social services, primary health care and combat diseases through awareness and prevention.

In the last 10 years, 439 UN Volunteers served with WHO, supporting its mission to promote health, keep people safe and serve the vulnerable.