Applications are now open for the 2025 Tekano for Health Equity in South Africa Fellowship. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About Tekano for Health Equity in South Africa Fellowship
Opportunity Details
Tekano is an organisation working to create health equity and address injustice in South Africa, as one of seven Atlantic Fellows programmes globally. Tekano believes that health is political. Like the World Health Organisation, we see health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease.” Health inequities are the result of unjust policies, systems, and histories—and achieving health equity means dismantling oppressive structures and reimagining a radically different future.
Why now?
We are living through a period of deepening inequality, political unrest, and converging global crises—from economic instability and climate collapse to rising authoritarianism and shrinking democratic space. In South Africa, apartheid’s legacy still shapes access to housing, healthcare, education, and opportunity. For many, transformation remains out of reach, as new injustices—driven by corruption, corporate greed, and profit-first policies—take root. Yet communities are rising. Movements are mobilising. But lasting change demands more: bold solidarity, creative resistance, and collective action rooted in justice. We need new leaders, new solutions, and new ways to confront these intersecting challenges and rebuild our societies. The Tekano Fellowship for Health Equity is for those who know that injustice undermines health and are committed to bold ideas and transformative action. A space for critical thinkers, courageous doers, and determined changemakers to sharpen strategy, build power, and forge a just future—together.
Benefits of Tekano for Health Equity in South Africa Fellowship
A year-long immersive learning and leadership development programme that provides:
- A transformative learning journey —including intensive face-to-face and virtual learning blocks, workshops, and skills development sessions.
- Leadership Development and Coaching—to strengthen your capabilities for leading in a complex, polarised world of intersecting challenges.
- Full coverage of programme-related costs—including travel, accommodation, and learning materials during the induction year.
- Opportunity to join a Global Atlantic Fellowship community of changemakers—offering opportunities for lifelong learning, collaboration, and solidarity.
- Small-scale financial support—for the conceptualisation or implementation of eligible social change initiatives upon completion of the year-long fellowship programme.
Tekano for Health Equity in South Africa Fellowship Requirements
- Reside and/or work in South Africa. They welcome change leaders who reside or work in South Africa but come from other parts of our home continent.
- A proven track record of leadership and commitment to social justice and health equity. Evidence of prior social change work and leadership in the form of testimonials from communities or institutions with whom you have done your social change work.
- Are committed to attending and participating in all activities of the fellowship programme and completing required tasks within the deadlines provided.
- If employed, the fellow’s employers should have expressed support for participation in the fellowship. Written proof will be required and a discussion with the employer will be held where necessary.
- Reflexive, emotionally mature and resilient leaders who can hold complexity, contestation and contradictions.
- This year, we are particularly interested in leaders working in areas such as health system transformation and equitable access, energy, climate and environmental justice and health, spatial justice and health, water justice and health, digital health, people with skills in research, feminist organising and movement building, entrepreneurship, public policy and participation, Information Technology, campaigning, agenda setting advocacy, narrative work, law as a tool to advance social justice, as well as the scientific field.
If you are a leader driving innovative social change in your community, and reimagining a just and healthy future for all, this fellowship is for you.
Application requirements
- Have a proven track record of leadership and commitment to social justice and health equity – evidence of prior social change work and leadership in the form of testimonials from communities or institutions with whom you have done social change work.
- Are deeply rooted in social justice work and committed to collaboration with diverse stakeholders—leading or founding initiatives in your community, workplace, or movement that address systemic inequities. We are especially interested in changemakers who engage across multiple levels of society and are willing to work with a broad range of actors, including those with differing perspectives or approaches.
- There are no formal educational requirements. However, reading, writing and a commitment to lifelong learning are required for you to benefit from this programme.
- Reside and/or work in South Africa – we welcome change leaders who reside or work in South Africa including those who come from other parts of our home continent Africa.
- Are innovative, bold, and action-oriented—someone who doesn’t wait for permission to create change.
- Are intellectually curious, solutions oriented and reflective—eager to learn, grow, and strengthen your understanding of the systemic drivers of injustice and inequity and how to transform them.
- Are committed to collective leadership—working alongside others to co-create solutions rather than working in silos.
Commitment and Expectations
Tekano Fellows are expected to:
- Commit to attending and participating in all activities of the fellowship programme and completing required tasks within the deadlines provided.
- Engage in ongoing social change work throughout the fellowship.
- If employed, the fellow’s employers should have expressed support for participation in the fellowship. Written proof will be required and a discussion with the employer will be held where necessary.
- Reflexive, emotionally mature and resilient leaders who can hold complexity, contestation and contradictions.
- This year, we are particularly interested in leaders working in areas such as health system transformation and equitable access, energy, climate and environmental justice and health, spatial justice and health, water justice and health, digital health, people with skills in research, feminist organising and movement building, entrepreneurship, public policy and participation, Information Technology, campaigning, agenda setting advocacy, narrative work, law as a tool to advance social justice, as well as the scientific field.
Application Date and Process
- Click on the link to the application website to apply.
If you experience technical difficulties or have any questions, contact them at [email protected] or send a WhatsApp message to 061 010 9931.
Application Deadline
13 June, 2025
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Tekano for Health Equity in South Africa Fellowship
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