Emerging Voices for Global Health (EV4GH) is an innovative multi-partner blended training program for promising and emerging health policy & systems researchers, decision makers, and other health system actors with an interest to become influential global health voices and/or local change makers. EV4GH coaches “Emerging Voices (EVs)” to participate on global health platforms and raise their voices in scientific and policy debates. 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.
So far seven EV4GH training programs have been organized, all linked to a global (or regional) health event. The first edition of the EV4GH program (2010) was conducted in conjunction with the 1st Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Montreux. Since then, the editions have been linked to the 2nd Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Beijing (2012); the AIDS in Africa Conference (ICASA) in Cape Town (2013); in 2014, 2016 and 2018, EV4GH ventures were linked to the 3rd, 4th and 5th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Cape Town, Vancouver, and Liverpool, respectively (see EV4GH website for more information on previous editions); and in 2020 to the (virtual) 6th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Dubai. Till now, 290 EVs from over 60 countries have participated in the EV4GH training program. Many EVs are now in leadership positions in their countries, regions, and globally.
In early 2021, an Emerging Voices consortium was established with a (new) EV secretariat hosted at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Nairobi, Kenya (July, 2021). The current list of partner institutions are (in alphabetical order):
EV4GH 2022 is a blended learning training program and consists of an e-coaching and distance learning phase, followed by a face-to-face training phase held prior to the Symposium. It uses innovative training methods and activities to enable emerging researchers, and other health system actors and change agents to present their work effectively and engage on various global health platforms. In addition, the global network of EVs fosters 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.
There will be two tracks for which participants can apply to be an EV 2022. Track 1 is reserved for researchers involved in health policy and systems research (researchers’ track), Track 2 seeks to attract health professionals, activists, policy makers, knowledge brokers, health journalists, and other health system actors (other health system actors’ track). All applicants must have been born on or after 1st January 1982.
Track 1: Researchers’ track
This track aims to attract applications from emerging researchers involved in health policy and systems research. Applicants must submit an abstract for the 7th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Bogotá 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-year work or research experience in public health or development
– Experience and/or knowledge from 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 fulfil 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 his/her setting
Given the venue (Bogotá), we explicitly also want to encourage participants from the Latin American region to apply for this track.
Tracks 1 & 2:
Expected Outcomes EV4GH 2022 Participants:
Yes! Please refer to the eligibility criteria for Track 1 and if you fulfil at least two of the points mentioned there you are eligible to apply
In case of a full scholarship, participation in the three-month blended learning training program, the 10-day face-to-face training (& pre-conference) (including participants’ airfares to and from Dubai (UAE), accommodation, meals, and materials) and participation in the 6th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Dubai will be covered.
In case of partial scholarships, some of the above aspects will be covered on case to case basis.
In case of partial scholarships, some of the above aspects will be covered on case to case basis.