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The Equity Initiative Fellowship
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 2026 Fellowship open June 15, and close August 31, with finalists informed December 2025.
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 (March 2026 – January 2027)
Fellows in the 2026 Equity Initiative (EI) program will participate in a fully funded, immersive learning experience designed to cultivate leadership for health equity across Southeast Asia. The induction year equips Fellows with essential leadership competencies, strengthens their ability to analyze the social and structural determinants of health, and expands their understanding of equity from both regional and global perspectives.
Throughout the year, Fellows engage in a series of thoughtfully designed learning experiences that blend peer learning, immersive field visits, cross-sector dialogue, and reflective practice. These experiences are delivered through a dynamic mix of in-person gatherings, peer-to-peer engagement, and blended online learning.
The fellowship induction year is grounded in the following learning objectives:
- 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 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.
- Fellows will benefit from a rich learning community that offers peer support, cross-cultural insights, and shared experiences grounded in the diverse realities of Southeast Asia.
Fellows can expect a collaborative and inclusive environment that nurtures meaningful connections within a diverse cohort, provides exposure to pressing health equity challenges, and facilitates engagement with leading thinkers and practitioners.
Fellows will have the opportunity to conceptualize and co-design a group project aimed at advancing health equity in their own communities—laying the foundation for sustained impact beyond the fellowship induction year.
For whom?
- Job seeker
- In retraining
- Freelance
- Employee
Funding
Free
Duration
6 months - 1 year