Mentorship Program


Introduction

Mentorship is often considered a core component of education, professional training, and career success. It provides early to mid-career professionals with access to more experienced individuals and their networks to further support the mentee’s professional and personal development. Successful mentorship can also build long-term collaborations and mutual learning1. Mentorship is different from coaching or capacity strengthening in that the personal relationship built between the mentor and mentee is a crucial component. A good mentor provides various aspects of support, including instrumental (assistance with skills), informational (advice, suggestions, and networking introductions), emotional (listening and empathy), and appraisal (feedback)2.

The goal of the Data for Health (D4H) Gender Equity Mentorship Program is to develop a cadre of well-trained, connected, and supported public health practitioners and researchers with sufficient expertise to effectively integrate gender equity into their health data work. The mentorship will focus on enhancing the knowledge and expertise of global public health professionals in areas such as gender transformative processes, policies, and outcomes, and using gender equitable data to do so. The mentorship program will empower them to strengthen their capabilities and make significant contributions in the field from a gender perspective. The program will be managed by the Gender Equity Unit, housed at the Johns Hopkins University, in collaboration with gender experts from partner organizations within D4H.

Mentors will work with individuals associated with D4H-affiliated mentees who want to build their gender equity expertise. Mentees will be matched with D4H Gender Equity Mentors based on their own mentoring goals. Priority will be given to mentors who are in the same country or region as the mentee to promote mentoring from someone with a shared lived experience. While several mentors will come from D4H affiliates, some will be outside of the D4H network if specific gender equity-focused mentorship is needed. The mentors will provide guidance and support on incorporating gender into mentees’ country-specific work, suggest further opportunities for gender equity integration and learning, and support the mentees in the ways that will most benefit them to move towards gender equity both personally and professionally. The D4H Gender Equity Unit will facilitate all mentoring matches and follow-up.

This one-year mentorship program will use regular virtual and/or in-person interactions to strengthen the relationships between a mentee and their mentor. Matching of mentors and mentees will be based on mentoring competencies necessary for mentoring within a global health context. We adopted competencies keeping in mind the challenges often faced by mentees and these include 1) maintaining effective communication (e.g., help team implement strategies and plan with equity and gender lens, support change management), 2) aligning expectations, 3) addressing diversity, 4) fostering independence, 5) promoting professional development, 6) promoting professional integrity and ethical conduct,7) overcoming resource limitations, 8) fostering institutional change (e.g., advocating for self and others even if that conflicts with traditional gender roles, gender-responsive budgeting, equitable human resource practices), and 9) technical area of expertise3. For example, some mentees may seek mentors to support the development of their technical skills related to data equity issues, while other mentees may want to prioritize overall professional growth and career development given gender equity challenges. Mentees will be matched with mentors who are keen on sharing their resources, skills, time, and experience in different areas of expertise.

To further strengthen mentee-mentor networking, mentees and mentors will gain access to our peer mentorship network on Slack. Topic-specific channels will be developed where mentees can ask questions, share perspectives and resources, and connect with other mentees and mentors for growing their mentoring network. This network will uniquely connect mentees from across D4H countries, promoting cross-cultural discourse. Members of the Gender Equity Unit will monitor the network to answer questions or seek mentors and other experts who can participate as needed.

Eligibility for Menor and Mentee

Mentee Eligibility
  • Mentees must be an affiliate of D4H, or an organization/institution supported by D4H. Long-term consultants and government staff that work with D4H and support D4H work are eligible to apply. However, they must be involved with D4H work throughout the duration of this mentorship.
  • Mentees must have a strong interest in advancing gender equity in their own work.
  • Mentees should be able to commit to one year of engagement with their mentor, once matched.
Mentor Eligibility
  • Mentors must have a minimum of three years of experience as a gender equity expert, particularly regarding health outcomes.
  • Mentors should be able to commit to one year of engagement with their mentee, once matched.

Online Application Process

For Mentees: Mentee Application

For Mentors: Mentor Application

Applications to be a mentor or mentee are accepted on a rolling basis. Eligible candidates will be contacted by the D4H Gender Equity Unit for information on mentor-mentee matching.

Resources

Attributes of an Effective Mentee

Attributes of an Effective Mentor

Coming soon: Mentors and mentees will be provided with materials to support their mentorship journey. We will share resources on expectations, roles and responsibilities, and guidance on topical and professional areas once admitted to the program.

FAQs

  • What is the format, frequency, and duration of mentee-mentor interactions?
    This one-year mentorship program will use regular virtual and/or in-person interactions to strengthen the relationships between a mentee and their mentor. Matching of mentors and mentees will be based on the mentee’s goals and the expertise of the mentors. Once matched, mentees and mentors are expected to meet approximately 1-2 hours per month for the duration of the program.
  • What is expected of me as a mentee?
    You can find mentee expectations here - Mentee Description. We will soon share additional guides for mentees and mentors.
  • What is expected of me as a mentor?
    You can find mentor expectations here - Mentor Description. We will soon share additional guides for mentees and mentors.
  • Is there a deadline to apply?
    Applications to be a mentor or mentee are accepted on a rolling basis

For any queries, please send your questions to Vidhi Maniar, Program Manager at the Gender Equity Unit, at vmaniar1@jh.edu.

References

  1. Hansoti, B., et al., Global Health Mentoring Toolkits: A Scoping Review Relevant for Low- and Middle-Income Country Institutions. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2019.100(1_Suppl): p. 48-53.
  2. Charron, K., et al., Building Blocks of Global Health Mentorship: Motivation, Expectations, and Institutional Support. Annals of Global Health, 2019. 85(1).
  3. Hamer, D.H., et al., Global Health Research Mentoring Competencies for Individuals and Institutions in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2019. 100(1_Suppl):15-19. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.18-055