The Equity Initiative Fellowship 2027–2028, also known as the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity in Southeast Asia (AFHESEA), is a fully funded and immersive leadership development programme created to build a new generation of leaders committed to advancing health equity across Southeast Asia and China.

The Fellowship is an initiative of the CMB Foundation and forms part of the prestigious global Atlantic Fellows network, a worldwide community of leaders working across sectors and regions to address inequality and create lasting social change.

The programme supports professionals who are passionate about tackling the deeper causes of health inequity, including social, economic, political, and structural barriers that prevent communities from achieving equal opportunities for health and wellbeing.

Applications for the 2027–2028 Equity Initiative Fellowship open on June 15.

About the Equity Initiative Fellowship

The Equity Initiative Fellowship provides selected Fellows with a comprehensive leadership journey that combines intensive in-person learning experiences with continuous online engagement.

The Fellowship is designed around the belief that improving health outcomes requires more than medical interventions. Health equity is influenced by broader social conditions, including:

• Access to quality education.
• Employment opportunities.
• Housing conditions.
• Food security and nutrition.
• Environmental conditions.
• Social inclusion.
• Political and economic systems.
• Access to affordable and quality healthcare services.

Through the Fellowship, participants explore how these factors shape health outcomes and learn how leaders can influence policies, systems, and communities to create fairer and healthier societies.

The programme develops leaders who can identify inequities, understand their root causes, design solutions, and collaborate across sectors to create meaningful change.

Fully Funded Learning Experience for Emerging Health Equity Leaders

The Equity Initiative Fellowship provides a fully funded learning experience that includes:

• Six weeks of in-person learning activities throughout the Induction Year.
• Online learning sessions and engagement activities.
• Leadership development opportunities.
• Exposure to global and regional health equity experts.
• Peer networking with other transformative leaders.
• Practical learning experiences focused on solving real-world challenges.

The Fellowship follows a carefully designed learning journey that begins within the Southeast Asia and China region, expands to a global perspective, and then returns to regional applications.

This approach allows Fellows to:

• Understand local and regional health challenges.
• Learn from international experiences and approaches.
• Apply global knowledge to their own communities.
• Build long-term relationships with other leaders working toward social change.

The “Know, Do, Be” Framework

The Equity Initiative Fellowship curriculum is built around the “Know, Do, Be” leadership framework, which focuses on three essential areas of leadership development.

1. Know: Building Knowledge and Understanding

Fellows develop a strong understanding of:

• Health equity concepts.
• Social determinants of health.
• Systems thinking.
• Structural causes of inequality.
• The relationship between policy, financing, healthcare delivery, and social conditions.

Participants examine why certain communities experience poorer health outcomes and how broader societal systems contribute to these inequalities.

2. Do: Applying Knowledge Through Action

The Fellowship provides practical opportunities for Fellows to apply their knowledge through:

• Leadership tools.
• Problem-solving exercises.
• Experiential learning activities.
• Innovation laboratories.
• Collaborative projects.

Fellows learn how to translate ideas into practical solutions that address real health equity challenges.

3. Be: Developing Purpose-Driven Leadership

The programme encourages Fellows to develop a leadership mindset focused on:

• Reflection.
• Ethical decision-making.
• Effective communication.
• Public leadership.
• Commitment to social justice.

Participants are encouraged to become leaders who do not simply understand inequality but actively work toward transforming systems that create unequal outcomes.

Why Health Equity and Leadership Matter

Health equity is one of the most important global challenges facing societies today.

While healthcare access is a major part of health outcomes, many inequalities originate from factors outside hospitals and clinics.

Social determinants such as employment, education, housing, environmental conditions, and political systems significantly influence whether individuals and communities can achieve good health.

Across Southeast Asia and China, rapid economic growth has created opportunities but has also highlighted significant inequalities affecting vulnerable groups.

Some major health equity challenges include:

• Unequal access to healthcare services.
• Barriers to primary healthcare.
• Health financing inequalities.
• Healthcare workforce shortages in disadvantaged communities.
• Environmental degradation.
• The impact of armed conflict and humanitarian crises.
• Challenges affecting women and children.
• Healthcare barriers faced by migrants and refugees.
• Inequalities affecting ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged populations.

The Equity Initiative believes that leadership plays a critical role in addressing these challenges.

Leaders can either maintain systems that create inequality or become catalysts for positive transformation.

Through this Fellowship, participants develop the knowledge, skills, and networks required to influence policies, strengthen communities, and create sustainable improvements in health equity.

Fellowship Induction Year: Learning Structure and Activities

During the Induction Year, Fellows participate in a combination of:

• In-person learning events.
• Online learning activities.
• Leadership discussions.
• Expert conversations.
• Collaborative projects.
• Peer-to-peer exchanges.

The programme requires Fellows to actively participate in all mandatory learning activities.

Participants are expected to complete:

• Approximately six weeks of in-person Fellowship learning events throughout the Induction Year.
• Regular online learning activities estimated at approximately one hour per week.

The Fellowship creates a collaborative environment where participants learn from different cultures, professional backgrounds, and experiences.

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Learning Objectives of the Equity Initiative Fellowship

Throughout the Induction Year, Fellows will:

Deepen Their Understanding of Health Inequality

Participants will explore:

• The social determinants of health.
• Structural barriers affecting health outcomes.
• The relationship between inequality and wellbeing.
• Systems that contribute to unequal access to services.

Develop Advanced Leadership Skills

Fellows will strengthen their ability to:

• Lead social change initiatives.
• Influence decision-makers.
• Collaborate across sectors.
• Build sustainable solutions.
• Manage complex challenges affecting communities.

Engage With Experts and Global Change-Makers

Participants will have opportunities to interact with:

• Health equity specialists.
• Policy experts.
• Researchers.
• Public leaders.
• Community advocates.
• Fellow innovators.

These engagements encourage knowledge exchange and cross-sector collaboration.

Create Innovative Solutions for Health Equity Challenges

Fellows will explore strategies to:

• Remove systemic barriers.
• Improve access to essential services.
• Promote fairness in health systems.
• Support disadvantaged populations.
• Develop community-driven solutions.

Build a Regional Network of Leaders

The Fellowship connects participants with a diverse community of leaders committed to:

• Social justice.
• Health equity.
• Public leadership.
• Community empowerment.

This network continues beyond the programme through the wider Atlantic Fellows community.

Group Project Development Opportunity

During the Fellowship, participants will have the opportunity to design and develop a group project focused on advancing health equity within their communities.

The project component allows Fellows to:

• Apply lessons learned during the programme.
• Work collaboratively with other Fellows.
• Address practical challenges affecting communities.
• Create solutions that can continue beyond the Fellowship period.

This practical approach ensures that learning leads to measurable impact.

Becoming Part of the Global Atlantic Fellows Network

After successfully completing the Induction Year, Equity Initiative Fellows become members of the global Atlantic Fellows community.

This lifelong network connects leaders across:

• Different countries.
• Professional sectors.
• Academic disciplines.
• Social movements.

Members continue collaborating to address inequality, promote justice, and create sustainable social change worldwide.

Benefits of Joining the Equity Initiative Fellowship

Selected Fellows gain access to:

• A fully funded leadership development experience.
• Advanced knowledge of health equity and systems change.
• International and regional networking opportunities.
• Mentorship and peer support.
• Exposure to global experts and practitioners.
• Membership in the Atlantic Fellows global network.
• Opportunities to develop community-focused solutions.

Eligible Countries and Regions

The Fellowship focuses on applicants from:

• Southeast Asian countries.
• China.

The programme is part of the global Atlantic Fellows network, connecting leaders across different regions and sectors who are committed to advancing equity, justice, and social transformation.

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Application Deadline

Applications for the Equity Initiative Fellowship 2027–2028 open on June 15.

Applicants should monitor the official programme announcements for the complete application timeline, requirements, and submission procedures.

Conclusion

The Equity Initiative Fellowship 2027–2028 offers a unique opportunity for professionals and leaders committed to creating healthier and more equitable societies across Southeast Asia and China.

By combining leadership development, systems thinking, practical learning, and a global network of changemakers, the Fellowship equips participants with the knowledge and skills needed to address the complex causes of health inequality.

For individuals passionate about public leadership, social justice, healthcare transformation, and community impact, the Equity Initiative Fellowship provides a platform to develop meaningful solutions and become part of a global movement working toward a more equitable future.

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