Launch of Cohort III of the Mwele Malecela Mentorship Programme

Brazzaville (Congo) - Across Africa, women are at the centre of the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). They deliver medicines in remote communities, support families affected by disease, mobilize local responses, and help sustain essential health services in some of the most underserved settings.

Yet despite their contribution, women remain underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles across public health programmes.

To help address this gap, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, through the Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN), officially launched Cohort III of the Mwele Malecela Mentorship (MMM) Programme during a virtual event held on 26 May 2026, further strengthening efforts to address persistent leadership and gender gaps across the Region.

The programme aims to strengthen the leadership capacity of mid-career African women working in NTDs and public health, while contributing to stronger and more inclusive health systems across the Region.

“Leadership is central to advancing disease prevention and control efforts across the WHO African Region,” said Dr Impouma Benido, Director of the Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control Cluster at WHO AFRO. “Strong systems require strong leadership, and this programme is helping ensure that African women are equipped to shape and lead the future of NTD programmes across the continent.”

Neglected tropical diseases continue to affect more than one billion people globally, with the African Region carrying a significant share of the burden. Every country in the Region is endemic for at least one NTD, and millions of people continue to require preventive treatment, care, or disability support.

These diseases disproportionately affect vulnerable and underserved populations, contributing to poverty, stigma, and inequality. While important progress has been made in recent years, including the elimination of at least one NTD in several African countries, achieving the targets of the WHO NTD Roadmap 2021–2030 will require continued investment in health systems, partnerships, and leadership.

Named in honour of the late Dr Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela, former Director of WHO’s Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, the mentorship programme continues the legacy of a leader who championed African leadership, scientific excellence, and gender equity in global health.

Established in 2023, the Mwele Malecela Mentorship Programme supports participants through a structured two-year mentorship cycle that combines leadership development, technical learning, networking opportunities, and one-on-one mentorship from experienced professionals across the Region and beyond.

Cohort III brings together 7 outstanding mentees from 7 countries, selected through a competitive and inclusive process. Throughout the programme, mentees will strengthen their ability to contribute to policy dialogue, programme implementation, and advocacy efforts at national, regional, and global levels.

The initiative aligns with the ESPEN Strategy 2026–2030, which envisions an Africa free of NTD through country-led, integrated, and people-centred approaches. Gender equity and social inclusion remain key principles of the strategy.

The virtual launch brought together WHO AFRO colleagues, mentors, mentees, partners, and members of the programme’s Steering and Selection Committee, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing leadership for health across Africa. Meet the Mentees here: MMM Cohort III mentees.

By 2030, the Mwele Malecela Mentorship Programme aims to support at least 40 mid-career African women leaders, contributing to stronger health programmes and accelerated progress towards the elimination of neglected tropical diseases across the African Region. Leaving no one behind.