The African Women in Digital Health Initiative Launches the Second Cohort of the Mentorship Program to boost African Women’s Leadership in Digital Health

Dakar, Senegal, 31 July 2025 – To mark International African Women’s Day, the African Women in Digital Health (AWiDH) initiative proudly launches the second edition of its flagship mentorship program, accelerating the leadership journey of early-career African women driving policy change and innovation in digital health. Call for applications are open from 31 July -22 August. Interested candidates can apply [here].

Observed on 31 July each year, International African Women’s Day, is a moment to spotlight the power and leadership of African women—who remain the backbone of healthy economies, particularly through their contributions to healthcare.

“ Women are often at the forefront of healthcare delivery systems across Africa, comprising 70% of the continent’s health workforce. However, this leadership is not yet reflected in the digital health space. The AWiDH mentorship program—proudly supported by Resolve to Save Lives for a second consecutive edition—amplifies the work of women innovating in digital health. Their leadership, advocacy, and locally driven solutions are paving the way for measurable public health impact”, said Anicia Santos, Senior Solutions Architect at Resolve to Save Lives. 

In digital health—a space full of potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery—they remain underrepresented in leadership and are cut off from the critical networks and resources required to succeed.

The AWiDH mentorship program wants to change this by increasing the representation and leadership of African women in the digital health space. The call for applications is looking for African women aged 20 to 35, who contribute to strengthening health systems or addressing public health challenges and are either:

• Founders of health tech start-ups less than 3 years old, or
• Professionals with under 5 years of experience in digital health who aspire to lead and influence health and innovation policy.

Special consideration will be given to individuals working at the intersection of gender equality and digital health.

“Receiving mentorship through structured sessions helped shape both my personal and professional growth. One of the most valuable aspects was setting clear, aligned goals—both with my aspirations and my work,” said Inas Abdelwahed, Co-Founder of Otida and AWiDH 2024 mentee.

Successful participants will join a mentorship journey that includes:

• One-on-one mentorship from African and global leaders in health tech, public health, and policy
• Tailored training in product development, strategy, communications, and branding
• Leadership coaching to build executive presence and confidence
• Exposure to professional networks and global platforms, including the AWiDH Bootcamp, Africa Health Tech Summit and the Galien Forum 2025 in Dakar

“AWiDH reflects our commitment to investing in the next generation of women leaders in digital health. This program goes beyond technical training—it helps women gain the skills, confidence, and visibility they need to lead, innovate, and drive change” said Judith Nguimfack, Principal Digital Delivery Specialist, Africa CDC .

“At Speak Up Africa, we believe that transforming health systems begins with elevating women’s voices and leadership. The AWiDH mentorship program embodies this vision by equipping young African women with the tools, confidence, and networks they need to thrive in digital health. On Pan-African Women’s Day, we are proud to stand alongside AWiDH in fostering a new generation of women leaders who will shape the future of health innovation across the continent” said Yaye Sophietou Diop, Director of Partnerships and Development,  Speak Up Africa

On this Pan-African Women’s Day, AWiDH reaffirms its mission to amplify women’s voices, build power, and help close the digital health gender gap across the continent.

For more information on the Mentorship Program and its Application Process, visit www.awidh.org