What is the Emerging Voices for Global Health program?
Emerging Voices for Global Health (EV4GH) is an innovative multi-partner blended training program for promising and emerging health policy & systems researchers, decision-makers, knowledge-brokers, implementers and other health system actors with the passion and potential to become influential global health voices and global/ local change makers. EV4GH coaches Emerging Voices (EVs) to participate in global health platforms, raise their voices in scientific and policy debates, 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. EV4GH became a Thematic Working Group (TWG) of Health Systems Global (HSG) in 2015 and was reconfirmed as a TWG in 2021 and 2025.
The Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp first initiated the Emerging Voices program. Currently, this is largely an alumni and partner institutes-driven initiative with an aim to empower health professionals particularly from the Global South by providing intensive skills training and facilitating their participation in global health events. Since its inception in 2010, a total of eight EV4GH training programs were organized, all linked to the biannual international events of the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research and other regional and international events. The first edition of the EV4GH program (2010) was conducted in conjunction with the 1st Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Montreux, Switzerland. The subsequent editions were linked to the 2nd Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Beijing, China (2012); the AIDS in Africa Conference (ICASA) in Cape Town, South Africa (2013); the 3rd, 4th and 5th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Cape Town, South Africa (2014), Vancouver, Canada (2016), and Liverpool, UK (2018), the (virtual) 6th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Dubai, UAE (2020) and the 7th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Bogotá, Colombia (2022), 8th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Nagasaki, Japan (2024). See the EV4GH website for more information on previous editions. Until now, 365 EVs from over 70 countries have participated in the EV4GH program. Many EVs are now in different leadership positions in their countries, regions, and globally.
What is the EV4GH 2026 venture?
The EV4GH 2026 venture aims to expand the global network with new Emerging Voices from across the world, specifically, historically underrepresented countries and regions. The 2026 call comes at a moment when global health is shaped by overlapping crises that undermine hard-won gains and expose the limits of established expertise. We are seeking applicants with diverse experiential and disciplinary backgrounds who can bring grounded, context-sensitive perspectives and who are prepared to question prevailing assumptions in order to reimagine how global health problems are framed and addressed.
The venture is a blended learning program and consists of a 4-week distance learning phase, followed by a 2-week face-to-face phase held prior to the 9th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), in November 2026. It uses innovative methods and activities to enable emerging global health change agents, including health systems and policy researchers, policymakers and implementers, practitioners and other actors to not only to elevate emerging voices but to support them in generating concrete ideas for reform and practical solutions to persistent global health challenges.
In addition, the global EV alumni and facilitator network provides opportunities for networking and learning across contexts and regions. After the venture, EVs become members of the EV4GH thematic working group and can then join other thematic working groups of HSG.
The EV4GH 2026 Venture: Timeline
What does the EV2026 venture offer to participants?
- A structured space for critical discussions around the current global health agenda, including global health reform, power and politics, and other related topics through exchanges with senior global health experts and peers, leading to the co-production of solution-oriented outputs such as reform proposals.
- Practical training on power-sensitive stakeholder engagement, leadership, diplomacy, communication and dissemination, and policy advocacy relevant to emerging global health professionals.
- Access to global health networks, including 400+ EV alumni and institutional partners
- High-level mentorships from leading global health actors.
- Attendance at the 9th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research and Health Systems Global (HSG) membership.
- Present and engage in a pre-conference with invited senior researchers and policymakers.
Who is eligible to apply?
The 2026 venture will accept applications through two application tracks: -
- Track 1: Researchers involved in health policy and systems research (researchers track), and
- Track 2: Health professionals, activists, policymakers, knowledge brokers, health journalists, and other health system actors (other health system professional track).
Applicants may apply to only one track. Either the researcher track or the non-research health professional track. This helps ensure that each cohort reflects distinct yet complementary perspectives.
In addition, all applicants must have been born on or after 1st January 1986.
Application 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 9th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and have the following:
- Early (2-5 years work experience) to Mid (5-10 years work experience) career professionals
- A Master’s degree in health or a health-related field, or be enrolled in a doctoral-level program in health or a health-related field
- Demonstrate active involvement in health policy and systems research at the local, national, or global level
Application Track 2: Other health system professionals track
This track targets other emerging health professionals, activists, policymakers, knowledge brokers, health journalists, and other professionals working in health systems. Applicants must fulfill all of the following:
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Early (2-5 years work experience) or mid (5-10 years work experience) career professionals
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A bachelor’s degree
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One of the following:
- Demonstrate active involvement in an implementation or practitioner or advocacy or decision-making role within health services or a health system, OR
- Have experience in strengthening health systems within their local/national health systems as an activist, health journalist, or patient advocate or otherwise be involved in advancing health systems strengthening, health equity and social justice in their setting
Note:
- 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 (or have English translation (see below)).
- Focus will be on applicants from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Candidates from high-income countries are also welcome to apply if they have demonstrable relevant experience in LMICs, or are currently working with marginalized groups on health equity issues in any country. Please see the Scholarship details at the end of the call.
- 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 Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Applicants who cannot participate in full and can undertake only part of the program will not be eligible to participate.
- For this venture, we encourage participants from the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMRO) and countries underrepresented in the EV network to apply.
Application materials and process
Application submission materials for track 1: Researchers’ track
Abstract: Please follow the HSR2026 abstract submission guidelines. If you submit multiple abstracts to HSR2026, please add only one to the EV2026 application.
Short portfolio: The portfolio should include,
- A short CV: Personal details, Education, Relevant professional experience. If you are submitting a written document, the CV should not be more than two pages.
- A short motivation statement: Explanation of what the EV program means to you and how it will contribute to your professional development. If you are submitting a written document, the motivation letter should be no more than 250 words.
- A short concept note: What global health problem are you more interested in (linked to the EV2026 themes) and how do you envision addressing it? If you are submitting a written document, it should be within 500 words.
We encourage you to be innovative in presenting your portfolio. For example, you could present it as a website, a short 3-minute video, PowerPoint slides, or any other creative visual materials.
Submission: After uploading the abstract on the 9th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research website and receiving acknowledgement, please use the button below to complete your application for the EV4GH 2026 researchers’ track. Please note that you will need the unique ID from the 9th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research abstract submission for completing this application
Apply for TRACK 1Application Track 2: Other health system professionals’ track
Short portfolio: The portfolio should include,
- A short CV: Personal details, Education, Relevant professional experience. If you are submitting a written document, the CV should not be more than two pages.
- A short motivation statement: Explanation of what the EV program means to you and how it will contribute to your professional development. If you are submitting a written document, the motivation letter should not be more than 250 words.
- A short concept note: What global health problem are you more interested in addressing (linked to the EV2026 themes) and how do you envision addressing that? If you are submitting a written document, it should be within 500 words.
We encourage you to be innovative in presenting your portfolio. For example, you could present it as a website, a short 3-minute video, PowerPoint slides, or any other creative visual materials at your disposal.
Submission: For the Other health system professionals’ track, please use the button below to complete your application for the EV4GH 2026, keeping the above documents ready.
Apply for TRACK 2Application Submission Deadline: All the above should be completed by 20 March 2026 (11 pm GMT+6) at the latest. If you have any queries/ questions, please contact the EV4GH Secretariat at ev_secretariat@bracu.ac.bd.
Selection process
A selection committee consisting of the EV governance board members, independent EV4GH peer reviewers, representatives from partner institutes and funders, and EV Secretariat will facilitate the selection process, taking into account various funding criteria, regional representation in the EV network, gender and ethnicity.
What does the EV2026 scholarship include?
A limited number of full and partial scholarships will be awarded to successful applicants. The full scholarship will cover participation in the face to face program, including participants’ airfares to and from Dubai, shared accommodation, meals, and materials, as well as participation in the 9th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Dubai. Partial scholarships shall fund only some aspects of the above. Scholarships shall prioritize low- and middle-income country participants. Participants from or based in high-income countries, if selected, are expected to raise their own funds to cover all costs of participation in the EV4GH program and are considered self-funded. Please reach out to the EV Secretariat (ev_secretariat@bracu.ac.bd) for details about self-funding.
Please note: As part of the EV venture, accommodation for all EVs in Dubai will be on a twin-share basis, whether selected for a scholarship or self-funded. Successful EV selection cannot guarantee a successful and timely visa process, so if selected, we encourage participants to start visa applications as soon as possible.
Theme for 9th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research: Future-Focused Health Systems in a Changing World. Please see the details of the themes of the 2026 symposium at the HSG website.