Fellowship Overview
The Equity Initiative Fellowship, also known as the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity in Southeast Asia (AFHESEA), is a fully funded award designed for working professionals from Southeast Asia and China. The Fellowship’s goal is to advance Fellows’ competency in leadership and health equity, and to inspire and deepen their commitment to advancing social justice in health.
The Equity Initiative Fellowship is a lifelong journey that begins with an inspiring and rigorous Induction Year, followed by a longer-term practice-based commitment to health equity through collective leadership for social change. The Fellowship program experience goes beyond traditional academic coursework, through various modalities of experiential, peer, and blended online learning organized around two themes: Health Equity and Leadership.
We have invited Fellows to join this program on the basis of their demonstrated commitment, dedication, and enthusiasm for leading change for health equity. Fellows are the transformative leaders who will work to reform policies and systems, tackle social determinants, and address health inequities within and beyond the health sector.
Applications for the 2025 Fellowship open June 15, and close August 31, with finalists informed December 2024.
Why Equity and Leadership?
Serious health inequities exist within and between the countries of Southeast Asia and it goes beyond health. This is due to many factors, but chiefly imbalance of power; inequitable policies and laws; unequal economic conditions and opportunities; and historical and contemporary prejudices, including ethnical and religious intolerance. At the Equity Initiative, we define health equity quite broadly as a multidimensional concept that considers fairness in health and social determinants of health and it goes beyond health; it is not just an issue for medical professionals or the health sector alone.
We believe that leaders in society can either perpetuate or worsen inequities, or effect change for the better. Leadership and a community of practitioners are critically important to not only bring regional attention to health equity but also to motivate, innovate, and craft solutions. The Equity Initiative’s goal is that the Fellows will become transformational leaders who can guide, direct, and influence others to bring about fundamental changes for health equity.
Induction Year
During the fellowship induction year (March 2026 – January 2027), Fellows will engage in a fully funded experiential
program designed to reflect the objectives outlined below, with format and content that may adapt as the program evolves:
- Fellows will deepen their understanding of the social determinants of health and the structural barriers that contribute to health inequities.
- Fellows will develop advanced leadership skills that are essential for driving positive systems change.
- Fellows will engage in critical discussions with renowned experts, thought leaders, and fellow change-makers to foster cross-sector collaboration and exchange of ideas.
- Fellows will receive mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals in the field of health and social justice.
- Fellows will explore innovative actions aimed at promoting health equity, dismantling systemic barriers, and enhancing access to quality services for underserved populations.
- Fellows will have the opportunity to build a regional network of transformative leaders who are committed to advancing social justice in health.
Regional Selection Committee
The Regional Selection Committee (RSC) is comprised of prominent leaders across the region with a strong background in working towards health equity. RSC members are selected on a rolling basis, and the committee's primarily role is in making final selections for incoming Fellows. The RSC selects a mix of candidates to optimize peer learning, choosing the best mix of individuals across countries, ethnicities, gender, age, sectors, disciplines and backgrounds, as well as give special consideration for under-represented groups.
Fellowship Application
Fellows will be selected based on demonstrated commitment to health equity and leadership potential. The program selects 20-25 Fellows each year from Southeast Asia and China.
Applications for the 2025 Fellowship open June 15, and close August 31, with finalists informed December 2024.
The Equity Initiative Fellowship is seeking outstanding mid-career professionals from Southeast Asia and China from any sector (public, private, non-profit, academia, business) who have demonstrated leadership in their field, who have shown a commitment to equity and social justice, and are interested in a lifelong engagement with the equity community.
To apply for the Fellowship, the applicant must:
- Have a track record of demonstrated leadership and commitment to social justice
- Have a clear long-term vision to promote systems change for health equity.
- Have at least 6 years of professional working experience
- Be a resident citizen of one of the Southeast Asian countries or China
- Be proficient in spoken and written English
Our selection process involves the deliberation of National Committees and a Regional Selection Committee who help us score, rank, and select future Fellows. In the selection process, the Committees prioritize individual attributes of the candidates as well as country, gender, and professional backgrounds to achieve an optimal cohort mix.
The selection criteria include the following:
- A diverse mix of applicants from a wide range of professional sectors
- Achieve a mix and balance of Fellows for optimal multi-national and multi-sectoral peer learning
- Professional capabilities in health, social development, or related fields
- Capacity to participate fully in the fellowship activities on specific dates with the support of current employer or home institution if applicable.
For the 2025 Equity Initiative Fellowship, the application timeline is set as follows:
|
15 June 2024 |
Online Applications Open |
| 10 August 2024 | Online Application Step 1 Close |
|
31 August 2024 |
Online Applications Close |
|
October 2024 |
Shortlisted Candidates Notified |
|
October-November 2024 |
Shortlisted Candidate Interviews |
|
December 2024 |
Final Selections Announced |
|
January 2025 |
2025 Fellows Announced |
|
March 2025 |
First 2025 Fellowship Event Commences |
How is the program impacted by COVID-19?
As the COVID-19 global pandemic evolves, we may need to shift the program structure and modify the learning activities in order to follow global and regional mandates and guidelines for public health. Once Fellows are accepted, we will share the latest fellowship program schedule. We regret not being able to provide further details at this time.
What benefits/privileges should the Fellows anticipate?
During the one-year fellowship term, Fellows will participate in 7 in-person learning events totaling about 6 weeks, in which they will interact with world-class faculty and key actors in health equity and development, globally and regionally. The Fellows will gain knowledge, expert and peer support, and an opportunity to develop and implement an individual or collaborative equity action project with seed funding.
What are the Fellow's obligations?
The fellowship is designed for working professionals to accompany full-time work. Fellows are required to attend all Fellowship learning events as well as participate in online learning. It is expected that fellows will network with their peers and wider swaths of multidisciplinary professionals and will become members of a global community with shared interests and goals for social justice in health.
I am not a health expert or working in the health sector, am I eligilble to apply?
Yes, the Equity Initiative is looking for cross sector leadership. What makes the Equity Initiative unique is our commitment to building out a network across professional fields and interests.
What commitments do Fellows have after the Fellowship Induction Year?
Upon graduation, Fellows will start their second year project. Fellows also begin to join the global network of Atlantic Fellows.
If I applied but wasn't selected to the program, can I reapply?
Yes, the applicants are encouraged to reapply when the next call for application is opened.
If I am accepted, can I defer until next year?
No, deferrals will not be accepted. Please apply for the year you wish to participate.
Can I apply if I am not a national of Souteast Asia or China, but have experience working in the region?
No, only citizens or resident nationals of one of Southeast Asian countries or China are eligible to apply.
What is a 'resident national'?
That is, the person is allowed to reside indefinitely within a country of which he or she is not a citizen.
Am I able to apply if I am currently living, working, or studying outside of my home country?
Yes. Applicants currently living outside of their home country who hold citizenship or resident nationality from Southeast Asian countries or China are still eligible to apply.
Who should write my reference letters?
The Equity Initiative program requires two (2) letters of recommendation from each applicant. Reference should comment on your professional abilities, current work and interests regarding social justice or in health development, and leadership qualities either within your field or your larger community.
When are my references' deadlines?
The references’ deadline is the same as the Application Deadline; however, we understand that it may take an extra few days for all references to respond.
How will my application be confirmed?
A confirmation email will be sent to your email address once your application is received.
Can I update my application after submission?
Once submitted, updates to an application are NOT possible. You may work on your application online and save drafts until you are ready to submit. Please only submit your application when it is complete.
Are late applications accepted?
No, we do not accept late applications. We encourage applicants to submit applications as early as possible.
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Other Questions?
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