Applications are now open for the 2025 African Women in Digital Health (AWiDH) Mentorship Program

Ednah Carrick August 12, 2025

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Closing Date: 22 August 2025

Applications are now open for the 2025 African Women in Digital Health (AWiDH) Mentorship Program

About AWiDH

The AWiDH movement is a collaborative community platform of like-minded digital health advocates that is working to address the gender gap in digital health. The African Women in Digital Health (AWiDH) initiative, led by Africa CDC and co-chaired by Speak Up Africa, is committed to advancing gender equity in digital health across Africa. AWiDH collaborate on policy actions, and training and skills development initiatives to increase the representation and leadership of African women in digital health.

In line with the Africa CDC Digital Transformation Strategy, that outlines the importance of digital transformation as a tool for enhancing healthcare delivery and improving health outcomes globally, AWiDH is working to pioneer the adoption of digital healthcare technologies which are spearheaded by women

AWiDH mandate

AWiDH support developing and implementing national policies, strategies and action plans on digital health through a gender lens.
AWiDH promote and develop capacity-building programs for women in digital health, including partnerships and mentorships.
AWiDH is building an online community to strengthen capacity and promote knowledge management and sharing to strengthen the voices of African women in digital health.
AWiDH is directly investing in the success of African women in digital health by providing direct grants to help kickstart their businesses.

AWiDH recognize the importance of women in tech and digital health. Not only does diversity generate more revenue but women bring unique ideas to the table.

The African Women in Digital Health (AWiDH) Mentorship Program

The need for increasingly rapid and context-specific responses to diseases in Africa is growing and digital health provides many of the solutions that are needed. Digital healthcare start-ups, many led by women, are emerging across the continent. AWiDH support these start-ups and advocate for women’s involvement in digital health policy.

However, women face challenges accessing finance, receiving less than 7% of venture capital. Many lack financial guarantees and are excluded from key networks and
associations.

African Women in Digital Health (AWiDH) mentorship program aims to address this by enhancing business skills and building a supportive community. It helps women grow their start-ups, expand networks, improve pitching, and develop leadership and communication skills, fostering their growth in the digital health space. AWiDH mentors have significant experience in investing, running or advising tech start-ups and African governments in this space. Mentors help our mentees to further their career and make informed business decisions.

Benefits of the program:

Learning how to grow a startup from experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders
Expanding professional network
Developing pitching skills
Building self-confidence
Improving communication and leadership skills

AWiDH mentors selected have significant experience in investing, running or advising tech start-ups and will contribute greatly to informing AWiDH mentees, helping them shape their career and business decisions and their professional lives

How the AWiDH Mentorship program works

Working to increase representation and leadership of African women is a pivotal part of creating opportunities for women working in digital health. AWiDH mentorship program is designed to do just that – to support its mentees to strengthen their business knowledge and leadership skills. The program is designed to provide personalized support for AWiDH mentees, at the same time creating a community for women to provide support, create networks and to collaborate. The AWiDH mentorship program will support mentees to grow their start-up, expand their professional networks, learn how to pitch, build on their already existing skills, build self-confidence and improve their communication and leadership skills.