Promote Equal Representation in Health Leadership

Women comprise approximately 70% of the global health and care workforce, yet hold only about 25% of senior leadership roles. Persistent pay gaps, occupational segregation, and unpaid care burdens reinforce this imbalance. When leadership does not reflect the workforce or the populations served, institutional accountability weakens and inequities persist. Equal representation is not symbolic. It is foundational to resilient, people-centered health systems.

Our Approach

Women in Global Health advances gender parity in leadership by:

Setting Parity Standards

Advocate for 50/50 representation targets
Embed gender balance indicators across UHC, health security, and pandemic preparedness frameworks

Strengthening Accountability

Promote public reporting of sex- and gender-disaggregated leadership data
Advance institutional gender audits linked to performance frameworks

Aligning Financing with Equity

Integrate gender criteria into health financing mechanisms, particularly in LMIC contexts

Removing Structural Barriers

Advance transparent recruitment and promotion processes
Promote equitable workplace policies and reforms addressing unpaid care burdens

Building Coalitions and Evidence

Convene partners across sectors
Generate evidence demonstrating how inclusive leadership strengthens health outcomes and institutional performance

Why It Matters

Leadership reform is a structural intervention. When women hold decision-making power, policies, budgets, and accountability mechanisms become more responsive, equitable, and effective.

Flagship Outcomes

1

Gender language defended in global UHC negotiations

Women in Global Health successfully defended and strengthened gender-responsive language in WHO Executive Board discussions and UN political declarations, ensuring equity remains central to UHC commitments

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2

Direct policy engagement with national UHC authorities

WGH Chapters in Kenya, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, India, and Brazil secured formal engagement with ministries of health and national UHC bodies to advance gender-responsive health financing and implementation.

3

Cross-country UHC advocacy institutionalized

A global UHC webinar series convened 40+ countries, translating national gender equity lessons into global policy influence.

Webinar