Spotlight Women in Global Health Leadership

Women are the backbone of the global health workforce—but continue to be sidelined when it comes to decision-making power. GWL Voices' latest spotlight uncovers persistent inequalities and systemic barriers that keep women out of top leadership roles in major global health institutions.

📊 Over time, women have held a total of 17% of leadership positions across these organizations (13 out of 78).

Key findings from the report include:

• Women are less likely to be appointed and more likely to be overlooked for top leadership roles—even when they outperform their male peers.

• Leadership policies exist in many organizations, but without accountability and culture change, they fail to close the gap.

• Women of color, particularly from the Global South, face compounded barriers—including racism, tokenism, and limited access to informal networks.

• Enablers of change include gender-balanced hiring panels, active sponsorship, mentoring, and more inclusive leadership pipelines.

Our spotlight features lived experiences, structural analysis, and a roadmap for action. The message is clear: equity in global health leadership isn’t just overdue—it’s urgent.

📄 Download the full GWL Voices Spotlight on Women in Global Health Leadership to explore the data, stories, and solutions.