FOR-GHP Fellowship 2026: Fully Funded Global Health Fellowship for Sub-Saharan African Public Health Professionals - ApplyNOW

Full Job Description

The Fellowship in Outbreak Readiness for Global Health Protection (FOR-GHP) is a 1.5-year professional development programme designed to strengthen outbreak preparedness, response and resilience across public health structures in sub-Saharan Africa.

Title: Fellowship in Outbreak Readiness for Global Health Protection (FOR-GHP) Location: Sub-Saharan Africa / International (Hamburg, Accra & Kampala workshops) Closing Date: 21 October 2026 Contract: 1.5-Year Fellowship Programme Funding: Fully funded participation; no tuition fees

The fellowship is delivered through a consortium comprising the iACE Global Health at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Robert Koch Institute and Swiss TPH, with funding from the German Federal Ministry of Health under the Global Health Protection Programme (GHPP).

The programme uses a blended-learning, training-of-trainers and multiplier approach to equip public health professionals with advanced competencies that can be applied within their institutions, countries and regional networks.

Fellowship Objectives

The FOR-GHP Fellowship aims to:

• Strengthen fellows’ competencies in outbreak management, with emphasis on One Health and global health security.

• Develop experts who can serve as facilitators, multipliers and leaders within their institutions and countries.

• Support the development and implementation of context-specific teaching case studies.

• Promote knowledge exchange, collaboration and coordinated outbreak preparedness and response.

• Build sustainable public health workforce capacity through peer learning, mentorship and communities of practice.

• Establish an active alumni network that supports long-term collaboration and professional development.

Competencies Developed

Fellows will develop competencies in:

Infectious Disease Surveillance

Integrating collaborative infectious disease surveillance and public health intelligence approaches, including multisource data collection, harmonisation, analysis and interpretation across human, animal and environmental health sectors.

Emergency Preparedness And Response

Applying evidence-informed preparedness and response principles for intentional and unintentional public health emergencies in accordance with International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) obligations.

Training And Adult Learning

Designing, delivering and evaluating context-sensitive training initiatives using adult learning principles, lifelong learning, case-based approaches and simulation exercises.

Public Health Communication

Communicating public health evidence, outbreak information and training content effectively to diverse audiences while adapting communication to cultural context, needs and urgency.

Leadership

Demonstrating transformational leadership in public health emergency and learning environments while promoting ethical, inclusive and accountable practice.

Systems Thinking And Partnerships

Applying systems thinking to engage across sectors, institutions and borders while building partnerships and coalitions for coordinated outbreak preparedness and response.

Workforce Development

Strengthening sustainable public health workforce capacity through communities of practice, peer learning and mentorship.

Programme Structure

The FOR-GHP Fellowship follows a 1.5-year blended-learning Training-of-Trainers (ToT) model comprising three one-week in-person workshops, distance-learning phases and self-study eLearning modules.

1. Seven Elearning Modules

• 1 December 2026 – 1 January 2027
• Selected applicants will complete seven eLearning modules, which will form part of the selection process.

2. First In Person Workshop

• 12–17 April 2027 — Hamburg, Germany
• Fellows will participate in the first one-week residential workshop.

3. Teaching Case Study Development

Following the first workshop, fellows will develop a case study suitable for piloting during the first distance-learning phase.

4. Second In Person Workshop

• 11–15 October 2027 — Accra, Ghana
• Fellows will participate in the second workshop and pilot their self-developed teaching case studies.

5. Implementation At Home Institutions

During the second distance-learning phase, fellows will implement their teaching case studies at their home institutions.

6. Third In Person Workshop

• 3–7 July 2028 — Kampala, Uganda
• The final workshop will include participation in the Sustainability Strengthening Initiative (SSI).

Fellowship Certificate And Academic Credits

Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive a FOR-GHP fellowship certificate and 10 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) points from the University of Basel, corresponding to 300 hours of study and training.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should meet the following criteria:

• 🌍 Be from and employed in a country within sub-Saharan Africa.

• 💼 Have at least two years of professional experience in the public health or biomedical sector.

• 🦠 Preferably have experience related to the management, prevention or control of infectious diseases.

• 🎓 Hold a degree or demonstrate proficiency in one of the following fields:

• Public Health

• Medicine

• Epidemiology

• Microbiology

• Biology

• Allied health sciences

• Public Health

• Medicine

• Epidemiology

• Microbiology

• Biology

• Allied health sciences

• 🏢 Provide an endorsement from the current employer confirming permission to participate alongside existing employment.

• 📄 The employer endorsement must confirm that the fellow can be released from work to attend all three workshops and supported in implementing the teaching case study at their institution.

• 📝 Provide a letter of recommendation from at least one current and contactable referee. The reference should not be more than three years old and should include the referee’s email address and telephone number.

• 🇬🇧 Demonstrate advanced English proficiency.

English Language Requirements

Accepted evidence of English proficiency includes:

• TOEFL Paper: 550
• TOEFL Computer: 213
• TOEFL Internet: 79–80
• IELTS: 6.0
• Native English speaker status
• Completion of higher education in English, supported by written evidence

Technical Requirements

Because parts of the programme will be delivered virtually, applicants must have:

• 💻 Access to a computer.
• 🌐 A stable internet connection.
• 🎙️ Functional audio and microphone facilities.
• 📶 Sufficient airtime/data to participate in online activities when required.

Participation using only a mobile phone or tablet is not permitted.

Selection Process

Because places are limited, the fellowship will use a three-stage selection process.

Stage 1: Elearning Selection

The programme steering board will select applicants who will receive access to the first seven eLearning modules in December 2026.

Stage 2: Pre Qualification And Interviews

Selection will be based on performance in a pre-qualification test covering the seven eLearning modules, a brief essay and additional selection criteria.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to one-to-one selection interviews in English via Zoom in January 2027.

Stage 3: Final Selection

The final fellows will be selected following the interviews. Successful applicants will need to sign a learning contract to complete admission to the fellowship.

Applicants of all gender identities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Fellowship Funding

The FOR-GHP Fellowship has no tuition fees.

The fellowship budget covers:

• ✈️ Economy-class international flights to the three workshops.
• 🛂 Visa fees.
• 🏨 Accommodation during the workshops.
• 🍽️ Daily meals during the workshops.

No daily allowance or per diem will be provided.

Important Visa Advice

Applicants are encouraged to seek a visa appointment at the German embassy as early as December 2026, even before receiving the final fellowship outcome.

This is recommended because visa processing can take considerable time and the first workshop is scheduled to take place in Hamburg in April 2027.

How to apply

Further information about the Fellowship in Outbreak Readiness for Global Health Protection (FOR-GHP), including application instructions and the required employer endorsement template, is available through the official programme website: View fellowship details and apply.

Application Deadline: 21 October 2026

Interested and eligible public health and biomedical professionals from sub-Saharan Africa are encouraged to prepare their applications before the deadline.

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Applicants should meet the following criteria:

• 🌍 Be from and employed in a country within sub-Saharan Africa.

• 💼 Have at least two years of professional experience in the public health or biomedical sector.

• 🦠 Preferably have experience related to the management, prevention or control of infectious diseases.

• 🎓 Hold a degree or demonstrate proficiency in one of the following fields:

• Public Health

• Medicine

• Epidemiology

• Microbiology

• Biology

• Allied health sciences

• Public Health

• Medicine

• Epidemiology

• Microbiology

• Biology

• Allied health sciences

• 🏢 Provide an endorsement from the current employer confirming permission to participate alongside existing employment.

• 📄 The employer endorsement must confirm that the fellow can be released from work to attend all three workshops and supported in implementing the teaching case study at their institution.

• 📝 Provide a letter of recommendation from at least one current and contactable referee. The reference should not be more than three years old and should include the referee’s email address and telephone number.

• 🇬🇧 Demonstrate advanced English proficiency.

Accepted evidence of English proficiency includes:

• TOEFL Paper: 550
• TOEFL Computer: 213
• TOEFL Internet: 79–80
• IELTS: 6.0
• Native English speaker status
• Completion of higher education in English, supported by written evidence

Because parts of the programme will be delivered virtually, applicants must have:

• 💻 Access to a computer.
• 🌐 A stable internet connection.
• 🎙️ Functional audio and microphone facilities.
• 📶 Sufficient airtime/data to participate in online activities when required.

Participation using only a mobile phone or tablet is not permitted.

Selection will be based on performance in a pre-qualification test covering the seven eLearning modules, a brief essay and additional selection criteria.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to one-to-one selection interviews in English via Zoom in January 2027.

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