WomenLift Health x WILAN Midwifery Leadership Journey 2026

The 2026 West Africa Midwifery Leadership Journey is a 12-month, fully funded leadership program designed to strengthen the capacity of mid- to senior-career women working in midwifery and maternal & newborn health (MNH) across Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Burkina Faso.

🌍 About the Program

This program is aimed at empowering women leaders in midwifery and MNH by providing them with the tools and resources to advance their careers and make a meaningful impact in their respective fields.

🎁 Benefits

• The program is fully funded: All program costs, including travel and lodging, are covered.
• Participants will gain leadership skills and access to a network of professionals in midwifery and MNH.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the program, applicants must:

• Identify as a woman.
• Be a mid- to senior-career leader with 10-25 years of work experience.
• Be a citizen who resides and works in one of the following countries:
  • Burkina Faso
  • Ghana
  • Senegal
  • Nigeria
• Possess strong written and verbal English skills that go beyond basic or technical communication. This includes the ability to:
  • Articulate emotions.
  • Participate in reflective dialogue.
  • Engage in complex interpersonal conversations.
  • Integrate leadership development concepts throughout the journey.

Additional Notes:

• This is a leadership program, not clinical skills training.
• The program aims for disciplinary and geographic diversity across the cohort.
• Non-midwife applicants are welcome if their role materially elevates midwifery practice.

🎯 Ideal Candidate

Applicants should have a primary portfolio that advances midwifery and MNH, demonstrated through one or more of the following roles:

Clinical & Service Delivery

• Registered midwives (active license), nurse-midwives, ob-gyns, pediatricians/neonatologists, senior nursing leaders, or service line, hospital, or network managers (public or private).

Education & Workforce

• Deans/faculty of midwifery/nursing schools, pre-/in-service training directors, CPD/curriculum leads, or simulation/skills-lab leaders.

Regulation & Professional Bodies

• Midwifery/nursing councils, accreditation/standards agencies, or professional associations.

Policy, Programs & Systems

• Government MNH leads, NGO/INGO program directors, quality-of-care & respectful maternity care leads, or data/monitoring & evaluation heads.

Financing & Payers

• Health insurers/HMOs, purchasers, reimbursement/benefits design leads, or payment reform/value-based care for maternity/newborn services.

Private Sector & Delivery Networks

• Private hospital groups, clinic chains, and provider networks managing maternity/newborn services at scale.

Innovation, Products & Supply

• Leaders in med-tech, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, oxygen/supplies, or last-mile logistics bringing MNH tools to practice.

Digital Health & Social Enterprise

• Telehealth, decision-support, workforce platforms, registries—product or implementation leaders focused on MNH.

Philanthropy, CSR & Investment

• Program officers, portfolio leads, CSR heads, or impact investors allocating capital to midwifery/MNH outcomes.

Research & Evidence Translation

• Investigators and implementation scientists moving evidence into policy/practice.

📅 Application Date and Process

• The 2026 Midwifery Journey will take place from May 2026 to April 2027.
• Important Dates:
  • 4-day Immersion: 27-30 July 2026 (in-person, involving travel).
  • 2-day Lift-Off: 4-5 May 2027 (in-person, involving travel).
• Mandatory Attendance: All touchpoints are mandatory, while JourneyPLUS events are optional.

🗓️ Application Deadline

The application deadline is 31 December 2026.

🔗 Application Portal

For more details and to apply, visit the official WomenLift Health x WILAN Midwifery Leadership Journey page.

Apply directly via the application portal.

This opportunity is a unique chance for women leaders in midwifery and MNH to grow their leadership skills and make a lasting impact in their communities. Don't miss out!

• The Program is free (all program costs, including travel and lodging are covered.